Vodafone deal aims to aid £15bn takeover

VODAFONE has agreed to sell access to its enlarged German cable network in a bid to get its £15bn takeover of Liberty Global’s assets past competition regulators.

The British telecoms group has done a deal to provide high-speed internet to Telefonica Deutschland, which will then resell it to customers.

It could also allow Telefonica to offer set-top box television services in future.

Vodafone’s move comes after EU officials had concerns about its takeover of Liberty’s assets in Germany and Eastern Europe. They said it could lead to less competition in the broadband and TV markets. Vodafone hopes its proposals will ease the fears, and smooth the way for its takeover to go through in July.

Nick Read, Vodafone’s chief executive, said the deal meant Telefonica could provide faster broadband speeds to customers and enhance infrastructure competition in Germany.