AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands-KPN, the Dutch telecommunications company, is reportedly in talks with Belgian national telecommunications operator Belgacom regarding a merger. KPN is facing mounting pressure about its expanding debt load and reports that it is planning a rights issue.
According to international press reports, KPN is talking with Belgacom and other carriers about potential merger possibilities. The Dutch government owns 45 percent of KPN, and the Belgian government owns 50.1 percent of Belgacom.
Both carriers own mobile stakes in Belgium and the Netherlands, which could trigger regulatory hurdles. Belgacom owns a stake in mobile operator Ben in the Netherlands and Proximus in Belgium. KPN owns Belgium’s KPN Orange and KPN Mobile in the Netherlands.
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo owns 15 percent of KPN and plans to roll out i-mode-like services in the Netherlands later this year.
