Vodafone Romania and Digi Romania have announced binding agreements to acquire separate portions of OTE’s subsidiary, Telekom Romania Mobile Communications (TKRM), a move that will consolidate the Romanian mobile market to three main operators.
Vodafone plans to purchase TKRM’s post-paid customer base for €30 million, while Digi has agreed to acquire its pre-paid customers for €40 million. In addition to customer portfolios, both companies will gain spectrum assets and telecommunications towers as part of the deal. The transaction is expected to be finalised by early October.
Vodafone Group CEO Margherita Della Valle stated that the deal would strengthen Vodafone’s position in Romania by increasing its local scale and creating significant synergy benefits. She emphasised that the move aligns with Vodafone’s broader strategy of establishing strong footholds in growing markets, enabling continued investment in high-quality networks for customers. OTE chairman and CEO Kostas Nebis expressed satisfaction with the agreement, noting that it aligns with OTE’s focus on optimising its portfolio and delivering enhanced shareholder value.
Telekom Romania, which was the country’s fourth-largest operator with approximately 3.8 million customers at the end of 2023 — down from 4.16 million the previous year — will see its customer base divided between Vodafone and Digi. The two companies had previously signed a memorandum of understanding in November last year to outline their plans for dividing parts of Telekom Romania’s operations, signalling a strategic move to streamline and strengthen their positions in the Romanian telecommunications market.
