T-Mobile exec sees more consolidation in Europe

VIENNA, May 19 (Reuters) - More consolidation is likely in European telecoms, a senior executive of T-Mobile [TMOG.UL] said in an interview published on Monday.

Asked whether he agreed with debt rating agencies that a wave of consolidation was likely in Europe, T-Mobile's Austria head Robert Chvatal told Wirtschaftsblatt daily: "It is easily possible that this consolidation will come soon. There could be four or five big players left in Europe." He said T-Mobile, Vodafone Plc (VOD.L: Quote, Profile, Research), Telefonica SA (TEF.MC: Quote, Profile, Research) and Orange (a unit of France Telecom SA (FTE.PA: Quote, Profile, Research)) were the ones most often mentioned.

Telekom Austria AG (TELA.VI: Quote, Profile, Research), 27.4 percent held by a state holding company, should be split up and its Mobilkom unit was likely to be bought by a foreign player, Chvatal said.

Chvatal said with the acquisition last week of a stake in Greece's OTE (OTEr.AT: Quote, Profile, Research) by T-Mobile's parent Deutsche Telekom AG (DTEGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), it had ensured a key role in southeast Europe.

Asked whether a deal between T-Mobile and France Telecom was likely, he said: "I find the idea very interesting." He would not give details but went on: "I think big mergers like that will take some time. First, there will be a consolidation of smaller brands." (Reporting by Paul Bolding; Editing by David Holmes)