Nordic telco TeliaSonera would consider buying fixed-line assets in markets which have a strong drive towards convergence.
TeliaSonera CEO Johan Dennelind stressed the need to offer consumers fixed and mobile services. Fixed assets are also important…
Nordic telco TeliaSonera would consider buying fixed-line assets in markets which have a strong drive towards convergence.
TeliaSonera CEO Johan Dennelind stressed the need to offer consumers fixed and mobile services. Fixed assets are also important to create efficiencies in mobile traffic management, he added.
Asked if the telco could buy fixed assets to support convergence, Dennelind said this would depend on market dynamics and trends in specific locations. Without naming countries, he said TeliaSonera would “definitely be prepared to do so” in sound markets where it would make sense and there was an opportunity.
Speaking to TelecomFinance on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, he described the approach as “case by case, country by country”.
A strong balance sheet, low gearing, and good cash flow would allow the company to finance deals if necessary.
Dennelind declined to comment on whether its Spanish subsidiary Yoigo could be put up for sale again, after a process was abandoned about a year ago. The focus is now on building the challenger’s brand and taking it to the next level. He referred to a recently-agreed partnership with Spanish incumbent Telefonica which will allow the telco to offer bundled services.
He refused to specifically discuss whether TeliaSonera would consider an unsolicited offer for Yoigo, if it received one, but said: “We are pragmatic people.”
Separately, the CEO noted that TeliaSonera is open to further network sharing, following an agreement in place with Telenor in Denmark, signed in 2011.
Dennelind said the company would consider various types of partnerships, including passive, and in some instances, active network sharing.
