Business · Companies · 6 hrs ago
Deutsche Telekom puts planned T-Mobile US merger offer on hold
Deutsche Telekom has put its merger process with T-Mobile US on hold, according to a media report.
The German company already owns just over 54% of the US wireless carrier.
A merger would create the world's largest telecommunications company, and the companies had discussed setting up a new joint company in Ireland or Luxembourg.
Reported opposition from Deutsche Telekom's works council is one reason it has decided for now not to make a formal offer.
The plans also face other opposition: investor Elliott has pushed to stop the merger, and T-Mobile US managers have reportedly opposed it internally.
Deutsche Telekom could make another attempt later, but neither company commented on the reported decision when asked.
Deutsche Telekom has decided for now not to make a formal offer to merge with its US subsidiary T-Mobile US, according to a Bloomberg report cited by Handelsblatt.
Resistance from the company’s works council was among the reasons for the decision.
The report said Deutsche Telekom could make another attempt to submit an offer later.
A merger would create the world’s largest telecommunications company.
Deutsche Telekom already owns just over 54% of T-Mobile US.
- Who
- Deutsche Telekom and its US subsidiary, T-Mobile US.
- What
- Deutsche Telekom has put a planned formal merger offer on hold.
- When
- The report was published on October 28, 2026.
- Where
- The companies are based in Bonn and the United States; a proposed joint company could be based in Ireland or Luxembourg.
- Why
- The report cited resistance from the works council. The US management was also said to oppose a merger internally.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
It became known that activist investor Elliott had invested in Deutsche Telekom to oppose a merger and push for measures such as share buybacks.
Handelsblatt reported that Deutsche Telekom had decided for now not to make a formal offer, citing Bloomberg.
- Deutsche Telekom’s stake in T-Mobile US
- Just over 54%
- Proposed company locations
- Ireland or Luxembourg
- Potential scale of merger
- The world’s largest telecommunications company
- Activist investor
- Elliott