Vodafone Indicates Support for Ubuntu Based Smartphone:

Vodafone Group has indicated support for an Ubuntu based smartphone after it joined the OS's Carrier Advisory Group.

As a member of the CAG, Vodafone Group will join national and multi-national carriers in discussions that influence the development of Ubuntu for smartphones.

The advisory group currently includes 15 companies, from Hutchison 3G, to China Unicom and T-Mobile.

Members of the CAG have the opportunity to be a launch partner and gain the right to ship Ubuntu based smartphones in markets they serve.

"The mobile industry still needs an independent platform that enables innovation and differentiation. That platform is Ubuntu. The Carrier Advisory Group will have the opportunity to influence the Ubuntu roadmap, and take full advantage of the potential of this emerging platform." said David Wood, CAG Chairman

AT&T Still Considering a Takeover Bid for Vodafone:

Although it has publicly ruled out a bid in the short-term, USA based AT&T is reportedly still mulling a potential bid for Vodafone Group.

AT&T issued a statement earlier this week that it was not planning a takeover bid for the company. It was required to issue the statement by the London Stock Exchange, whose rules also conditionally forbid launching a takeover within six months of issuing a denial.

However, citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg News said that AT&T is still weighing up such a takeover bid.

Although it is officially locked out of launching a hostile bid within six months, AT&T can still talk to Vodafone, and they could launch a friendly takeover or merger -- or AT&T could participate as a junior partner in a hostile bid lead by another company.

Bids of this nature tend to take months to arrange anyway, so even if AT&T is barred from bidding, it could still comfortably spend the next six months preparing the finances and legal options ready for when the deadline expires.

Vodafone Shareholders Approve $130 Billion Sale of Verizon Wireless Stake:

Vodafone Group's shareholders have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the company's plans to sell its 45% stake in Verizon Wireless.

Of the shareholders who voted on the plan, 99.08% were in favour of the US$130 billion sale.

Vodafone is getting US$58.9 billion in cash and US$60.2 billion in Verizon shares from the sale. At completion,Vodafone shareholders are expected to receive all the Verizon shares and US$23.9 billion of cash totalling US$84 billion, representing 71% of the met proceeds.

As part of the deal, Vodafone will acquire Verizon's 23% minority interest in Vodafone Italy for US$3.5 billion, thereby securing full ownership of the Italian subsidiary.

The shareholders also had to vote on a number of other issues related to the sale, and agreed to buying back Verizon Wireless' stake in Vodafone Italy and the plan to return much of the proceeds from the Verizon Wireless sale to the shareholders in the form of a special dividend.

The deal now just needs the approval of Verizon shareholders to go ahead, which is also expected to be a formality for the company.

Vodafone Ghana Working on $33 Million Network Upgrade:

Vodafone's Ghana subsidiary says that it is working on a major network upgrade that will see over 400 new base stations deployed across the country by the end of March 2014.

The network upgrade started last November, and is said to be costing some GH$55 million (US$33 million).

In addition to new base stations, the investment will also see upgrades to the core network.

The Chief Technology Officer of Vodafone Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai said "We've made a conscious decision to invest not just in our brand and market, but to build a network that is reliable, sound and stable. We are going to make sure that we are consistently reliable, and provide the best service."

Vodafone Group owns 70% of the company, with the rest owned by the government.

Encouraging signs on regulatory front, says Vodafone CEO:

Calling itself a long term player in India, UK-based Vodafone Group has said the country is moving in the right direction on the regulatory front though issues like spectrum usage charges and the tax case were still a concern for the company.

"There has been a very challenging regulatory phase I hope that now the country is getting it right...I think Vodafone will be here for 20, 30 or 50 or 100 years, I don't know how long...this is a good market for us," said Vodafone Group CEO Vittorio Colao during his recent visit to India.

Colao said there are some encouraging signs on the regulatory front and the Empowered Group of Ministers' (EGoM) recent decisions were in right direction, which is sending a positive message about the country.

The EGoM on December 3 cleared the much awaited merger and acquisitions (M&A) guidelines for the telecom sector and also decided on the quantum of 2G spectrum to be auctioned in January 2014.

He, however, said some issues still need clarification.

"Not completely...we have to get some spectrum usage charges clarifications, we have the tax case which is still there, we need to get the approval for our FIPB transactions, so there are several things," he said when asked if there is clarity on the regulatory front now.

Vodafone poised for Telecom Egypt buyout:

The Vodafone Group is ready to buy Telecom Egypt’s 45 per cent stake in Vodafone Egypt, according to a Bloomberg report.

Analysts at Naeem Brokerage, quoted by Bloomberg, reckon the sale could raise $2 billion for Telecom Egypt, which is 80 per cent owned by the state.

As well as boosting government coffers, a Telecom Egypt exit may well avert a conflict of interest for the country’s fixed-line monopoly holder.

Telecom Egypt has already applied for an integrated licence, a concession that allows operators – for the first time in Egypt – to offer fixed and mobile services under one licence.

Integrated licences would also open the door for Egypt’s three main mobile operators – Etisalat, Orange and Vodafone – to offer fixed-line services.