BSkyB 'considering UK mobiles move'
Satellite broadcaster BSkyB is understood to be considering a move on Britain’s mobile phone market.
The FTSE 100 company has discussed buying up a portion of the airwaves put up for sale by Everything Everywhere, the owner of mobile networks Orange and T-Mobile, according to the Sunday Times. The spectrum could be used to launch superfast 4G networks.
The move would see BSkyB add mobile phone to its television, internet and land-line phone package and would strengthen its position in the face of new competition from the likes of Lovefilm and Netflix.
BSkyB, which is 39% owned by News Corporation, reported a 5% increase in revenues in the nine months to March 31, despite freezing prices for customers, to £5.1bn and a 17% rise in pre-tax profits to £853m.
The phone-hacking scandal at News International, which led to the closure of Sunday tabloid the News of the World, scuppered News Corp’s plans to take full control of BSkyB and ultimately led to Rupert Murdoch’s son, James, stepping down as chairman of the broadcaster.
