AsiaWatch: NTT Revamp Rumors

The Japanese telecom market could be set for a radical upheaval -- a prospect that's not pleasing everyone. And after a day's break for Dusshera, the Indian market is back in the news.

The Japanese government looks set to establish a working group to review telecom policies and regulatory reforms, a move that could lead to a reorganization of NTT Group (NYSE: NTT), Bloomberg reports.

NTT's rivals, though, are worried that a revamp of the Japanese giant might include the merger of its East and West operating units, a move that would make NTT even more dominant, according to AsiaPulse.

Meanwhile, NTT continues its overseas expansion: It has set up NTT Communications Philippines Corporation (NTT Com Philippines) in Manila to "provide system integration, security solutions and other ICT services from October 1." (see NTT Launches in Philippines, DoCoMo to Buy Content Delivery Specialist, NTT Beefs Up in Europe, and Tata Rolls Out GSM as Tata DoCoMo.)

In India, those companies winning 3G spectrum in December's planned auction will also get 2G spectrum, according to the Economic Times. (See India Resets 3G Date.)

Still in India, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL) is looking for a partner to build the IT and communications network for the 2010 Commonwealth Games (Delhi, Oct 3-14), reports the Economic Times.

Iran's government has sold a majority stake (50 percent plus one share) in the national operator, Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) , for about $7.8 billion, reports Bloomberg.

— Ray Le Maistre, International News Editor, Light Reading