PARIS -(Dow Jones)- France Telecom has denied it plans to license its Orange brand to Reliance Communications in India.
"France Telecom dismisses the rumors of a tie-up with Reliance Communications in India as being the result of market speculation," a France Telecom spokesman said.
Earlier Tuesday, the Business Standard in India reported that Reliance Communications was in advanced talks with France Telecom to launch the Orange brand in India, citing unnamed sources.
A person familiar with the development told Dow Jones Newswires earlier Tuesday that Reliance was in "exploratory" talks with France Telecom over the use of the Orange brand.
France Telecom has over 170 million customers in the world, two-thirds of which are under the Orange brand.
-By Jethro Mullen, Dow Jones Newswires; 33 1 4017 1738; jethro.mullen@dowjones.com
(Romit Guha in Bangalore contributed to this report)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
Posted to the site on 18th March 2008
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/29967.php