In a novel bid to gain EU approval for their proposed Danish merger, TeliaSonera and Telenor are willing to sell a minority stake in the combined entity’s infrastructure unit to a new entrant.

According to Reuters, the new proposal came after their offer to sell 2100 MHz spectrum in Denmark and rent up to 15 per cent of the merged entity’s network capacity to a new rival received “negative market feedback”.

Telenor and TeliaSonera want to consolidate their Danish operations, a move that would reduce the number of operators from four to three. It is being watched as a benchmark for how Margrethe Vestager, the European Competition Commissioner, considers mobile mergers, with more deals to come around Europe.

A spokesperson told Mobile World Live that the commission had no comment about the report.

Under the new deal put forward by the operators, the Danish joint venture would become the wholesale infrastructure provider to a new entrant which, curiously, would not own any spectrum itself.

However, the entrant would become a shareholder in the infrastructure firm, which is called TT-Netvaerket, with an initial 15 per cent stake. The newcomer would have an option to increase its stake by five per cent a year until it reaches 40 per cent.

In addition, Telenor Denmark is prepared to sell its BiBob prepaid online business, which has between 140,000 and 150,000 subscribers, to a new entrant, along with its IT systems and marketing services.

Telenor and TeliaSonera are thought to have submitted its revised proposal on 1 September, ahead of a 4 September deadline for third party feedback. The operators could know as early as this week what the commission’s reaction is.

Telenor told Mobile World Live it was involved in an ongoing dialogue with the commission but would not make further comment.

The EC has a deadline of 7 October to reach a decision on the Danish merger.

A number of companies are thought potential candidates as new entrants in Denmark, including Sweden’s tele 22 and local cable operator Strofa.