The Flemish broadcaster Medialaan has agreed to buy Belgian MVNO Mobile Vikings. The sale is part of cable operator Telenet's concessions to the European Commission aimed at securing approval for its takeover of mobile operator Base from KPN. In addition to buying Base's 50 percent stake in Vikings, Medialaan will take over the customers of JIM Mobile, a MVNO tied to Medialaan's channel JIM. Both MVNOs use the Base network.
JIM Mobile was set up in 2010 under a branded partnership with Base. Following Telenet's acquisition of Base, the 'branded partner' agreement would still continue, but Base would transfer, within a period of maximum two years, the around 200,000 JIM Mobile customers to Medialaan, which would then become a full MVNO on the Base network.
Mobile Vikings also confirmed plans to become a full MVNO after the takeover by Medialaan. In addition to Base's stake, Medialaan will also buy out the founders of Mobile Vikings to hold 100 percent of VikingCo. Vikings, a prepaid MVNO focused on data services, has around 240,000 customers. It said the takeover by Medialaan would allow it to offer new products at more competitive prices. The Viking founders said they will continue with developing the Vikings service in Poland and their Citylife advertising business, which helps develop 'Viking Deals' for the MVNO's customers.
Medialaan said the mobile activities would be combined under the name Medialaan Mobile, led by Herbert Vanhove, currently director for Innovation and Operations. The takeovers still depend on the European Commission's approval of the Base takeover and approval by the Belgian Competition Authority of Medialaan's acquisition of VikingCo and the JIM Mobile customer base. No financial details were disclosed.
