European Commission Clears Orange to Acquire Nexera

The European Commission approved the acquisition of Polish wholesale fiber-optic network operator Nexera by Orange and Dutch investment fund APG, ruling it raises no competition concerns.

European Commission Approval

The European Commission expressed its approval for the acquisition of Nexera, a Polish wholesale fiber-optic network operator, by Orange and the Dutch investment fund APG, with the decision announced on Monday.

The European Commission reviewed the transaction under standard merger control procedures to assess its impact on competition in Europe, noting that the deal primarily affects the telecommunications sector in Poland, specifically wholesale broadband access services.

Competition and Market Impact

According to the European Commission, the transaction does not raise competition concerns because the resulting entity will continue to face competition from other market players. The Commission emphasized that the merged entity will face competition from other wholesale broadband access providers, including Fiberhost, PŚO, Vectra, and Tauron, whose activities complement each other and whose geographic footprints overlap to a limited extent.

The Commission also dismissed concerns that the transaction would lead to the foreclosure of competitors, specifically noting that the financial investor APG, as an entity involved in the control of Nexera, would not derive financial benefits from such actions.

Acquisition Details and Company Background

Nexera will change hands as Orange and APG acquire a 100 percent stake in the company. Orange Polska concluded an agreement with APG to purchase a 100 percent stake in the Nexera Group in 2025, having previously remained one of the key retail operators utilizing Nexera’s network.

Nexera was established in 2017 by Infracapital and Nokia to introduce a wholesale fiber-optic access network operator to the Polish market. The company builds broadband networks in Poland utilizing co-financing obtained from sources including the National Recovery Plan (KPO).