Europe

Dow Jones Newswires reports that shares in Telecom Italia fell 3 percent today as it was forced to delay for one month the release of its 2009 results.

Dow Jones Newswires reports that France's three established mobile operators have signed an agreement to share 3G network installations in order to extend coverage across the country.

France’s fourth-largest operator, Iliad, has selected Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) as the main supplier to build its 3G network. Iliad, which presently bundles broadband, TV and Internet services, plans to launch its Free Mobile service by early 2012 having been the only bidder for the 3G licence last December.

The largest mobile network auction in German history will take place April 12, daily Die Welt reports today, notes Dow Jones Newswires.

Tele2 - which claims to be one of Europe’s leading telecom operators with 26 million customers in 10 countries - used its fourth-quarter results announcement today to talk up its mobile expansion plans.

Kuwaiti-based Zain has said it has not received any offers for its African mobile networks despite reports that it is in talks with three major international operators

Telefonica has played down the chances of a merger with Telecom Italia, following reports that bankers are working on a deal to either takeover or break up the Italian incumbent operator.