“Clever Media Network has already signed a deal for Telekom Romania Mobile with Deutsche Telekom and OTE, over Vodafone and Digi, which are also interested in the acquisition,” a source familiar with the talks told ZF. There are no talks anymore, the agreement was signed, the source added.
It is not yet clear whether it was Clever Media Network that signed it or another entity in the same group it is part of.
Telekom and OTE decided to leave Romania completely several years ago, amid worsening financial and operating results, but so far the only successful deal has been with Orange, to which they sold their fixed communications business, the former Romtelecom. The deal with Orange was signed in 2021 and completed almost a year later.
The agreement with Clever Media Network is the third attempt of the two to exit Romania. Prior attempts to sell to Bulgarian businessman Spas Roussev and European investment advisory firm ACP were nixed by the Supreme Defense Council of Romania. The Council is now assessing the deal with Clever Media Network, the same source said.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)