Belgian 3G Mobile License
The Belgian cable broadband company Telenet has purchased the country's fourth largest 3G mobile phone license. Another Belgian cable provider Tecteo partnered with Telenet in the deal. Telenet said the move was part of its plan to profit from an expected rise in mobile data use.
The two companies will pay over 70 million euros for a 10 year licensing agreement, which was the minimum price because there were no other bidders for the license. The payment is much less than the 150 million euros that the previous license holders (Belgacom, KPN and Mobistar Belgium) paid for it in 2001. Telenet currently offers TV fixed-line telephony and Internet service. The company said the license fee wouldn't have a large impact on its free cash flow. Telenet and Tecteo operate in different parts of the country, and Telenet already operates some limited mobile phone service via the Mobistar network.