Broadband deal could delay merger of Orange and T-Mobile.

(From Guardian Unlimited)

The merger of Orange and T-Mobile faces a major regulatory hurdle after a last-minute deal thrashed out by the government with all five wireless networks designed to realise Gordon Brown's vision of broadband for all by 2012.

The deal, to be announced this week, is likely to involve the Office of Fair Trading calling on EU regulators to allow the UK authorities to investigate the proposed merger, which has prompted howls of protest from consumer groups as it would create the UK's largest mobile phone operator. The combined group would have a 37% share of the market.

Orange and T-Mobile could be forced to sell some of their mobile …