Orange CEO Stephane Richard said on Sunday that he is considering a potential merger with Telecom Italia.
“I think it would be a very attractive European consolidation opportunity,” Richard told the country’s Journal du Dimanche, adding that there were no negotiations at present, just “exchanges of points of view between the two management teams”.
A spokesman for the Telecom Italia said there had been no talks over a possible tie-up with Orange.
The debt-laden company has sold assets to cut its net debt, which stood at €26.7 million at the end of last year.