Operators

New research by broadband comparison site Broadband Expert has revealed that UK mobile broadband providers are delivering just 24 percent of advertised download speeds to end-consumers.

Vodafone has signed a deal with Warner Music Group that it claims that will make it the first global operator to offer DRM-free over-the-air access to music from all four of the world's major record labels. It has previously signed deals with EMI Group, Universal Music and Sony Music.

Luxembourg-based operator Millicom plans to launch mobile operations in Rwanda under the Tigo brand by the end of the year, reports Telegeography citing local daily The New Times.

Vodafone is increasing its stake in its Indian operation (Vodafone Essar) by a further 6 percent for INR8.62 billion (US$180 million), reports Reuters citing India's Economic Times.

The Swedish Competition Authority (Konkurrensverket) has launched an investigation into whether the LTE spectrum agreement forged by Sweden's five main mobile operators is anti-competitive. The investigation relates to a deal struck between TeliaSonera, Telenor, Tele2, Swefour and 3 Sweden in November last year to share Sweden's 900Mhz bandwidth in a so-called "frequency pact."

The South Korean telecoms regulator today gave approval for Apple's iPhone to be sold in the country in a move that could shake-up a local handset market dominated by domestic vendors such as Samsung and LG.

Indian operator Reliance Communications (R-Com) is to partly sell-off its tower business in an IPO that could fetch the company US$1 billion. R-Com's owner - billionaire businessman Anil Ambani - told an annual general meeting of shareholders yesterday that the operator would offer 10 percent of its tower business, Reliance Infratel, to investors, reports Financial Times.