Avaya has signed agreements to purchase Nortel’s enterprise solutions business for US$475 million. The proposed acquisition includes the Nortel Enterprise Solutions voice, data and government systems businesses. The transaction is subject to a competitive bidding process and requires the approval of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Avaya expects that hearings before those courts to approve bidding procedures will be held within the next couple of weeks, followed by an auction, with hearings for approval of the ultimate sale to be held thereafter. In EMEA, Avaya has entered into an agreement with the Joint Administrators, on behalf of the EMEA entities for which they have been appointed and the transaction is subject to information and consultation with employee representatives and approval of the courts in France and Israel. The transaction is also subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of necessary regulatory approvals.
Emirates Telecoms (Etisalat) has submitted a bid for an integrated fixed and mobile license in Libya, part of the company’s plans to expand their business. Etisalat’s only other North African business is in Egypt, but they are bound to be confronted by Turkcell for the business, the latter being the leading mobile operator in Turkey. The tender by the Libyan General Telecommunication Authority was launched in mid-February of this year. A winner was hoped to have been named by June, but little interest in this tender had been shown, hence an extension for bid submissions. (Source: Reuters)
Lynx Mobility Inc., Canada’s first cellular service provider co-owned by an Aboriginal partner dedicated to serving remote communities nationwide, has launched its roaming services in Canada. The extension of cellular connectivity is a result of Roaming Agreements signed with Bell Mobility and TELUS in March of this year, which provide reciprocal roaming on each company’s network in markets where service is available. Lynx customers will now be able to use their cellular phones when travelling outside the geographical coverage area of their home network. Since its pioneering launch exactly one year ago, Lynx Mobility has gone from strength to strength and has deployed cellular services in several remote communities in northern Quebec. Additional communities in other provinces are currently in the works and are set to be activated in the near future. Roaming is now fully operational across the province of Quebec where there is cellular coverage as well as in Calgary, with further Canadian cities being progressively activated over the next few months. Long distance calls to and from anywhere can still be made and received from the communities where Lynx Mobility operates.
