Deutsche Telekom to buy Fiberhost and INEA

Deutsche Telekom (DTEd) has reached an agreement to acquire 100% of Polish fibre-network operator Fiberhost and retail broadband and TV provider INEA in a transaction that values the businesses at about €1 billion. The assets are being sold by Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5, which is managed by Macquarie Asset Management, together with minority shareholders. The agreement covers the entire share capital of both Fiberhost and INEA.

The transaction will expand Deutsche Telekom (DTEd)’s footprint in the Polish market through its local subsidiary T‑Mobile Polska. By securing both fibre infrastructure and a consumer-facing broadband and TV business, the group aims to strengthen its position in fixed connectivity alongside its existing mobile operations.

T‑Mobile Polska has stated that the acquisition is intended to accelerate its evolution from a mobile-only operator to a converged telecom provider. Ownership of Fiberhost’s fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network will allow the company to combine mobile, backbone and data-centre capabilities with direct fibre access. This is designed to underpin a broader portfolio of fixed and mobile services for Polish customers.

Fiberhost’s FTTH network currently covers more than 1.4 million households in Poland. INEA contributes a retail customer base of just over 300,000 broadband and TV subscribers. Taken together, these assets provide T‑Mobile Polska with both wholesale network scale and an established base of fixed-line customers.

Deutsche Telekom and T‑Mobile Polska state that Fiberhost will continue to operate as an open-access network after the transaction. This means other service providers will be able to use the fibre infrastructure, while T‑Mobile Polska gains the benefit of direct ownership of the underlying asset. The companies also indicate that no immediate changes to customer service or branding are planned for Fiberhost or INEA.

Completion of the acquisition remains subject to standard regulatory approvals in Poland. The deal requires clearance from the Polish competition authority, UOKiK. Until such approval is granted, Fiberhost, INEA and T‑Mobile Polska will continue to operate as independent entities. No specific timetable for closing has been provided.