ADTRAN, a provider of next-generation networking solutions, announced today that it plans to acquire, through an asset sale and purchase agreement, the Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) fixed line Broadband Access business (BBA), and associated professional services and network management solutions. The planned acquisition would include the Broadband Access intellectual properties, technologies and the established customer base.

As part of this planned transaction, up to approximately 400 people, including engineering, R&D, sales and professional services employees, are expected to transfer to ADTRAN globally. The agreement also includes provisions that would allow ADTRAN solutions to be incorporated by NSN into its customer propositions, broadening ADTRAN’s business opportunities.

The planned transaction is expected to close by the end of April 2012 subject to the completion of a consultation process with certain employees and their representatives, finalisation of transition services agreements and customary closing conditions.

Terms of the deal with respect to the amount ADTRAN is set to pay NSN were not disclosed.

American Tower and South Africa’s MTN Group have established a joint venture tower company in Uganda, which will acquire all of the existing tower sites from MTN Uganda, numbering approximately 1,000, for an agreed purchase price of up to US$175 million.

The towers will be managed by a holding company (ATC Uganda) in which American Tower will hold a 51 per cent stake and MTN Group 49 per cent. American Tower will pay approximately US$89 million for its stake in the new holding company. MTN Uganda will remain the anchor tenant on the towers, on commercial terms.

American Tower also expects that ATC Uganda will build approximately 280 tower sites for MTN Uganda over the next three years, as well as pursue opportunities to build tower sites for other wireless operators in Uganda.

Upon the close of the transaction, ATC Uganda will be the largest owner and operator of sites in Uganda.

Afghanistan mobile operator Roshan has signed an exclusive Partner Market agreement with Vodafone.

Under the agreement Roshan customers will have access to a wider range of products and services, improved voice and data roaming services in countries where Vodafone is active, and added expertise through ongoing workshops, site visits, and product innovation.

In parallel, Vodafone will use Roshan’s network while roaming in Afghanistan.

The Partner Market agreement also builds on Roshan’s existing partnership with Vodafone on M-Paisa, which uses Vodafone’s technology and Roshan’s network to provide the first mobile money service to Afghanistan. M-Paisa recently completed a software upgrade to enable international money transfer.

Nokia is reported to be planning to sell its luxury brand handset subsidiary, Vertu as the company refocuses on smartphones and entry level devices for developing markets.

Vertu was established in 1998 to tap into the extreme luxury end of the market where decoration and service were more important than raw features.

Nokia has appointed Goldman Sachs to oversee the sale the Financial Times reported, citing a source close to the matter, although the sale process is at an early stage.

Nokia does not break out the revenues from Vertu in its financial results, so estimates are wide, but between US$270-$400 million.

Khaled Bichara, the outgoing executive chairman of Orascom Telecom is due to leave the company before the end of the month, following the announcement of his planned departure in the middle of November.

Bichara joined the Orascom Telecom 12 years ago as chief Internet strategist and CEO of LinkdotNet and moved up to fill the positions of COO and then CEO, before becoming executive chairman in 2009.

Bichara said that he planned to move on to pursue new business opportunities. “I am happy to leave having secured the targeted synergies from the merger between Wind Telecom and VimpelCom and with the execution of the synergy roadmap and the targets for technology procurement and commercial development to benefit Orascom Telecom Holding from this merger being well on track,” he added.