Vivendi's SFR confirms in running to buy virtual mobile operator Debitel |
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Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:27
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PARIS (Thomson Financial) - Vivendi's SFR unit is in the running to acquire virtual mobile operator Debitel in France, a SFR spokesman said, confirming a report in Les Echos this morning.'We are a candidate but the matter is still developing,' he said, without giving any other details.German-owned Debitel, which launched in France in February 2005, operates using SFR's network. It currently has 160,000 customers compared with a previous target of 500,000 by the end of 2006.Les Echos also reported France Telecom's Orange and Telecom Italia's Alice are in advanced talks with another virtual mobile operator, Ten, over a possible buyout or strategic partnership.Ten chief executive Jean-Louis Constanza later told Agence France-Presse: 'We are looking for a partner, preferably an industrial one, to support the shareholders but not to buy the company.'Both France Telecom and Alice declined to comment on the matter.There are currently around 15 virtual mobile operators in France, accounting for around 3.5 pct of market share as of the end of March.tfn.paris@thomson.comafp/gt/ms1COPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.
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