January 10 (SeeNews) - Croatian wireless operator Vipnet is in the home stretch of talks to acquire local alternative carrier Metronet Telekomunikacije in a bid to enter the fixed-line segment, Zagreb-based media reported.
Vipnet is now only awaiting the go-ahead for the deal from its parent, Telekom Austria, Poslovni Dnevnik (www.poslovni.hr) quoted unnamed industry sources as saying.
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The wireless operator plans to buy another one or two local alternative carriers with B.net, H1 Telekom and Optima Telekom [ZSE:OPTE-R-A] high on the watchlist, the news daily said.
According to Poslovni's sources, Vipnet would like to secure between 150 and 200 million euro ($193.3 million-$257.8 million) for the first round of acquisitions of Croatian fixed-line telecoms.
Metronet (www.metronet.hr) was set up in 2005 with a primary focus on business customers. It offers fixed-line voice and broadband Internet services.
Telekom Austria has already snapped up a couple of cable operators in the region. In September, its Bulgarian wireless unit Mobiltel said it was paying a combined 72 million euro for 100% of local companies Megalan Network and Spectrum Net.
($=0.7758 euro)