T-Mobile Netherlands has agreed to sell its fixed broadband activities to CDS Group, the owner of satellite pay-TV provider CanalDigitaal. Euronet, the holding company for the T-Mobile activities which operate under the brand name Online, will remain an independent company alongside CanalDigitaal. No financial details of the takeover were disclosed. Euronet serves around 270,000 customers, in part over its own unbundled infrastructure. T-Mobile said the sale completes its new strategy started in 2012 to focus on mobile internet.
The takeover is expected to help CDS expand its offering in the fixed internet and telephony market, where CanalDigital has already started offering triple-play packages. CanaldDigitaal and Online previously had a cross-selling partnership, but last year that ended. According to CDS, CanalDigitaal will continue to work with KPN wholesale and its brand Telfort for fixed-line services while the integration of Online is developed.
CDS controls the Luxembourg-based M7 group, which offers satellite TV services in a number of European countries. The group is in turn controlled by private equity groups Providence and Airbridge.
