EC clears Ono sale

The European Commission has approved the €7.2 billion acquisition of the Spanish cable operator Ono by Vodafone.

In a statement, it says that the “transaction would not raise competition concerns, as the parties’ activities are largely complementary: Ono’s main activity is related to fixed telecoms, whereas Vodafone is mainly active in mobile telecoms”.

It adds that although the two companies’ activities overlap in number of markets in the fixed and mobile telecom markets in Spain, “the impact of the transaction on these markets is likely to be limited as the combined entity would continue to face significant competition from other market players, such as the incumbent operator Telefónica, and other operators such as Orange and Jazztel”.

The Commission also says it concluded that “the merged entity will not be able to shut out fixed or mobile operators from the markets for multiple play services, because of the availability of alternative operators and the regulatory obligations in relation to wholesale access on mobile and fixed services.”

Quoting sources, among them at Vodafone Spain, El Economistareports that the transaction will now be finalised within two weeks and the first integrated offers could be launched as soon as later this summer or in early autumn.

ONO TV subscribers down 17,000 in 4Q 2013

MADRID — Grupo Corporativo ONO, the leading Spanish fiber-based communications and entertainment services company, announced today that it ended last year with strong growth in the number of new services subscribed to by its clients, at over 5,234,000.

Ono is starting to benefits from its highly-focused commercial strategy, based on high-speed data transmission, convergent telecommunications services and advanced TV services, such as TiVo. These are offered over its fiber network, the largest in Spain, reaching 7.2 million homes and covering approximately 45,000 kilometers.

Ono made strides in TV services, notably via TiVo (NASDAQ: TIVO), the advanced PVR service which in the last quarter alone added more than 65,000 clients. At the end of 2013, 323,000 clients – more than 40% of Ono’s TV service customer base – enjoyed TiVo, one of the most advanced TV services in the Spanish market, which consistently wins plaudits from its users. Additionally, since November, all of ONO’s TV clients enjoy the new Ono TV Online service.

ONO’s aim is to position TiVo as the benchmark product in the pay-TV market, differentiating the company from its competitors via advanced services and innovative and easy-to-use features.

Operating data (´000)

    Sep-13  Dec-13
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TV     807     790

ONO teams up with NTT Communications

Spain’s leading cable operator ONO has entered into a strategic partnership with NTT Communications. Through it, ONO will benefit from the performance and quality of service of the global IP network operated by NTT Communications and increase the range of internet services it offers to large customers and operators.

NTT Communications will meanwhile become one of the leading providers of IP transit in Spain and expand its global IP Tier 1 network with two new points of presence (PoPs) in Valencia and Seville.

They will join the ones it already has in Barcelona and Madrid, along with 14 others in the rest of Europe.

NTT Communications is part of NTT Group, the largest telco provider in the world, according to the Global Fortune List 500.

ONO is the leading provider of quad play communications and entertainment in Spain, providing services to over 7 million customers throughout the country.

ONO teams up with Sony

Spain’s leading cable operator ONO has signed what it terms a unique agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment Spain (SCE Spain) ahead of the launch of PlayStation 4 (PS4) in the country.

Under it, ONO subscribers using PS4 with a 100Mbps internet connection will have the connected speed doubled to 200Mbps with no increase in their monthly fee.

Furthermore, as part of a special introductory offer, these customers be provided will be provided with a free year’s subscription to PlayStation Plus.

ONO has it own, 45,000km+ fibre optic next generation network, providing advanced services to over seven million homes throughout Spain.

PS4 will launch in Spain on November 29 and cost an estimated €399.