By Rory Jones
BARCELONA-- Vodafone Group PLC will launch television services
later this year as the wireless telecoms operator tries to boost
revenues amid greater competition from incumbent players.
Vodafone's chief executive officer said it is pulling together a
suite of content for its U.K. customers that will enable it to
offer television, Internet, fixed-line and mobile telephone
services in the second half of the year.
"We are working to create a good bouquet of content," Vittorio
Colao told reporters at the Mobile World Congress conference in
Barcelona.
Vodafone, based in Newbury, in southern England, has struggled
in recent years to grow revenues owing to its exposure to weak
European markets. Sales have improved in recent quarters, but the
company has been seeking ways to boost its income and win customers
across all its markets.
Mr. Colao said he welcomed recent industry consolidation, but
was concerned with the monopolistic position that some telecoms
operators in Europe were being allowed by regulators on fixed-line
networks. The world's No. 2 mobile operator by number of
subscribers after China Mobile Ltd. has said it would start selling
its version of high-speed Internet access in the U.K. through a
wholesale agreement with BT Group PLC.
"The abuse of an incumbent position even if you are not dominant
is now back on the radar screen," Mr. Colao said.
Write to Rory Jones at rory.jones@wsj.com
Access Investor Kit for BT Group Plc
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=GB0030913577
Access Investor Kit for Vodafone Group Plc
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=GB00BH4HKS39
Access Investor Kit for China Mobile Ltd.
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=HK0941009539
Access Investor Kit for BT Group Plc
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US05577E1010
Access Investor Kit for China Mobile Ltd.
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US16941M1099
Access Investor Kit for Vodafone Group Plc
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US92857W3088
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires