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Russian authorities are seeking more details from Siemens AG and Nokia Oyj about their joint telecoms equipment venture, saying it could get a dominant market position in the Russian market.
A Siemens spokesman said any delay resulting from the Russian request would not threaten the venture’s planned launch.
"This is not an unusual proceedure and it would not influence the deal on global basis," said a Siemens spokesman.
Mobile phone maker Nokia and German industrial conglomerate Siemens said last June they would merge their telecoms network equipment businesses. Around one in five mobile phone calls globally is made via a Siemens or Nokia network.
"According to preliminary estimates … (the venture) will increase its share on Russia’s mobile network market and will be able to dominate it under certain conditions," Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service said in a statement.
"The Antimonopoly service of the Russian Federation has decided to prolong the time for consideration of the application due to the necessity to get more information," it said.
More details on the possible timetable were not immediately available. Nokia and Siemens have won permission from key authorities for the deal in the European Union and the United States, but the deal which will create one of the largest players in the telecoms equipment industry has to be approved in numerous countries.
"Nearly all antitrust authorities worldwide have given their approval," the Siemens spokesman said, while Barry French, spokesman for Nokia Networks, said: "We continue to work with the authorities in Russia and will, of course, respond to any additional questions they may have".
Source: Reuters
It won’t be long, and like the article states: This won’t affect Nokia’s global operations.
About The Author
Stefan Constantinescu
Stefan Constantinescu (@WhatTheBit on Twitter) has loved technology since as far back as he can remember. It started with computers, but in the past few years his passion has turned to mobile devices. As a mobile phone enthusiast who lives and breathes devices that connect to the internet, he knows he is not alone with this radical fascination of all things wireless. He is strongly opinionated and enjoys a good debate so leave comments in his posts and he’ll get back to you! Stefan began blogging as a hobby in the fall of 2006 and joined IntoMobile in the summer of 2007. Later he got a job at Nokia in March 2008, but as of June 2009 he has rejoined the IntoMobile team. He is currently based out of Helsinki, Finland.
