We are interested in all the cable business, hamanifetado in an interview Patrick Drahi, president of Altice, the company of investment that 30 per cent of Numericable Noos possess.

Drahi said that Numericable Noos had his eyes put in the principal business of cable of Portugal and later he would think that to do an offer for the principal Spanish operator, who said might be sold inside 3 to 5 years.

ONO is the biggest operator of cable television of Spain after his merger with Auna. It belongs to companies of private capital and some Spanish associates include the Bank Santander.

The biggest operator of cable of Portugal is a TV End, a unit of Multimedia PT, of which Portugal Telecom possesses slightly more than 50 per cent.

Drahi said that he hopes that Phone companhy and UPC should be possible rivals for the business of Portuguese cable.


(Reuters, 01/12/06)