Vodafone Germany to bare plan for fixed line unit this month

Vodafone Germany might decide on the future of its fixed line unit Arcor as soon as late May, company CEO Friedrich Joussen, quoted by a Dow Jones report, said.

'For certain customer groups, we need digital subscriber lines,' Joussen said. Vodafone, which had so far focused on mobile communication services, needed broadband-related elements, he said.

Against this backdrop, the company was still discussing whether to keep its German unit Arcor or to sell it, as previously planned. 'This is part of our ongoing strategic discussions,' the executive said.

The report said that in late May, when the company's yearly figures were due, first results of the strategic discussion might be released.

However, he said press reports stating that the company aimed to strengthen its fixed line business through further acquisitions were pure speculation.

Joussen wanted to make Vodafone Germany No. 1 in sales growth during the mid-term by doubling mobile data sales and the number of mobile telephone minutes, the report said.

In order to reach those figures, he said he was willing to further cut prices, the report added.