Business · Companies · 5 hrs ago
Deutsche Telekom seeks government backing for T-Mobile US merger
Deutsche Telekom chief Tim Höttges is pursuing a merger with T-Mobile US, the group’s US subsidiary.
He is seeking support from Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the German government, which has a veto right over the plan.
The deal would be one of the largest mergers of listed companies ever.
Höttges is also responding to growing competition from Elon Musk’s telecom plans: Musk’s Starlink already offers satellite-based mobile service, and a US purchase of Boost, a mobile unit owned by EchoStar, may be close, according to a newspaper report cited in the coverage.
T-Mobile US contributes about two-thirds of Deutsche Telekom’s revenue, making the proposed deal important to the group.
Deutsche Telekom is due to publish its quarterly results on Thursday, but the coverage does not say when a decision on the merger may come.
Deutsche Telekom chief Timotheus Höttges is seeking support from Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the German government for a proposed merger involving T-Mobile US, Handelsblatt reported.
The deal would combine Deutsche Telekom with its US subsidiary and could be one of the largest mergers of publicly listed companies.
Four people familiar with the matter told Handelsblatt that winning government backing is currently a main focus.
The government has veto rights over the plan, according to Handelsblatt.
The report cited growing competition from Elon Musk’s telecommunications plans as one reason for the proposed merger.
- Who
- Deutsche Telekom chief Timotheus Höttges is seeking support from Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the German government.
- What
- Höttges is pursuing a merger involving Deutsche Telekom and its US subsidiary, T-Mobile US.
- When
- Handelsblatt reported on the effort on November 4, 2026.
- Where
- Germany and the United States.
- Why
- Handelsblatt cited competition from Elon Musk’s telecommunications plans as one reason for the deal.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Washington Post reported that a purchase of EchoStar’s Boost mobile subsidiary by Musk’s satellite operator could be close.
Handelsblatt reported that Höttges was seeking support from Merz and the German government for the merger plan.
Deutsche Telekom is due to release quarterly results, according to Handelsblatt.
- Deutsche Telekom chief
- Timotheus Höttges
- US subsidiary
- T-Mobile US
- German chancellor
- Friedrich Merz
- Sources cited on government support effort
- Four insiders told Handelsblatt
- T-Mobile share movement
- Fell by more than 2 percent after the report about a possible Boost purchase
- Deutsche Telekom revenue share
- T-Mobile US contributes around two-thirds of the group’s revenue