According to reports circulating the Internet, NTT DoCoMo is in talks to purchase a 10 percent stake in South Korean mobile operator KTF for $500 million. KTF confirmed that the two companies have been in negotiations since late last year over DoCoMo's equity investment, but said that nothing has been finalized yet. Rumors of deals like this have long trailed the duo, including speculated shared investment plans and deals much like this one. If the purchase goes through, it would enhance DoCoMo's position as it faces an increasingly tougher Japanese market. Just last month, the Japanese government announced for the first time in 12 years that it was granting mobile phone licenses to three companies. Fixed-line and broadband operator KT currently owns a 47.8 percent stake in KTF.
For more on the rumored DoCoMo, KTF deal:
- take a look at this article from The Korea Times