Mvnos Soon Coming To Spain

[Effendi]

<span style='font-size:11pt;line-height:100%'>Spain Regulator To Release Report On MVNO Soon</span>

MADRID -(Dow Jones)- Spanish telecommunications regulator CMT said Thursday it will shortly release a report to include measures that favor the launch of mobile virtual network operators, or MVNO.

An MVNO operator leases all, or most, of its capacity from other operators and then sells it on to customers, saving the cost of building and maintaining a network.

A spokeswoman for CMT said the regulator has sent a report draft to the European Commission, including comments from the country's existing mobile telephony operators.

She added the Commission is expected to return the report within a few weeks with any revisions it may add. The final version will then be released by the regulator.

The move may shakeup Spain's mobile market - currently one of the least competitive among the major European countries - and allow for the launch of MVNO in conditions similar to those enjoyed by alternative operators in countries such as France and Germany.

The CMT has declined to provide information on the comments from operators included in the draft document. The draft, which was posted in its Web site in July, criticizes the operators for their obstruction of MVNO launches and suggests the CMT may force them to open up their networks to competitors if they won't do so voluntarily.

The draft said the CMT is considering recommending specific measures to force the operators - Telefonica Moviles, Vodafone Group and France Telecom's Amena - to break what it called their "collective dominant position" and improve competition in the market.

Currently, operators aren't required to share their networks, which has frustrated attempts by companies such as Sweden's Tele2 to launch MVNO services in the country.

Regulator Web site: http://www.cmt.es

[Effendi]

<span style='color:#FF0000'><span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%'>Spain Regulator To Force Mobile Operators To Allow MVNO</span></span>

MADRID -(Dow Jones)- Spanish telecommunications industry regulator CMT Friday said it will force the country's mobile operators to share their networks with mobile virtual network operators, or MVNO.

The CMT said in a statement that the existing operators - Telefonica Moviles, Vodafone and France Telecom's Amena - must offer reasonable prices and conditions to any company that intends to launch an MVNO business in Spain.

An MVNO operator leases all, or most, of its capacity from other operators and then sells it on to customers, saving the cost of building and maintaining a network.

Earlier this week, the European Commission endorsed the CMT's plan to boost MVNO in Spain, saying that similar programs in other countries "have shown that the entry of MVNO" can increase competition and lower prices in mobile telephony.

The CMT has earlier said it expects the first Spanish MVNO to launch services by the end of the year or early 2007.

At present, Spanish mobile operators aren't required to share their networks. This has frustrated attempts by companies such as Sweden's Tele2 AB (TEL2-B.SK) to launch MVNO services in the country.

Regulator's Web site: http://www.cmt.es

-By David Roman, Dow Jones Newswires; +34 913 958 125; david.roman@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

[AndreA]

Ok, Italy will be the last one... poor us

Also this is a great news for spanish people, I hope that they can have a better market than usual

[Effendi]

<span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%'>Spanish Regulator Sees Several Potential MVNO Entrants</span>

MADRID -(Dow Jones)- Several companies with operations in Spain are looking to become mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, the chairman of the country's telecommunications regulator CMT said Monday.

Speaking at a business event, Reinaldo Rodriguez said the CMT expects Spain's conventional mobile operators - Telefonica Moviles, Vodafone Group and France Telecom's Amena - to reach agreements with prospective MVNOs within the next few months.

Rodriguez didn't say which companies are looking to launch such operations.

He added that the CMT's plan to boost MVNO launches in Spain, by forcing mobile operators to share their networks under reasonable prices and conditions, will come into force next week at the latest.

An MVNO leases all, or most, of its capacity from other operators and then sells it on to customers, saving the cost of building and maintaining a network.

Rodriguez said that the regulator is willing to let MVNO and conventional operators discuss terms and conditions and will only step in to facilitate an agreement following a request from one of the two parties.

The CMT has said it expects the first Spanish MVNO to launch services by the end of the year or early 2007.

At present, Spanish mobile operators aren't required to share their networks. This has frustrated attempts by companies such as Sweden's Tele2 to launch MVNO services in the country.

Regulator Web site: http://www.cmt.es

-By David Roman, Dow Jones Newswires; +34 913 958 125; david.roman@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

[Effendi]

Other good news for Spanish friends...

<span style='color:#FF0000'><span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%'>Spanish Regulator: Will Set Some Mobile Rates</span></span>

MADRID -(Dow Jones)- Spain's telecommunications industry regulator CMT Thursday said it will set rates for calls between different networks before July 15, in a move that may lower revenue for the country's mobile operators.

The CMT said in a statement that the new, so-called interconnection rates will be applicable from Sept. 1, to all calls made between fixed-line and mobile networks and to calls made between different operators.

The measure will affect Spain's mobile operators Telefonica Moviles, Vodafone Group and France Telecom's Amena.

Spanish interconnection rates have been frequently criticized by consumer groups, who claim that they are higher than those in neighboring European countries.

Company Web site: http://www.telefonicamoviles.com

-By David Roman, Dow Jones Newswires, 34 913958125, david.roman@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires