Deutsche Telekom has increased its existing stake in IT service provider HMM Deutschland to 49.9 percent with an option to acquire a majority stake in the future. HMM Deutschland, in which the German operator already holds an18 percent interest, specialises in networking services for the healthcare sector. The deal is a sign of Deutsche Telekom’s growing interest in a sector where HMM Deutschland links health insurers and firms such as pharmacies and medical suppliers. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Deutsche Telekom acquired its initial stake in the IT provider in 2008.

This is the German operator’s latest investment in healthcare. Previously it has participated in an investment round for Jawbone, a health and fitness device vendor, as well as being involved in trials of patient monitoring and developing an online health and fitness assessment service with wireless platform Quentiq.

However the increased investment in HMM Deutschland is more of a B2B strategy for the German operator. The country's health insurers provide the likes of pharmacies and medical suppliers with goods such as bandages or hearing aids which have been prescribed by doctors. HMM handles the electronic exchange of billing data between the various parties.

The company serves over 40 health insurers and more than one third of all medical suppliers in Germany where it is the market leader.  Deutsche Telekom says HMM’s X3 data format will be able to establish itself in Germany as the basis for the electronic exchange of information in healthcare. HMM is actively pursuing this goal. In addition, Istok Kespret, HMM’s CEO, said with Deutsche Telekom as its partner the vendor will be able to offer customers new services in the area of home care or the billing of medication and medical aids.