Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10815 – DEUTSCHE TELEKOM / ORANGE / TELEFONICA / VODAFONE / JV) (Text with EEA relevance) 2023/C 12/08
Date: 2023-01-13
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, merger control, provision of services, technology, telecommunications, television








C_2023012EN.01001301.xml










13.1.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 12/13






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.10815 – DEUTSCHE TELEKOM / ORANGE / TELEFONICA / VODAFONE / JV)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2023/C 12/08)

1.   
On 6 January 2023, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).
This notification concerns the following undertakings:






—


Deutsche Telekom AG (‘Deutsche Telekom’, Germany),










—


Orange SA (‘Orange’, France),










—


Telefónica S.A. (‘Telefónica’, Spain),










—


Vodafone Group plc (‘Vodafone’, UK).




Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of a new joint venture.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are the following:






—


Deutsche Telekom is a multinational telecommunications operator with activities in more than 50 countries worldwide providing mobile and/or fixed telecommunications services as well as internet access, television and technology products,










—


Orange is a multinational telecommunications operator with activities in 27 countries worldwide providing a wide range of electronic communications services mainly in the area of fixed and mobile telecommunications and internet access as well as telecommunications services to multinational companies,










—


Telefónica is a multinational telecommunications operator and mobile network provider with activities mainly in Europe, the United Kingdom and South America providing mobile, fixed, internet and television services,










—


Vodafone is a multinational telecommunications operator with activities in 21 countries predominantly in Europe and Africa providing mobile telecommunication services, fixed telephony services and retail television and technology services.






3.   

The JV will be active in the provision of a digital identification solution to support the digital marketing and advertising activities of brands and publishers.



4.   

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.



5.   
The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:
M.10815 – DEUTSCHE TELEKOM / ORANGE / TELEFONICA / VODAFONE / JV
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:
Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu
Fax +32 22964301
Postal address:





European Commission




Directorate-General for Competition




Merger Registry




1049 Bruxelles/Brussel




BELGIQUE/BELGIË







(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).