MORE MERGERS COMING, PLAYERS SAY --JUST NOT AMONG BABY BELLS

摘要

Mid-tier acquisitions likely will continue in 2007 even as big-money deals like AT&T-BellSouth stall, analysts say, noting that the wireless data and infrastructure markets are hot. In a Tues. deal, Swedish vendor Ericsson bought San Jose-based data networking gear maker Redback to widen its market into broadband video and VoIP markets. That was only the latest in a string of such events, including 2 Mon. -- as CenturyTel buys Madison River and Loral buys Telesat. The large Baby Bell mergers 搈ay be reaching an end?but 揳 whole wave of mid- and smaller-sized competitors?will be announcing mergers and acquisitions to recalibrate in the new market, said analyst Jeff Kagan. 揗ore mergers will occur,?he said, possibly even Bells buying out smaller firms now that Bell- Bell mergers will be tougher, he said.