Is Deutsche Telekom interested in France Telecom?

Deutsche Telekom has been one busy telco of late, taking over a 25 percent chunk of Greek carrier OTE and now, according to some reports, eyeing France Telecom as a, uh, partner. Germany's Finance Ministry--the German government owns a 32 percent share of DT--has denied reports in the German newspaper Handelsblatt that the ministry wants DT to merge with or buy a major rival this year. But unnamed ministry sources were quoted as saying FT was Berlin's favorite target at the moment. 

CEO Rene Obermann this week told shareholders the telco would continue to expand its business abroad to add value to the stock. "If we see the right opportunity at the right time, we'll go for it," he said. 

DT had more than 50 percent of its sales outside Das Vaterland last year and is shooting for two-thirds, he said.

For more:
- Read the Forbes story
- Or the Telecom Tiger story denying the rumor
- And this report from the Earth Times

Related articles:
DT, Greek government reach OTE agreement 
DT's OTE buy-in had inspired some labor unrest in Greece   
DT originally announced plans to buy a 20% stake in OTE last month