Tele2, the Scandinavian telco, could enter the Austrian mobile telecoms market, thereby paving the way for antitrust approval of the merger of Telekom Austria and Hutchison.
Tele2 currently acts as a fixed telecoms and internet provider in Austria….
Tele2, the Scandinavian telco, could enter the Austrian mobile telecoms market, thereby paving the way for antitrust approval of the merger of Telekom Austria and Hutchison.
Tele2 currently acts as a fixed telecoms and internet provider in Austria. Alfred Pufitsch, head of Tele2 Austria, told local business paper Wirtschaftsblatt that his company is interested in operating an MVNO on the spectrum controlled by Hutchison and Telekom Austria.
Just days ago Hutchison MD Canning Fok had told journalists that his company has offered to the European Commission to open its network for MVNOs to ease antitrust concerns.
The EC is currently investigating the proposed takeover of Telekom Austria by Hutchison with a deadline set for late November. But Fok has said that Hutchison expects a decision much sooner, possibly within weeks. It has also been suggested that the EC is already market testing the remedies put forward buy the merging parties.
Tele2 Austria CEO Pufitsch said the company was assessing its options for launching an MVNO. In a next step, the company could also seek to acquire spectrum licences on its own in the upcoming auction of frequencies that are part of the digital dividend.
This auction was originally scheduled to take place in September, but in the light of the sale of Telekom Austria the Telecoms Control Commission (TKK) decided in April to postpone the auction of spectrum in the 800MHz, 900MHz, and 1800MHz band. The regulator wants to wait and see how the Orange Austria deal plays out before auctioning spectrum, because it might impact the goals of the auction, which the TKK has described as ensuring healthy competition among all players.
According to its annual report, Tele2 Austria generated sales of €156m in 2011, and an EBITDA of €36.7m.