In brief: Orange and Viag Interkom venture gains EC approval

NEWS Orange Overseas Holding, a joint venture between the UK's Orange and Viag Interkom of Germany, looks set to be awarded a digital mobile telephony licence in Switzerland after gaining EC approval. The EC scrutinised the companies' expansion even though Switzerland is outside the EU. The executive body said it had to make sure neither company would unfairly expand its geographic reach by gaining a foothold in the market.