Telecom Lead Europe: Swedish telecom operator TeliaSonera
is set to acquire WiMax operations of Kazakh company Alem Communications for
$170 million.
TeliaSonera will also invest $35 million in Kazakhstan
network operator KazTransCom.
The acquisition includes a WiMax network in six major
cities, and, in particular, frequencies in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band, which are compatible
for use with WiMax and other mobile data transmission technologies.
TeliaSonera has reached an in principle agreement with
Visor Group, whereby both companies would make an indirect minority investment
in KazTransCom.
TeliaSonera would also have the option to subsequently
increase its indirect ownership in KazTransCom.
TeliaSonera’s subsidiary in Kazakhstan, Kcell, has also
signed a five year lease agreement for backbone capacity with KazTransCom.
The total value of the transactions would be $205
million, of which the acquisition related to Alem Communications represents
$170 million, and the minority investment and option rights related to
KazTransCom would represent $35 million.
