Virgin Mobile USA prepares dramatic cutbacks
Reports from the US suggest that Virgin Mobile USA is preparing to dramatically scale down its operations in response to the weak performance of its stock price and increasing competitive pressures.
Virgin Mobile USA keeps quiet on stock surge
Virgin Mobile USA declined to give the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) a reason for a surge in its stock value this week, saying the company does not comment on unusual market activity.
SK Telecom/Helio confirms Virgin Mobile rumours
South Korea’s SK Telecom has admitted it is in talks with US MVNO Virgin Mobile regarding a possible tie-up with Helio, its own US MVNO.
Virgin launches Russian WiMAX network
The Virgin Group has launched a WiMAX network covering 20 cities in Russia via a partnership with Swiss-based telecom holding company Trivon. Branded Virgin Connect but operated by Trivon, the network plans to cover 32 Russian regions – including Moscow, St. Petersburg and the 20 largest cities where it holds WiMAX licenses – and has already started delivering services to customers in the Moscow region, Belgorod, Orenburg and Ufa.
MVNO Virgin Mobile USA is to offer Samsung’s new Slash device. Retailing at US$79.99, Slash is a slim slider phone with a VGA camera, Bluetooth, and full messaging capabilities.
Orange UK to focus on HSPA rollout
Orange UK is to step-up rollout of its HSPA network, vowing to offer download speeds of up to 7.2Mb/s in the top 30 UK cities within 18 months and to double speeds to 14.4 Mb/s in five cities next year.
Virgin takes on US networks with unlimited plan
US MVNO Virgin Mobile has launched an unlimited calling plan as part of a strategy to win back market share from its network rivals.
Report: Virgin Mobile-Helio deal to complete soon
A merger between Virgin Mobile USA and Helio, the two beleaguered US MVNOs, could be announced by the end of the week, according to a Financial Times (FT) report this morning.
Virgin calls for South Africa to review MVNO laws
MVNO Virgin Mobile marked the second anniversary of its South African business this week by calling for the local regulator to encourage growth in the market by relaxing its laws around MVNOs, reports South Africa’s Business Day.
Virgin Mobile USA to buy SK Telecom’s Helio
MVNO Virgin Mobile USA late last week confirmed previous reports it is to buy youth-oriented rival Helio from SK Telecom for US$39 million in stock.
