Lattelecom mulls mobile market entry

Latvia’s fixed line incumbent Lattelecom is considering the launch of mobile services, chairman Nils Melngailis told business daily Dienas Bizness. The telco is widely predicted to sell its 23% stake in incumbent cellco Latvijas Mobilais Telefons (LMT) to TeliaSonera. If the deal goes through it will need to take a strategic decision regarding launching its own mobile business, or risk losing its ‘competitiveness and value’. Unofficial sources told the paper that there were rumours that Lattelecom could buy the country’s newest cellco, Bitë Latvia, a subsidiary of TDC-owned Lithuanian operator Bitë GSM, or launch MVNO services.