Orange CEO expects BT deal decision by Christmas

04 December 2014 |

Stephane Richard, CEO at Orange, told reporters today that he expects BT to make a decision on whether to bid for EE or O2 before this Christmas.

“BT has its own calendar,” Richard said at a conference today. “You should know more a few days before Christmas.”

Last week, BT announced that it was considering buying the UK’s second-largest mobile player O2 back from Telefónica, having sold it to the Spanish operator nearly 10 years ago.

Later the same week, the UK incumbent was also reported to be in talks to acquire EE – the UK’s largest mobile operator – which has resulted in Hutchison Whampoa also hinting towards a potential acquisition of EE or O2.