Swedish, Norwegian telecom operators scrap planned Danish merger amid EU competition concerns

Telecom operators TeliaSonera and Telenor have abandoned a proposed merger of their Danish operations due to concerns by European Union regulators that it would stifle competition.

The Swedish and Norwegian companies said Friday in a joint release they were unable to agree with the EU's executive Commission "on acceptable conditions" to create "a robust mobile operator" in Denmark based on a deal agreed on in December.

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a separate statement that discussions with the parties on the merger "were not able to fully address the Commission's competition concerns".

She added: "What the parties offered was not sufficient to avoid harm to competition in Danish mobile markets."

TeliaSonera and Telenor said they would review other options to co-operate in the Danish telecoms market.