(VOD.L) Vodafone Group PLC Buy/Sell

NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - India will introduce mobile number portability on Dec 31, a move that could further intensify the stiff competition in the world's fastest-growing wireless market and push call charges lower.
Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which allows users to retain their number even if they switch operators, will be introduced in two phases, the telecoms regulator said, first in the metro cities and the so-called Category A telecom zones and in other areas by March 20.
MNP helps in "increasing competition between the service providers and acts as a catalyst for the service providers to improve their quality of service," the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said on its website.
The regulator also notified certain charges associated with MNP and said switching charges for users must not exceed 19 rupees (U.S. 40 cents).
For the TRAI order, see http://link.reuters.com/pej72g
Four new firms including ventures of international telecom operators Telenor, Etisalat and Batelco are set to start services in India this year and MNP would make it easy for them to lure existing subscribers.
For more Reuters stories on Indian telecoms, click on .

($1=46.6 rupees)

(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Malini Menon)

((devidutta.tripathy@thomsonreuters.com; +91 11 4178 1009; Reuters Messaging: devidutta.tripathy.reuters.com@reuters.net))

((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)) Keywords: INDIA TELECOM/MNP
* MNP in metro cities and lucrative zones from Dec. 31
* To be extended to rest of India by March 20, 2010
* Porting charges must not exceed 40 U.S. cents - regulator
NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - India will introduce mobile number portability on Dec 31, a move that could further intensify the stiff competition in the world's fastest-growing wireless market and push call charges lower.
Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which allows users to retain their number even if they switch operators, will be introduced in two phases, the telecoms regulator said, first in the metro cities and the so-called Category A telecom zones and in other areas by March 20.
MNP helps in "increasing competition between the service providers and acts as a catalyst for the service providers to improve their quality of service," the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said on its website.
The regulator also notified certain charges associated with MNP and said switching charges for users must not exceed 19 rupees (U.S. 40 cents).
For the TRAI order, see http://link.reuters.com/pej72g
Four new firms including ventures of international telecom operators Telenor, Etisalat and Batelco are set to start services in India this year and MNP would make it easy for them to lure existing subscribers.
For more Reuters stories on Indian telecoms, click on .

($1=46.6 rupees)

(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Malini Menon) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email Keywords: INDIA TELECOM/MNP =2

(devidutta.tripathy@thomsonreuters.com; +91 11 4178 1009; Reuters Messaging: devidutta.tripathy.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - India will introduce mobile number portability on Dec 31, a move that could further intensify the stiff competition in the world's fastest-growing wireless market and push call charges lower.
Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which allows users to retain their number even if they switch operators, will be introduced in two phases, the telecoms regulator said, first in the metro cities and the so-called Category A telecom zones and in other areas by March 20.
MNP helps in "increasing competition between the service providers and acts as a catalyst for the service providers to improve their quality of service," the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said on its website.
The regulator also notified certain charges associated with MNP and said switching charges for users must not exceed 19 rupees (U.S. 40 cents).
For the TRAI order, see http://link.reuters.com/pej72g
Four new firms including ventures of international telecom operators Telenor, Etisalat and Batelco are set to start services in India this year and MNP would make it easy for them to lure existing subscribers.
For more Reuters stories on Indian telecoms, click on .

($1=46.6 rupees)

(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Malini Menon)

((devidutta.tripathy@thomsonreuters.com; +91 11 4178 1009; Reuters Messaging: devidutta.tripathy.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: INDIA TELECOM/MNP (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Vodafone has sought an extension until Jan. 29 to reply to a tax claim notice issued last month by the Indian tax department, Junior Finance Minister S.S. Palanimanickam said on Friday in a written reply to question in parliament.
On Oct. 30, India's tax department issued the notice to Vodafone over its $11.2 billion purchase of Hutchison Telecom's Indian operations in 2007, and had said the British firm needed to comply by Nov. 16.
For previous Reuters stories on the matter, see and.

(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by John Mair)

((devidutta.tripathy@thomsonreuters.com; +91 11 4178 1009; Reuters Messaging: devidutta.tripathy.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: VODAFONE INDIA/TAX (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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By Nicola Leske

BARCELONA, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Dutch telecoms group KPN said it may consider network sharing with Telefonica's O2 Germany to share costs and also said it was open to a sale of its Belgian unit if the price was right.
"Network sharing with O2 is an option, nothing is excluded," chief executive Ad Scheepbouwer said on Thursday at a conference.
"We do network sharing with mobistar in Belgium. It's a good way to share costs but we do not have specific talks."
The comments come ahead of an auction for additional spectrum in Germany planned for the first quarter 2010.
KPN's German unit E-Plus and O2 Germany have said they are at a disadvantage compared with market leaders T-Mobile and Vodafone, who entered the market much earlier.
"I think Telefonica and we will look at this jointly. If there is a possibility to jointly look at this spectrum there might be a cost saving exercise," Scheebouwer said.
The two smaller operators have asked the German telecoms regulator to ensure fair access to important frequencies below one gigahertz for all mobile telecoms providers by limiting bidding rights for large players.
Asked about the possibility of merging the two businesses, Scheepbouwer said both companies would only sell if they got a high price.
KPN is also active in Belgium where, according to media reports, it is looking to dispose of assets.
"In the Belgian market we have been unduly squeezed. We have not really had a chance to compete," Scheepbouwer said, adding: "What we do with the business meanwhile I do not know yet, the business is not growing much. If we get a good price we may sell it".

Mobistar, Belgium's second biggest mobile phone operator has said it is looking into acquiring KPN Belgian assets. "Mobistar always examines opportunities on the market. We have not yet taken any decisions," a spokeswoman said earlier this month.
Belgian daily De Tijd had reported KPN had started a formal procedure to sell its business-customer unit and fibre network in Belgium.
KPN, which owns the smallest of Belgium's three mobile operators, BASE, is active in broadband through Tele2 Belgium, which it acquired in 2007 and recently rebranded BASE.
A shortlist of potential buyers had been drawn up, De Tijd said, with sources citing Belgian cable company Telenet and corporate telecoms specialist Colt Telecoms as other candidates.

(Editing by Dan Lalor) Keywords: TECH CONFERENCE/KPN (nicola.leske@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1214; Reuters Messaging: nicola.leske.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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By Nicola Leske

BARCELONA, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Dutch telecoms group KPN said it may consider network sharing with Telefonica's O2 Germany to share costs and also said it was open to a sale of its Belgian unit if the price was right.
"Network sharing with O2 is an option, nothing is excluded," chief executive Ad Scheepbouwer said on Thursday at a conference.
"We do network sharing with mobistar in Belgium. It's a good way to share costs but we do not have specific talks."
The comments come ahead of an auction for additional spectrum in Germany planned for the first quarter 2010.
KPN's German unit E-Plus and O2 Germany have said they are at a disadvantage compared with market leaders T-Mobile and Vodafone, who entered the market much earlier.
"I think Telefonica and we will look at this jointly. If there is a possibility to jointly look at this spectrum there might be a cost saving exercise," Scheebouwer said.
The two smaller operators have asked the German telecoms regulator to ensure fair access to important frequencies below one gigahertz for all mobile telecoms providers by limiting bidding rights for large players.
Asked about the possibility of merging the two businesses, Scheepbouwer said both companies would only sell if they got a high price.
KPN is also active in Belgium where, according to media reports, it is looking to dispose of assets.
"In the Belgian market we have been unduly squeezed. We have not really had a chance to compete," Scheepbouwer said, adding: "What we do with the business meanwhile I do not know yet, the business is not growing much. If we get a good price we may sell it".

Mobistar, Belgium's second biggest mobile phone operator has said it is looking into acquiring KPN Belgian assets. "Mobistar always examines opportunities on the market. We have not yet taken any decisions," a spokeswoman said earlier this month.
Belgian daily De Tijd had reported KPN had started a formal procedure to sell its business-customer unit and fibre network in Belgium.
KPN, which owns the smallest of Belgium's three mobile operators, BASE, is active in broadband through Tele2 Belgium, which it acquired in 2007 and recently rebranded BASE.
A shortlist of potential buyers had been drawn up, De Tijd said, with sources citing Belgian cable company Telenet and corporate telecoms specialist Colt Telecoms as other candidates.

(Editing by Dan Lalor) Keywords: TECH CONFERENCE/KPN (nicola.leske@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1214; Reuters Messaging: nicola.leske.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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By Kate Holton

LONDON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Britain's Vodafone is looking at new ways of making money from the mobile Internet, such as offering premium services, as the battle for control of an expanding market dominated by search engine Google hots up.
All the major mobile operators have suffered in the last year in mature markets such as Europe from falling voice revenues due to competition and the economic downturn.
In response, they have looked to the development of data offerings which allow customers to surf the Internet, send emails and share content such as music, to retain customers and diversify revenue streams.
Now, Vodafone Europe Chief Executive Michel Combes believes the group could go further, by starting a debate within the wider telecoms and media industries over how to secure enough revenue to continue investment in the data networks.
Vodafone has not cut its capital spending this year, despite introducing heavy cost cuts elsewhere within the business.
But operators are concerned about having to secure revenue for ongoing investment as the Internet goes mobile because so far the main winners in the Internet space have been Google and other big search engines.

Ideas that could be considered to boost revenues include content providers paying operators to guarantee their content is carried over the network without disruption. Operators receiving a fee from micro-billing and providing location services could also be an option.
Vodafone is also offering its business customers the chance to pay a premium fee to guarantee a better service.
"This is about unlocking additional value all along the chain and making sure that all the players can see the benefit," Combes told reporters. "Some customers may be ready to pay more for a differentiated quality of service depending on their need."
The suggestion follows a debate in the U.S. where regulators have said that telecom network operators cannot charge different prices for different levels of Internet traffic.
The growth in data services has helped to offset some of the falling voice revenues in Europe. For the region, Combes said he expected a recovery in GDP to pave the way for a recovery for operators, although there could be a lag due to unemployment.
Vodafone said in its first half results earlier this month that European organic service revenue was down by 4.5 percent due to the tough competition and economy.
Olaf Swantee, the global head of France Telecom's Orange mobile business, told the same conference they too had seen a sudden drop in voice revenues but said they had seen huge demand for data offerings both from its most mature European markets and its eastern European divisions.
Swantee said the reduction in voice revenues, new regulation and the economic downturn had resulted in a "perfect storm" for operators and said the changes were structural and were unlikely to return once economies recover.
"There are only so many hours in the day that people can phone and we're seeing voice ARPU (average revenue per use) decline quite significantly," he said.
(Reporting by Kate Holton; editing by John Stonestreet) Keywords: VODAFONE DATA/

(kate.holton@reuters.com; +44 207 542 8560; Reuters Messaging:kate.holton.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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RNS Number : 7915C Vodafone Group Plc 19 November 2009

Vodafone Group Plc ("the Company")

In accordance with Disclosure and Transparency Rule 3.1.4R(1), I have to inform you of the following changes in share interests of a person discharging managerial responsibilities ("PDMR") of the Company:

Number of ordinary shares of US$0.113/7
in the capital of Vodafone Group Plc

Award of performance shares (1)(2) Purchased shares (3)
Wendy Becker 2,949,016 364,577

BARCELONA, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Vodafone, the world's largest mobile operator, said one of the most important issues on its agenda was to resolve differences with U.S. mobile operator Verizon over dividends from their joint venture.
"We need to solve the U.S. situation," Chief Executive Vittorio Colao said at the Morgan Stanley TMT conference in Barcelona on Thursday. He did not disclose any details
Vodafone has a 45 percent stake in Verizon.
Colao has in the past repeatedly said the group was happy with its joint venture in the United States but that the board always reviewed the situation.

(Reporting by Nicola Leske; Editing by David Holmes) Keywords: TECH CONFERENCE/VODAFONE (nicola.leske@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1214; Reuters Messaging: nicola.leske.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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NEW DELHI, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Tata Teleservices Ltd , India's sixth-ranked mobile operator, added 3.87 million subscribers in October, maintaining its lead for a third straight month, data from an industry body showed.
Tata Tele, 26 percent owned by Japan's NTT DoCoMo, was the first operator to launch a per-second billing plan, deviating from the industry norm of per-minute billing, which saw a strong response and forced bigger rivals to match it.
India is the world's fastest-growing cellular market, with monthly signs up averaging about 14 million this year.
Tata Tele, which operates both on GSM and CDMA platforms, saw its mobile subscribers rising to 50.7 million in October from 46.8 million in September, data released by the Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI) showed.
Market leader Bharti Airtel added 2.7 million mobile users in October, taking its total to 113.2 million, and third-ranked Vodafone Essar gained 2.98 million users to 85.8 million. For other firms' GSM additions, see
The consolidated figures for October would be released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India later in November.

(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan)

((devidutta.tripathy@thomsonreuters.com; +91 11 4178 1009; Reuters Messaging: devidutta.tripathy.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: TATATELE/ADDS (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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LONDON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Vodafone Group Plc:

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - U.S. and German labor leaders announced a trans-Atlantic alliance on Wednesday aimed at persuading Germany's giant Deutsche Telekom AG to allow collective bargaining at its subsidiary, T-Mobile USA.
Under the agreement, which U.S. labor officials called unprecedented, German trade union Ver.di will represent T-Mobile USA workers and the Communications Workers of America in talks with Deutsche Telekom managers in Bonn.
CWA, which has been unable to establish representation at T-Mobile USA, the No. 4 U.S. mobile phone service, said it would also launch a new effort to organize workers and open a dialogue with the U.S. subsidiary's managers.
The deal was first unveiled late on Tuesday in a union conference call with workers from T-Mobile USA.
T-Mobile USA issued a statement saying it provides an employee-friendly work atmosphere, with competitive pay and benefits, and that its workers have periodically rejected overtures from CWA.
Of the other three top U.S. mobile phone services -- Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility and Sprint Nextel Corp -- only No. 2-ranked AT&T has a significant union presence, with about 40,000 CWA members on its payroll.
The new alliance comes at a time when the U.S. labor movement hopes Democrats in the White House and Congress can help stem decades of eroding union influence that accelerated sharply under former Republican President George W. Bush.
Labor leaders complain that U.S. labor rights are among the weakest in the industrialized world and charge that European companies with high employment standards at home view the U.S. workplace as an off-shore source of cheap labor.
"We're really here to say to multinational companies, in this case Deutsche Telekom, we're tired of the face of cooperation in Germany ... and then the stick in the United States, the club of intolerance," said CWA President Larry Cohen, who expects other cross-border deals as trade unions try to enhance their influence in the global economy.

"We expect Deutsche Telekom to operate far above the minimum in the United States," added Cohen, accusing T-Mobile USA of subjecting workers who support unionization to intimidation and surveillance.
T-Mobile said it has been subject to a dozen unfair labor practice charges in 10 years but has not been sanctioned or penalized by U.S. authorities. Over the same period, the company said, CWA has been charged with more than 1,200 unfair practices.
"Surely the CWA would agree that the mere filing of unfair labor practice charges is not proof of unlawful conduct," the T-Mobile statement said.
The alliance creates a new union, called TUnion, which gives the 700,000-member CWA access to the influence of Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkshaft, the world's largest union with 2.5 million members across a range of service industries.
Ver.di represents 70 percent of workers employed by Deutsche Telekom and its European subsidiaries. The union recently waged a 12-week strike against the telecommunications giant over issues of job security and working conditions.
Under the agreement, Ver.di will use its seats on Deutsche Telekom's supervisory board to press German managers to accept union representation at T-Mobile USA and then coordinate any bargaining that follows.
"Our role as Ver.di is to use our relationships and our contacts on every level in the company ... to support CWA's efforts here in the United States," said Ver.di official Ado Wilhelm, who appeared alongside Cohen as part of a five-member Ver.di delegation to the United States.

A unionized T-Mobile USA workforce could add substantially to Ver.di's clout. The U.S. subsidiary accounts for nearly 25 percent of Deutsche Telekom's annual revenues and Wilhelm said T-Mobile's business helped maintain the parent company's stability during the economic downturn.

(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Andre Grenon, Bernard Orr) Keywords: DEUTSCHETELEKOM/LABOR (david.morgan@thomsonreuters.com +1 202 898 8326; Reuters Messaging: david.morgan.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - A rule prodding local governments to review applications for wireless antennas more quickly was adopted by U.S. regulators on Wednesday.
The five-member Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously agreed to give local governments 90 days to determine whether to co-locate an antenna on an existing tower and 150 days for new sites.
If there is still no decision, an applicant would have 30 days to take the case to court.
Companies such as Verizon Wireless, AT&T Inc and T-Mobile, the U.S. unit of Deutsche Telekom AG, are seeking to deploy the next generation of wireless products and services to meet growing consumer demand. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone Group Plc.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said that of the 3,300 pending zoning applications for wireless facilities last year, more than 760 had been pending for more than a year and 180 had been pending for more than three years.
The wireless industry says state and local governments have in some cases resisted making decisions on adding more antennas to current towers and putting up new sites due to concerns

about how towers would affect property values.
Local governments, concerned about ceding authority to the federal government on property zoning issues, could challenge the new rules in court.
The antenna rule, backed by the wireless industry, comes as the FCC crafts a national high-speed Internet plan aimed at increasing adoption throughout the country.
At the meeting, FCC officials presented an update on the broadband plan and again looked at some of the gaps that need to be addressed in the report to be submitted to Congress in February.
One of the biggest gaps is finding more airwaves to meet the needs of the burgeoning wireless industry as more and more consumers access the Internet using laptops and smartphones.
Broadcasters are balking at suggestions that the FCC might seek some airwaves from broadcasters for broadband use. Officials cautioned that reallocating spectrum could take years.
Officials have also cited differences between actual and advertised Internet speeds. They said consumers are unable to compare actual speeds across the different providers.
One of the goals of the Obama administration is to help low-income families get online. FCC's preliminary analysis found that areas with lower income have fewer competitors and areas with fewer competitors have higher prices.
Another area officials will be focused on is the emergence of televisions used to watch online videos from Netflix Inc , Google Inc's YouTube and other sources.

FCC Media Bureau Chief William Lake said at the meeting that "limited innovation" in set-top boxes used for cable and satellite programming is a "significant constraint."
"Television and the Internet have historically been different worlds, but that time is coming to and end," FCC Media Bureau Chief William Lake said. "TV and the Internet video are converging."
The tower siting rule will be effective upon a formal notice from the FCC expected later on Wednesday.
Genachowski said the rule would help speed the deployment of the new 4G networks, "while also respecting the legitimate concerns of local authorities and preserving their control over local zoning and land use policies."
T-Mobile and AT&T praised the FCC rule for striking the right balance between the needs of the industry and local authorities.
AT&T Senior Vice President-Federal Regulatory Robert Quinn said the FCC rule provides a path to resolving zoning issues.
"Removing obstacles to the deployment of competitive broadband facilities is necessary to achieve the goal of 100 percent broadband for all Americans," he added.

(Reporting by John Poirier; editing by Tim Dobbyn, Bernard Orr and Andre Grenon) Keywords: FCC/TOWERS (john.poirier@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202 898 8399)

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By David Morgan

WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - U.S. and German labor leaders announced a trans-Atlantic alliance on Wednesday aimed at persuading Germany's giant Deutsche Telekom AG to allow collective bargaining at its subsidiary, T-Mobile USA.
Under the agreement, which U.S. labor officials called unprecedented, German trade union Ver.di will represent T-Mobile USA workers and the Communications Workers of America in talks with Deutsche Telekom managers in Bonn.
CWA, which has been unable to establish representation at T-Mobile USA, the No. 4 U.S. mobile phone service, said it would also launch a new effort to organize workers and open a dialogue with the U.S. subsidiary's managers.
The deal was first unveiled late on Tuesday in a union conference call with workers from T-Mobile USA.
T-Mobile USA had no immediate comment.
Of the other three top U.S. mobile phone services -- Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility and Sprint Nextel Corp -- only No. 2-ranked AT&T has a significant union presence, with about 40,000 CWA members on its payroll.
The new alliance comes at a time when the U.S. labor movement hopes Democrats in the White House and Congress can help stem decades of eroding union influence that accelerated sharply under former Republican President George W. Bush.
Labor leaders complain that U.S. labor rights are among the weakest in the industrialized world and charge that European companies with high employment standards at home view the U.S. workplace as an off-shore source of cheap labor.
"We're really here to say to multinational companies, in this case Deutsche Telekom, we're tired of the face of cooperation in Germany ... and then the stick in the United States, the club of intolerance," said CWA President Larry Cohen, who expects other cross-border deals as trade unions try to enhance their influence in the global economy.

"We expect Deutsche Telekom to operate far above the minimum in the United States," added Cohen, accusing T-Mobile USA of subjecting workers who support unionization to intimidation and surveillance.
The alliance creates a new union, called TUnion, which gives the 700,000-member CWA access to the influence of Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkshaft, the world's largest union with 2.5 million members across a range of service industries.
Ver.di represents 70 percent of workers employed by Deutsche Telekom and its European subsidiaries. The union recently waged a 12-week strike against the telecommunications giant over issues of job security and working conditions.
Under the agreement, Ver.di will use its seats on Deutsche Telekom's supervisory board to press German managers to accept union representation at T-Mobile USA and then coordinate any bargaining that follows.
"Our role as Ver.di is to use our relationships and our contacts on every level in the company ... to support CWA's efforts here in the United States," said Ver.di official Ado Wilhelm, who appeared alongside Cohen as part of a five-member Ver.di delegation to the United States.

A unionized T-Mobile USA workforce could add substantially to Ver.di's clout. The U.S. subsidiary accounts for nearly 25 percent of Deutsche Telekom's annual revenues and Wilhelm said T-Mobile's business helped maintain the parent company's stability during the economic downturn.

(Reporting by David Morgan; editing by Andre Grenon) Keywords: DEUTSCHETELEKOM/LABOR (david.morgan@thomsonreuters.com +1 202 898 8326; Reuters Messaging: david.morgan.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - A rule aimed at prodding local governments to make faster reviews of applications to erect wireless antennas was adopted by U.S. communications regulators on Wednesday.
The five-member Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously agreed to give local governments 90 days to determine whether to co-locate an antenna on an existing tower and 150 days for new sites.
If there is still no decision, then an applicant has 30 days to take the case to court.
Companies such as Verizon Wireless, AT&T Inc and T-Mobile, the U.S. unit of Deutsche Telekom AG, are seeking to deploy the next generation of wireless products and services to meet growing consumer demand. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone Group Plc.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said that of the 3,300 pending zoning applications for wireless facilities last year, more than 760 had been pending for more than a year and 180 had been pending for more than three years.
The wireless industry says state and local governments have in some cases resisted making decisions on adding more antennas to current towers and putting up new sites due to concerns about how towers would affect property values.
Local governments, concerned about ceding authority to the federal government on property zoning issues, could challenge the new rules in court.
The antenna rule, backed by the wireless industry, comes as the FCC crafts a national high-speed Internet plan aimed at increasing adoption throughout the country.
The rule will be effective upon a formal notice from the FCC expected later on Wednesday.
Genachowski said the rule would help speed the deployment of the new 4G networks, "while also respecting the legitimate concerns of local authorities and preserving their control over local zoning and land use policies."
T-Mobile and AT&T praised the FCC rule for striking the right balance between the needs of the industry and local authorities.

"The FCC was appropriately respectful of local siting authority interests while also holding localities to reasonable timeframes for action," said Tom Sugrue, T-Mobile USA vice president for government affairs. AT&T Senior Vice President-Federal Regulatory Robert Quinn said the FCC rule provides a path to resolving zoning issues. "Removing obstacles to the deployment of competitive broadband facilities is necessary to achieve the goal of 100 percent broadband for all Americans," he said.

(Reporting by John Poirier; Editing by Tim Dobbyn, Bernard Orr) Keywords: FCC/TOWERS (john.poirier@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202 898 8399)

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ACCRA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Ghana plans to double the amount mining companies pay in royalties as part of a broader effort to boost government revenues from the sector, the country's finance minister said on Wednesday.
The move could dent the profitability of mines in Africa's second biggest gold producer and adds to investor worries stirred earlier this year when the country announced reviews of two major deals involving U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil and UK-based mobile phone company Vodafone.
Ghana Finance Minister Kwabena Duffuor, presenting the nation's 2010 budget to parliament, said the government will double minerals royalties to 6 percent.
"In addition, government will engage all mining companies to address the issue of dividend payment, exemptions and the whole mining sector fiscal regime," he said.
The move comes as Ghana attempts to boost spending in 2010 by more than 20 percent to accelerate its economic growth.

Ghana's vast mineral resources have attracted major international miners including South Africa's AngloGold Ashanti and U.S.-based Newmont.
A spokesman for AngloGold said the company had not been informed of a royalty hike and did not expect to have to pay up due to a "stability" agreement made with a previous regime. "We expect our prior agreement to be honored," he said.
A spokesman for Newmont, meanwhile, said a substantial increase to royalties in Ghana would "severely reduce returns on investment if it does not also take into account rising production costs."
Ghana's relatively new government has already raised concerns in the investment community this year.
The government of John Atta Mills, who came to power in January after a knife-edge election, declared last month that a reported multi-billion dollar deal by Exxon Mobil to get into Ghana's offshore oil sector would be illegal.
More recently, the goverment said it would review aspects of British company Vodafone's $900 million purchase of a stake in Ghana Telecom in August 2008 after an intergovernmental commission said it appeared unconstitutional. However it stopped short of an original threat to abrogate it.
Officials at other gold mining companies operating in Ghana did not immediately comment.
Ghana is also the world's No. 2 cocoa producer and plans to start up commercial crude oil production at the end of 2010.
(Reporting by Kwasi Kpodo and Richard Valdmanis; writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Sue Thomas and Keiron Henderson) Keywords: GHANA BUDGET/MINING

(richard.valdmanis@thomsonreuters.com; Dakar Newsroom +221 33 864 5076)) For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://af.reuters.com/)

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WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - A rule aimed at prodding local governments to make faster reviews of applications to erect wireless antennas, was adopted by U.S. communications regulators on Wednesday.
The five-member Federal Communications Commission unanimously agreed to give local governments 90 days to determine whether to co-locate an antenna on an existing tower and 150 days for new sites.
If there is still no decision, then an applicant has 30 days to take the case to court.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said that of the 3,300 pending zoning applications for wireless facilities last year, more than 760 had been pending for more than a year and 180 had been pending for more than three years.
The wireless industry says state and local governments have in some cases resisted making decisions on adding more antennas to current towers and putting up new sites due to concerns about how towers would affect property values.
Local governments, concerned about ceding authority to the federal government on property zoning issues, could challenge the new rules in court.
The antenna rule, backed by the wireless industry, comes as the Federal Communications Commission crafts a national high-speed Internet plan aimed at increasing adoption throughout the country.
The rule will be effective on formal release by the FCC, which is expected on Wednesday.
Companies such as Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc are seeking to deploy the next generation of wireless products and services to meet growing consumer demand. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone Group Plc.
Genachowski said the rule would help speed the deployment of the new 4G networks, "while also respecting the legitimate concerns of local authorities and preserving their control over local zoning and land use policies."

(Reporting by John Poirier; Editing by Tim Dobbyn) Keywords: FCC/TOWERS (john.poirier@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202 898 8399)

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ACCRA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Ghana announced on Wednesday it will double mineral royalties to six percent in an effort to bolster government revenues, a move that could dent the profitability of some of West Africa's biggest gold mines.
The government also plans to "engage" the mining sector on dividend payments, tax exemptions and the industry's fiscal regime, said the top finance official of Africa's No. 2 gold supplier, presenting the nation's 2010 budget to parliament.

"Further revenue measures to be introduced in the fiscal year include...(increasing) the minimum mineral royalties to six percent," Finance Minister Kwabena Duffuor said in prepared remarks for his 2010 budget speech to parliament.
"In addition, government will engage all mining companies to address the issue of dividend payment, exemptions and the whole mining sector fiscal regime."
One of the top investment destinations in the region, Ghana has attracted major international gold miners including South Africa's AngloGold Ashanti and U.S.-based Newmont .
A spokesman for AngloGold said the company did not expect to have to pay the higher royalty rate due to a "stability" agreement made with a previous regime. "We expect our prior agreement to be honoured," he said.
Ghana, which is boosting spending to raise growth while attempting to narrow its deficit, has already raised concerns in the global investment community by announcing reviews of two major deals involving international firms.
The government of John Atta Mills, who came to power in January after a knife-edge election, declared that a reported multi-billion dollar deal by Exxon Mobil to get into Ghana's offshore oil sector would be illegal.
More recently, the government said it would review aspects of British company Vodafone's $900 million purchase of a stake in Ghana Telecom in August 2008 after an intergovernmental commission said it appeared unconstitutional. However, it stopped short of an original threat to abrogate it.
Officials at other gold mining companies operating in Ghana did not immediately comment.
Ghana is also the world's No. 2 cocoa producer and plans to start up commercial crude oil production at the end of 2010.
(Reporting by Kwasi Kpodo and Richard Valdmanis; writing by Richard Valdmanis; editing by Sue Thomas) Keywords: GHANA BUDGET/MINING

(richard.valdmanis@thomsonreuters.com; Dakar Newsroom +221 33 864 5076)) For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://af.reuters.com/)

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RNS Number : 6930C Vodafone Group Plc 18 November 2009

NOTIFICATION OF TRANSACTIONS OF DIRECTORS, PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITY OR CONNECTED PERSONS

Vodafone Group Plc ("the Company")

In accordance with Disclosure and Transparency Rule 3.1.4R(1), I have to inform you that the Company was advised on 17 November 2009 by Computershare Trustees Limited that on 11 November 2009 the following directors and persons discharging managerial responsibility acquired an interest in the following number of shares of US$0.113/7 each in the Company at the price of 135.2p per share pursuant to the rules of the Vodafone Group Share Incentive Plan:
Michel Combes* 184
Andrew Halford* 184
Matthew Kirk 186

Ronald Schellekens 184
Stephen Scott 184

By Doug Young

HONG KONG, Nov 18 (Reuters) - China's Huawei, the world's No.2 maker of telecommunications equipment, said on Wednesday that its mobile device sales are on track for 25 percent growth this year, as it expands into overseas markets.
Huawei's devices division, which sells mobile phones, mobile broadband and other convergence devices, was on track to record about $5 billion in sales this year, up from $4 billion last year, Kevin Tao, the division's CEO told Reuters on the sidelines of a telecommunications event in Hong Kong.
"We're confident we can maintain that (growth) rate next year," he said.
Tao said about 70 percent of his division's sales came from exports, with customers in 130 countries.
Huawei is one of China's fastest rising stars in the telecoms space, earning the bulk of its revenue from equipment sales to customers including Telenor and TeliaSonera and Vodafone Based in the southern China city of Shenzhen near Hong Kong, Huawei and crosstown rival ZTE have risen from relative obscurity over the last decade to become two of the world's top telecoms equipment makers.
This year Huawei surpassed Nokia Siemens Networks to become the world's second-biggest telecommunications equipment maker with about a fifth of the market, behind only Sweden's Ericsson, which has about a third.
The company previously said it expected to post contract sales for 2009 of $30 billion, up more than 20 percent from $24.4 billion last year.

(Reporting by Doug Young; Editing by Chris Lewis)

((doug.young@thomsonreuters.com; +852 2843-1631; Reuters Messaging: doug.young.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: HUAWEI/ Keywords: HUAWEI/ (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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By Doug Young

HONG KONG, Nov 18 (Reuters) - China's Huawei, the world's No.2 maker of telecommunications equipment, said on Wednesday that its mobile device sales are on track for 25 percent growth this year, as it expands into overseas markets.
Huawei's devices division, which sells mobile phones, mobile broadband and other convergence devices, was on track to record about $5 billion in sales this year, up from $4 billion last year, Kevin Tao, the division's CEO told Reuters on the sidelines of a telecommunications event in Hong Kong.
"We're confident we can maintain that (growth) rate next year," he said.
Tao said about 70 percent of his division's sales came from exports, with customers in 130 countries.
Huawei is one of China's fastest rising stars in the telecoms space, earning the bulk of its revenue from equipment sales to customers including Telenor and TeliaSonera and Vodafone Based in the southern China city of Shenzhen near Hong Kong, Huawei and crosstown rival ZTE have risen from relative obscurity over the last decade to become two of the world's top telecoms equipment makers.
This year Huawei surpassed Nokia Siemens Networks to become the world's second-biggest telecommunications equipment maker with about a fifth of the market, behind only Sweden's Ericsson, which has about a third.
The company previously said it expected to post contract sales for 2009 of $30 billion, up more than 20 percent from $24.4 billion last year.

(Reporting by Doug Young; Editing by Chris Lewis)

((doug.young@thomsonreuters.com; +852 2843-1631; Reuters Messaging: doug.young.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: HUAWEI/ (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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