Malaysian mobile operator DiGi Telecommunications is considering taking a stake in fixed line and broadband service provider TIMEdotCom, according to local news sources. DiGi is the only mobile operator in the country without a 3G licence, and lost out to TIME in a UMTS concession auction earlier this year. TIME says it plans to invest MYR800 million (USD213 million) in the launch of 3G-based broadband internet services. It does not plan to use the 3G frequency to launch cellular services and instead intends to use the concession to augment its wireline broadband internet offerings. It says it will roll out commercial wireless 3G broadband services by September 2006 and is targeting 80% coverage by 2010.
It has also been reported that DiGi’s parent, Telenor of Norway, is to reduce its 61% holding in the mobile operator to 49% by December.