Euronews: Research Network Finds the Fast Lane

Euro-Chinese boffinery, Deutsche Telekom AG and Telefónica SA dominate proceedings in today's trip through the EMEA headlines.

ORIENTplus, the network linking researchers, academics and students across Europe and China, has been upgraded to 10 Gbit/s from 2.5 Gbit/s. Connecting the CERNET and CSTNET Chinese networks to Europe's DANTE, ORIENTplus underpins some of the world's most data-intensive collaborations, such as the Large Hadron Collider program.

Deutsche Telekom's improved offer for MetroPCS Inc. has swayed the U.S. operator's largest shareholder, Paulson & Co, reports Bloomberg. The German incumbent reduced the amount of debt it would impose on the merger of its T-Mobile USA unit and MetroPCS by US$3.8 billion. (See Euronews: DT Improves MetroPCS Offer.)

Telefónica is to re-open talks with KPN Telecom NV over sharing their respective mobile networks in Germany, reports Reuters, citing the Financial Times. Last year the two companies discussed the sale of E-Plus Service GmbH & Co. KG, KPN's German unit, to Telefónica, but no deal was struck.

France Télécom – Orange needs to get its act together on costs if it is to avoid a cut to its debt rating this year. So says Moody's Investors Service, according to a report on Business Week. France Télécom has been having a tough time of it domestically, with Iliad's Free Mobile driving down the cost of mobile calls for all operators. (See Iliad Disrupts the French Mobile Scene.) — Paul Rainford, Assistant Editor, Europe, Light Reading