FRANCE TELECOM TO TAKE A STAKE IN EUSKALTEL...

French daily Les Echos reported on December 27 that France Telecom may shortly acquire a stake in the Basque telecommunications group Euskaltel, a partner of Amena. According to the paper, Euskaltel Chairman Jose Antonio Ardanza has confirmed that the French operator may acquire a stake in the company and join the Board of Administration. Mr Ardanza also declared that the two partners are currently negotiating a "strategic alliance" on third-generation mobile telephony. The daily points out that the agreement tying Euskaltel and Amena expires in 2007. France Telecom announced its intention in July to acquire the Spanish mobile telecommunications operator Amena for euro 6.4 billion. Established in 1995, Euskaltel saw turnover rise 9% in 2005 to euro 316 million, quadrupling net profits to euro 63 million.

... and prepares to move in to free view television

France Telecom is planning in 2006 to launch its own free-view television channels for Internet subscribers, according to a report on December 26 in the...