www.WirelessFederation.com/news: 1.5 billion euros will be paid by France Telecom to merge its Swiss Mobile Units with Sunrise, owned by TDC of Copenhagen. The move was taken to challenge Swisscom, the state-run market leader.

Sunrise and its own operator, Orange Switzerland will combine with France Telecom forming a new entity with 38 percent market share and 3.4 million customers. 75% of the joint venture will be owned by France Telecom while 25% will be retained by TDC.

According to Orange executive vice president Olaf Swantee, who is also in charge of France Telecom’s mobile businesses, the merger will provide the company the critical mass they need in the Swiss market.

Earlier, France telecom entered into a 50- 50 partnership of its British operator, Orange U.K. with T-Mobile U.K., both operators struggling in UK telecom market.