European telecom rivals France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom are sounding out more potential areas of technology cooperation, though share swaps are being ruled out. The partnerships may cover radio access network sharing in Europe, wireless internet while roaming, equipment standardisation and cross-border services, France Telecom said in a statement.

“This does not include any share swaps,” a France Telecom spokesman said, dashing some investor hopes that it was a first step towards stronger ties between the two.

Dat T-Mobile en Orange samenwerken is niet nieuw. In Nederland heeft T-Mobile in 2008 Orange overgenomen en in 2009 hebben beide partijen de netwerken in Engeland geintegreerd en zijn beide eigenaar van de Britse mobile operator Everything Everywhere