quickymart: I really, really hope Telstra Clear *don't* buy Vodafone.

munchkin - yes, true, also Vodafone's presence in America is a shareholding in Verizon - a CDMA provider, to throw another spanner in the works :)

old3eyes: Maybe AT&T Wireless (x Bell South) will buy it back :-)

tardtasticx: Hopefully some super rich sod from Dubai will buy it in cash and build an LTE network <3

quickymart: munchkin - yes, true, also Vodafone's presence in America is a shareholding in Verizon - a CDMA provider, to throw another spanner in the works :)

tardtasticx: Hopefully some super rich sod from Dubai will buy it in cash and build an LTE network <3

nickb800: It seems the three main potential buyers would be:
1) Random private equity group/other loaded investment group, simply for profit*
2) Random foreign telco, looking for a way into the NZ market, of just for profit*
3) Telstra - regardless of the differences with their network in aussie, having their own network here would still have its benefits, and they would become a serious contender to telecom (although potential comcom permission needed for such a merger)

*Yes I realise all businesses do things for profit in the long run, its just that others have incentives like synergies and efficiences with their existing business model

robbyp: Telstra would probably be the most likely buyer,

robbyp: 
 


Telstra would probably be the most likely buyer, although some rich chinese company may consider it, or a NZ retirement fund (hope not).

pwner:

robbyp: .... Telecom sold off their Yellow pages at the right time :)

That was one of the best moves Telecom has made! really who uses their phone books apart from propping up something? :)

I would say it is the right time to sell off VFNZ, but as the articles also say there aren't really any buyers at the moment. That is unless TelstraClear decide that they might as well just bite the bullet and buy their way into the New Zealand mobile market. After all the problems they have had with being a reseller and building their own network it would seem like the easy answer. Giving Vodafone access to the TelstraClear fibre and fixed line assets would be great for Vodafone as well.

also Telstra (Aus) are going to get $43bn to build the NBN, i am sure there is some profit in there so that could easily fund a $1.2bn pound purchase of Vodafone. although i think they could probably get a better price.

let the rumors begin :)