telecommunications — english language news service
19.05.2008« [telecommunications — телекоммуникация — telekommunikation]
germany — deutsche bahn sells arcor stake to vodafone
The German national railway company Deutsche Bahn has agreed to sell its 18.2% stake in fixed line telco Arcor to Vodafone for around EUR330 million (USD510.8 million), the Financial Times Deutschland newspaper has reported, without citing sources. The deal will leave the UK group in control of 91.8% of Arcor. The remaining 8.2% is held by Deutsche Bank, which has reportedly said it will sell to Vodafone for EUR145 million. Arcor operates Germany's second largest fixed line voice and data network, offering a full range of services in more than 550 cities, and has been majority-owned by Vodafone since 2000. Press reports have been circulating since April 2006 that Vodafone wanted to buy out the two minority shareholders, but it was not until March this year that it confirmed it was in talks with Deutsche Bahn and Deutsche Bank about buying their Arcor stakes.
Source: TeleGeography's CommsUpdate
arcor
Arcor is taking a hardcore approach to the deregulated German telecommunications market. It is the number 2 telecom provider in Germany behind the country's incumbent carrier and former monopoly Deutsche Telekom. As a fixed-line carrier, Arcor offers data and voice services, including DSL and ISDN connections, to more than 20 million customers located mainly in Germany's largest cities. Arcor is 74%-owned by the Vodafone Group and held through the group's German holding company Vodafone Holding. Minority shareholders include railway operator Deutsche Bahn (18%), Arcor's major customer, and Deutsche Bank (8%).
vodafone d2
Vodafone D2 is the leading wireless communications carrier in Germany, after incumbent operator Deutsche Telekom subsidiary T-Mobile. Vodafone D2 has more than 28 million subscribers. The company offers wireless services including mobile Internet access and access to the Vodafone live! mobile portal service. It has operations in eight German cities and markets its products and services through more than 200 branch retail locations throughout the country. Vodafone D2 is a subsidiary of Vodafone Holding, the German holding company of ultimate parent Vodafone Group, the UK-based wireless giant.
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