Economía/Telecos.-El operador Millicom deja de estar en venta tras el fracaso de la negociación con un posible comprador

LUXEMBURGO,

Cellphone operator Millicom said Monday it had called off takeover talks after "prolonged discussions" with a potential purchaser.

Luxembourg-based Millicom said it had decided that the bidder _ which is did not identify _ could not make a firm offer.

Millicom "concluded that this purchaser will not be in a position within an acceptable time frame to make a binding offer that is suitably attractive, given the current strong performance of the business, or sufficiently certain of closing," the company said in a statement.

The Wall Street Journal had reported in May that China Mobile _ China's largest mobile carrier by subscribers _ was planning to buy the telecom company in its first major overseas purchase. Neither Millicom or China Mobile had confirmed that.

Millicom International Cellular SA has close to 10 million cellphone subscribers in 16 countries across Asia, Latin America and Africa.

It focuses on emerging markets, offering low cost telephone calls to prepaid customers. In 2005, it reported US$1.08 billion (*844 million) in revenues. 031431 jul 06GMT