The UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) issued a statement in which is commented that it does not, at this time, have any intention whatsoever to license a third operator in the UAE telecommunications market. The TRA said the statement came in response to articles that have been circulated in some local newspapers about the matter. “The TRA would like to reaffirm that both Etisalat and Du are currently meeting the needs of the UAE market,” the statement said.

The incoming CEO at South African mobile network operator, Cell C says that he wants to double the company’s market share to 25 per cent within the next three to four years.

Former Vodacom CEO, Alan Knott-Craig takes over from the beginning of April and has a mandate from the owners to build market share "as quickly as I can". Cell C has been without a permanent CEO since former chief executive Lars Reichelt left the company in July 2011.

The cellco has languished in terms of market share ever since it launched into the market dominated by Vodacom and MTN, and still only has around 13 per cent of the country’s mobile subscribers.

The firm was probably held back by its former CEO’s initially dismissive attitude to mobile broadband services, which the other networks launched, and upgraded, as swiftly as possible.

Knott-Craig was CEO of the country’s biggest cellular operator, Vodacom, for 12 years up to 2008, and managing director of the company from 1993 to 1996.

Knott-Craig regards the 25 per cent market share target as ambitious but not impossible and "not negotiable".

The two bidders in the hunt for a possible takeover of UK based Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CWW) are reported to be seeking a second extension on the deadline to submit bits.

Citing unnamed sources, the Sunday Telegraph reported that both Vodafone and Tata Communications want to extend the current March 29 deadline.

Vodafone was originally told to make an announcement about its decision on the March 12, but when Tata Communications entered the bidding, both companies were given until the 29th to make a decision.

The newspaper reported that the extension was being sought as CWW had not provided sufficient information to the bidders for them to make a final decision.

The company is expected to be sold for at least US$1 billion.

The UAE’s two telcos, Du and Etisalat have started offering carrier pre-selection for fixed-voice calls, the regulator has announced.

CPS is the more advanced mechanism of carrier selection as it allows customers to select their preferred service provider to route their fixed-voice calls without having to dial additional codes on the telephone or programming on-site equipment.

"This is a significant milestone for the licensees and it carries a great benefit for the telecommunications industry in the UAE. Users now have the opportunity to choose their service provider regardless of the main access line provider," said TRA director general Mohamed Al Ghanim, commenting on the implications this commercial launch will have on the UAE market.

A customer, whether business or residential, who is physically connected to Etisalat’s network will be able to have access to services from Du’s network; and vice-versa.

In the early part of the third quarter of 2011, both licensees announced the soft launch of this service.

Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo is in discussions to increase its stake in Indian operator Tata Teleservices, according to media reports.

Apparently, DoCoMo has two call options – in March this year and March 2014 – which give it the right to increase its stake in the business under certain, unspecified, conditions.

However, it was also reported that the agreement gives Tata the option to buy-out the Japanese company, again if certain criteria are met.

DoCoMo currently holds a 26 per cent stake in Tata Teleservices, which it acquired for US$2.7 billion in 2008, and has also invested in the business since. It was not revealed under what conditions the company can increase its current holding.

Tata is believed to be able to buy back its stake from DoCoMo in 2014 if the Japanese company fails to find a strategic investor or if the Indian organisation fails to meet targets around subscriber numbers and additions, as well as revenue and profit, within a specified timeframe.

Sources said Tata Teleservices has failed to meet these milestones to date and is unlikely to by the time the 2014 call option comes around, due to market conditions and tight margins.