Orange and Telekom sign agreements to share their fixed and 4G networks in Romania

Local telecom operators Orange Romania and Telekom Romania have signed two separate contracts to share their fixed and mobile infrastructure, allowing each operator to offer more diversified services to their customers, according to announcements made by the two companies on Tuesday, February 16. Through this deal, Orange Romania gains access to Telekom’s fixed broadband network and will be able to provide high-speed fixed internet services and cable TV to its customers. Orange doesn’t currently have a fixed internet infrastructure in Romania. The company announced it would soon launch converged fixed-mobile service bundles. At the same time, Telekom Romania will be able to use Orange Romania’s 4G/4G network and provide its customers with higher quality mobile internet services. Orange has the highest 4G coverage in Romania, reaching 72% of the country population, and 96% of the urban one. Telekom Romania’s 4G network only covers about a third of Romania’s population and 57% of the population in urban areas. The deal seems to be a win-win, as Orange would have to invest massively to create its own fixed broadband network while Telekom has a lot of catching up to do on 4G data coverage, which is now the most dynamic segment on the telecom market and the main revenue growth engine. The structure of the projects based on the two contracts will enable Telekom Romania and Orange Romania to further compete independently on the market, in accordance with their own commercial policy and business strategy, according to the two companies.