elecommunication deals in Europe are popping up faster than spring flowers. Mobile giant Vodafone Group shelled out $4.4 billion in mid-March to grab wireless companies in Romania and the Czech Republic. Barely two weeks later, the Czech Republic accepted a separate $3.5-billion bid for 51 per cent of fixed-line and mobile operator Cesky Telecom from Spain�s Telefonica, which snatched the company away from the expected winner, Swisscom.

Now all eyes are on potentially one of the largest European acquisitions of the year - the battle for Italy�s No 3 wireless operator, Wind Mobile Group. A consortium of investors led by Egyptian telecom mogul Naguib Sawiris, which includes American financier Wilbur L Ross Jr, has the lead over rivals with a $15.6 billion offer for the company, owned by Italian utility Enel. A decision is imminent.... more