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Germany: Telecom watchdog considers concessions for Telefonica, KPN merger

By  |  August 5, 2013

In its review of a proposed merger between telecommunications companies Telefonica and Royal KPN, Germany’s telecommunications regulator is reportedly considering forced concessions on the deal. Reports say the watchdog may required the two firms, which are looking to combine their mobile phone businesses, could be forced to divest some wireless frequencies to protect competition. Under current policy, such frequencies were granted to operators on condition that they remain independent, said the Federal Network Agency’s vice president Iris Henseler-Unger in a letter to KPN’s E-Plus unit last month. The deal, worth $10.8 billion, has been deemed a challenge to the European Commission, which ahs become notoriously strict regarding telecommunications mergers in recent years.

Full Content: Bloomberg

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