You are here: silicon.com > Networks > Mobile & Wireless

KPN and Hutch resolve 3 funding row

Everyone left happier, apart from some lawyers on the court steps...

By Tony Hallett

Published: 10 November 2003 17:05 GMT

KPN Mobile's acrimonious dispute over its obligations to UK operator 3 has been ended with the sale of its stake to Hutchison Whampoa for £90m.

Hutchison's share will now rise to 80 per cent - NTT DoCoMo will own the remainder - and the deal avoids a potentially messy court case that was due to begin today in London.

KPN Mobile had been arguing for the past few months over stumping up a further £150m in additional funding for the 3G operator. Both sides will now avoid expensive and embarrassing court proceedings.

KPN will receive £60m now and £30m spread evenly over the next three years. The Dutch telco had long written off its holding the 3G venture, which has pioneered W-CDMA-based mobile services in the UK.

Hutchison Whampoa group MD Canning Fok called the investment "an excellent move".

Add comment

Print story with

Email story

Not yet 3G but Nokia comes back with sexy devices

No 3G until at least 2006

3 on the up - other operators beware

3 gambles on three million more handsets

Hutchison takes huge losses as 3G sales don't measure up

In silicon.com

Read and write about internet access at the airports of the world at atlarge.com.

Commentary

Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: How the telcos could save themselves Doomed network operators could thrive with a bit of innovation

Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: Facebook saves teen from prison Another unexpected impact of social networking

Latest News

Beware the turf wars when merging comms

How the cloud is swallowing your comms

CIOs' advice on the perks and perils of unified communications

Google's Eric Schmidt on search, Android and all things Wave

Cheat Sheet: Virtualisation

Jobs

IT Service Desk (Help Desk) Operator, York; Active Directory, TCP/IP

Due to expansion our client is currently seeking an enthusiastic and effective Service Desk / Help Desk Operator to join their existing, busy, ...

Electronic Processing Operator (London)

Electronic Processing Operator (London) Our client is a leading provider of litigation support solutions within the legal and government sector who ...

MVNO / Mobile - Solution Architect - London

Network Operator Telecommunications environment. Experience: * Proven experience in the Telecommunications Service Provider or Mobile Network ...

Special Report Focus

Agenda Setters 2009
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.