LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The telecoms regulator on Thursday fined the Greek unit of UK mobile giant Vodafone 19.1 mln eur for violating network regulations in a wire-tapping scandal that rocked the country last year.

The fine is the second handed to Vodafone Hellas over the case after a 76 mln eur penalty levelled by Greece's communication privacy watchdog last December.

Some 100 Vodafone cellphones in February 2006 were found to have been compromised by an illicit network that tapped sets used by Greek Premier Costas Karamanlis, his wife and several ministers from June 2004 to March 2005.

The tapping used software slipped into Vodafone's network by unknown perpetrators to illegally activate an Ericsson-made module permitting call interception.

On Thursday, the national telecommunications regulator EETT accused Vodafone of breaching regulations on the protection of telecommunications privacy, network maintenance and quality, and consumer protection.

The company rejected last December's fine as 'illegal, unfair and baseless.'

A Greek parliament committee collecting evidence on the case last November noted the involvement of three employees of telecoms giants Ericsson Hellas and Vodafone Greece, identified only by their initials.

'The whole system could not operate without Ericsson know-how and without access from within (Vodafone),' the report said.

The Greek branch of Swedish telecom equipment giant Ericsson has also been fined 7.36 mln eur over the case.

The parliamentary committee did not rule out the involvement of other people operating outside Greece.

The Greek justice department has opened an investigation into the case but nobody has yet been charged.

Days before the affair came to light, a senior Vodafone expert was found hanged inside his home.

The death of Costas Tsalikidis, manager of Vodafone Greece's network planning section, was linked to the case and his family suspects he was murdered.

A nice little divi from Verizon!

smart move by Tanker to buy another slab a day or two ago :-)

Verizon dividend looks as though it is going to be wasted on share buy-backs.

Oriel Securities Buy TP 235p Reiterates

Liberum Capital Buy Reiterates

Noble Buy TP 210p Reiterates

Deutsche Bank Buy TP 225p Retains

So what do you reckon, skinny? Buy, sell or hold?

Looking at the chart and apart from the divi, why would one buy these at the moment?

Maybe a longshot Stan (hope it is) no pun intended. Rallied for last four years in December, plus broker rec's above and divi must be worth a go don't you think?

Lord Gnome - I'll hold - the bulk of my holding is still in profit (just) and they form part of the yield element of my SIPP.

Questor share tip: Vodafone falls present buying opportunity

Vodafone shares limped to a 13-month low yesterday, as investors took fright at its exposure to Southern Europe. However, Questor reckons that things are as not bad as they seem.

Citigroup Buy TP 190.00 Retains

Goldman Sachs Buy TP 219.00 Reiterates

Noble Buy TP 200.00 Reiterates

JP Morgan Cazenove Overweight TP 220.00 Reiterates

Deutsche Bank Buy TP 225.00 Retains

Nomura Neutral TP 190.00 Retains

UBS Buy TP 200.00 Retains

Morgan Stanley Overweight TP 210.00 Retains

don't forget they have still to settle their billion $ tax dispute with the Indian government.

Thanks CC that's a good marker about the December rise over the last 5 years and Divi.

I've just read a little bit about that dispute H/F. Wonder if it is the reason for the "sharp" fall of late?

15 November 2012

VODAFONE INDIA SECURES SPECTRUM TO ENHANCE MOBILE SERVICES FOR CUSTOMERS

Vodafone India has been awarded spectrum licences in 14 telecom circles in the Indian government's 1800 MHz spectrum auction, enabling the company to provide customers with enhanced mobile services across the country, including in rural areas.

Vodafone India bid successfully for 2.5MHz of spectrum in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh West, Haryana, Orissa, North East, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and West Bengal and 1.25MHz in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh East, Maharashtra and Kerala. Vodafone's total bid in the auction was GBP138million (INR11.28bn(1) ).The spectrum secured is available for use immediately.

Vodafone's decision to participate in the 2G auction was to secure additional spectrum in circles where it has not received new 2G spectrum since 2008. Since then, Vodafone's customer base in India has grown from 60 million to over 150 million today. The additional spectrum and continued network investments will enable Vodafone India to build on its success in delivering superior mobile services to its customers throughout India.

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16 November 2012

VODAFONE IRELAND SECURES SPECTRUM TO DELIVER ENHANCED SERVICES FOR CUSTOMERS

Vodafone Ireland has secured a significant amount of spectrum in the Irish government's auction, enabling the company to provide its customers with enhanced mobile internet services across the country.

The spectrum award will support Vodafone Ireland's plans to develop the next generation of wireless data services, known as Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. LTE transforms the customer experience of the mobile internet, offering high-speed data access and rich multimedia services.

Vodafone Ireland acquired 2x10MHz in the 800MHz band, 2x10MHz in the 900MHz band, and 2x15 MHz in the 1800MHz band valid from 2013 until 2015. Vodafone Ireland also acquired 2x10MHz in the 800MHz band, 2x10MHz in the 900MHz band, and 2x25MHz in the 1800MHz band valid from 2015 until 2030. The total amount paid is EUR160.85million.

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Flippin 'eck. Still dropping. Didn't buy in, but that was by sheer luck (circumstance) rather than judgement. You day traders must surely be looking for a bounce soon, though ex-divi on wed, so presumably not before that?

H/C, Wonder if as H/F says in post 362 it's that Tax Dispute that is depressing the SP? When do you return to the UK?

Am in Chennai at mo, then on to Bangalore. Another couple of weeks and back to Blighty! Doesn't look as though I have missed much (apart from the F1). England cricket team over here doing badly. :o(
Reading the local papers over here, it looks a though the retrospective tax demand has been deferred under appeal, so some good news for VOD. Still surprised there wasn't a small surge pre-divi, which doesn't bode well, imo.

Yes I tend to agree with your last comment, so I am staying clear for the moment. Sounds like your having a good time out there and getting around the Country. Not been to the far east as I'm not really a very hot weather person but always fascinated by the way people live in other Countries, Anthropology I think it's called. Stay safe anyway.

Thanks for that Stan. I just love the hot weather, though litter and air pollution are dire here and really spoil an otherwise beautiful country.

4G tests reveal patchy urban coverage

The first large-scale test of EE's new 4G network has indicated less than half of Manchester city centre is able to take advantage of its high speeds.

Data collected by mobile coverage firm RootMetrics and shared exclusively with the BBC reveals just 40.2% of its test locations had access to the 4G network.