Vodafone Group announced its cable wholesale agreement with Telefonica Deutschland in Germany in order to win approval from the European Commission for Vodafone’s deal to buy Liberty Global’s operations.
The cable wholesale deal will allow Telefonica to offer broadband services to consumers on Vodafone and Unitymedia’s cable network in Germany. The deal is subject to the completion of Vodafone’s acquisition of Liberty Global’s operations in Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania.
Telefonica will be able to market broadband services over the combined Vodafone and Unitymedia cable network in Germany, which covers 23.7 million households.
Telefonica’s customers will benefit from access to download speeds of up to 300 Mbps on the cable network. Telefonica can deliver competitive broadband and over-the-top (OTT) TV services.
Vodafone has submitted a remedy package comprising the cable wholesale agreement and a commitment to ensure sufficient capacity is available for OTT TV distribution – to the European Commission which is yet to approve Vodafone’s acquisition of Liberty Global.
Vodafone said the European Commission will undertake market testing of the remedy package, which is expected to conclude during May 2019.
The cable wholesale agreement and OTT commitment will enhance broadband competition in Germany benefitting consumers and broadcasters, Nick Read, CEO of Vodafone Group, said.
