Orange Switzerland welcomes new mobile deal
The telecommunications operator Orange Switzerland has welcomed the announcement that France Telecom is to buy Britain's mobile phone group Orange in a SFr63.3 billion deal.
The Vodafone AirTouch company had to sell Orange to win regulatory approval for its acquisition of Germany's Mannesmann.
"The alliance between France Telecom and Orange UK is a very positive development. France Telecom has a big presence in the European mobile market, has a lot experience and a big financial strength which can only bring advantages," said Therese Wenger, spokeswoman for Orange Switzerland.
However, Wenger added there will be no direct impact for the operational business in Switzerland. "Orange UK is not the mother company of Orange Switzerland. It is one of our major shareholders with a 42.5 per cent stake, the same as the German company Viag," she explained.
"Synergies between France Telecom and Orange UK offer a lot of advantages which can strengthen our market presence in Switzerland but there is no direct impact at least in the short and medium-term regarding the shareholding," she said.
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