Vodafone CEO: Liberty Deal Not "Blueprint" for Other Markets

By Maarten van Tartwijk

Vodafone Group PLC's (VOD) move to form a joint venture combining its operations in the Netherlands with those of Liberty Global PLC (LBTYA) isn't necessarily a model for bigger markets like the U.K. and Germany, its chief executive said Tuesday.

"I don't believe in blueprints. Every country is different, and the competitors are different," Vittorio Colao said during a conference call with analysts. "Vodafone sometimes acquires assets, sometimes we accept partners. There is no such thing as a blueprint."

The Dutch deal would merge Liberty Global's cable and Internet businesses with Vodafone's mobile operations to create a country-wide communications provider with more than 15 million subscribers. It comes amid a wave of consolidation in the European cable and telecom industry, as operators are keen on benefiting from so-called "quadruple plays"--providing fixed-line telephony, mobile, Internet broadband and pay-television.

Mr. Colao said this convergence strategy is a "market-by-market thing" since every country has its own regulations, dominant companies and assets.

"We operate in a business that is heavily infrastructural, so strategies need to be flexible," he said.

Write to Maarten van Tartwijk at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 16, 2016 05:18 ET (10:18 GMT)

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