Vodafone calls up Burma and German deals
MOBILE phone giant Vodafone is set to embark on two international ventures only days after a flurry of takeover speculation.
Vodafone has also been rumoured to be considering selling its 45 per cent stake in its US mobile venture with Verizon to release cash for acquisitions in Europe
Vodafone agreed to form a consortium with China Mobile to bid for a mobile network licence in Burma.
The Burmese government is trying to increase the number of mobile operators in the south east Asian country, where less than a tenth of the 60 million-strong population has mobile phones.
Vodafone is also thought to be in talks with German telecoms group Deutsche Telekom on a wholesale deal to offer its German customers TV over superfast broadband.
It has faced pressure to compete with cable TV groups and telecom firms by offering mobile, fixed calls, broadband and TV services.
Vodafone’s US partner Verizon Communications has denied it was planning a takeover of the UK firm after speculation about a joint bid with AT&T.
Vodafone has also been rumoured to be considering selling its 45 per cent stake in its US mobile venture with Verizon to release cash for acquisitions in Europe.