Communication Breakdown
Communications from the world of, er, communications. And other stuff.
Tuesday 5 May 2009, 5:17 PM
Reports: T-Mobile UK could be sold or merged
Deutsche Telekom is considering selling off T-Mobile UK or merging it with a rival, according to the Financial Times.
T-Mobile is the smallest of the four major UK mobile operators, and is facing stiff competition from O2, Vodafone and Orange.
The operator already has a network-sharing deal with 3 - the fifth-largest UK operator, so logic might therefore dictate a merger between the two, or the purchase of one by the other. Orange is being mooted as another possible partner.
Whatever happens, the FT's sources seem to indicate a rapid move, as DT's parents (the German government and the private equity group Blackstone) appear to be getting restless about T-Mobile's prospects in the UK.
T-Mobile is the smallest of the four major UK mobile operators, and is facing stiff competition from O2, Vodafone and Orange.
The operator already has a network-sharing deal with 3 - the fifth-largest UK operator, so logic might therefore dictate a merger between the two, or the purchase of one by the other. Orange is being mooted as another possible partner.
Whatever happens, the FT's sources seem to indicate a rapid move, as DT's parents (the German government and the private equity group Blackstone) appear to be getting restless about T-Mobile's prospects in the UK.
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