Press reports in Germany claim that local telecoms giant Deutsche Telekom is planning to merge its fixed-line and mobile operations. Financial Times Deutschland, citing sources close to the firm, says the operator – parent company of T-Mobile – is expected to reorganise its operations according to geographic zones, but will not cut jobs. According to another report from local business daily Handelsblatt, the reorganisation will not affect T-Mobile’s international businesses. However, Deutsche Telekom declined to comment on the reports when contacted by AFP.

A merger of its fixed-line and mobile unit would mirror similar moves by incumbent operators in other countries. AFP notes that Swisscom in neighbouring Switzerland has already done so. It was separately announced this week that the South Korean regulator has approved Korea Telecom’s merger with its majority-owned mobile firm, KTF, despite complaints from rivals that such a move would distort competition in the country.