Qwest Communications International said that it was talking to several potential bidders for its mobile-telephone network, encouraging investors that phone shares would rally.
Ofcom had originally set aside a special tranche of spectrum for on bidder to provide mobile broadband service specifically for indoor reception, and the winner of that lot, it said, was Telefonica/O2.
[C7.] Bidders to Seek Italian Mobile Unit At least two bidders are expected to make offers this week for Wind, the telecommunications unit of the Italian energy group Enel, which is valued at about $17.3 billion.
Also this month, Huawei, a Chinese telecoms equipment maker, put off its plans to sell control of its mobile devices unit after several shortlisted bidders abandoned their interest amid declining growth prospects and rising credit costs.
Among other expected bidders: Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile; Sprint Nextel through a joint venture that includes Time Warner's Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Cox Communications and Advance/Newhouse; and Leap Wireless International.
The 4G auction sold off more radio spectrum than ever before to bidders including the four main mobile networks and BT.
The T-mobile deal would result in fewer potential bidders in its airwave auctions.
BT was also a disappointed bidder for the third Italian mobile licence; its enthusiasm for the fourth licence has been tempered by the limited spectrum that is on offer.
After a three-week delay, the Swiss government permitted its auction of four high-speed mobile phone licenses to proceed with only four bidders, under rules essentially ensuring that each would win one license.
The 4G auction raised £2.3 billion, with bidders including fixed line incumbent BT, and major mobile carriers Vodafone, Telefonica/O2, and EE, as well as smaller mobile upstart Three.
Dutch antitrust regulators said they had raided the offices of Versatel Telecom International and Telfort, two bidders in a July auction of mobile-phone licenses, seeking evidence that the two companies had colluded in their bidding.
