Europe

French conglomerate Vivendi issued a statement yesterday confirming widespread reports it is in talks to buy a controlling stake in the African mobile phone businesses of Zain, the Kuwaiti telecoms group, as the French company seeks to ramp up its exposure to emerging markets.

Cellular News notes that Tele2 announced today that it has acquired the remaining 25.5 percent in the company 'Udmurtia Cellular Communication,' in the Russian region of Izhevsk.

The European Commission has opened a formal consultation period concerning the release of digital dividend spectrum as part of a plan to develop an EU-wide roadmap for the switch from analogue to digital TV, which is scheduled to complete in 2012.

India's MTNL has become the latest state-owned operator in the country to hint that it is looking to partner with a major international mobile firm to help with its 3G network rollout, reports Times of India.

Belgium's largest cable operator Telenet announced this week it has entered into a seven-year framework deal with Alcatel-Lucent for the construction, operation and maintenance of its new mobile network, reports Reuters.

Cellular News notes that Tele2 has announced that Dmitry Strashnov has been appointed the new CEO of Tele2 Russia. Dmitry Strashnov succeeds Donna Cordner, who is leaving the company.

Telecom Italia has selected the city of Milan to launch a HSPA+ network capable of theoretical peak download speeds of 28Mb/s, notes Telecompaper. Ericsson is the kit provider.