AT&T has cancelled a planned trip to Brazil as regulatory approval for its US$48.5bn acquisition of DTT operator DirecTV faces further delays, according to local reports.
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson was among the senior executives expected to travel to…
AT&T has cancelled a planned trip to Brazil as regulatory approval for its US$48.5bn acquisition of DTT operator DirecTV faces further delays, according to local reports.
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson was among the senior executives expected to travel to Brazil in the coming days, to meet Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff and other government officials.
Topics on the agenda included the takeover of pan-American satellite operator DirecTV, which controls Sky in Brazil, as well as local investment opportunities and M&A options.
During the visit, the operator was also expected to discuss the potential purchase of 2.5 GHz and 700 MHz spectrum in an auction to be held later this year.
However, AT&T management, which hoped the DirecTV deal would get cleared before the planned trip, had to postpone the visit due to further regulatory delays, local media report.
Analysts predict that the FCC and Department of Justice will greenlight the acquisition, subject to conditions, as soon as mid-month.
AT&T, which was among groups to file lawsuits against the FCC for its controversial net neutrality rules, is reportedly expected to accept the new regulations to get the deal cleared.
According to recent reports, the US telco may consider acquiring Nextel’s Brazilian operations, after purchasing its Mexican unit last month, although local analysts believe that the company could also eye Telecom Italia-owned TIM Brasil, which lacks its own fixed network, or Oi, which is amidst a debt-reducing turnaround strategy.
AT&T declined to comment.
