BC-EU--Britain-Orange-T-Mobile,0121

UK agency questions Orange-T-Mobile joint venture

LONDON (AP) -- Britain's anti-monopoly agency said Wednesday it wants to investigate the proposed combination of phone operators Orange UK and T-Mobile UK because it "threatens significantly to affect competition in mobile telecommunications in the U.K."

The Office of Fair Trading said it was seeking permission from the European Commission to examine the joint venture's impact in the U.K., and perhaps refer it for a full-scale investigation by the Competition Commission.

France Telecom, owner of Orange UK, and Deutsche Telekom, owner of T-Mobile, announced the proposed combination in September.

The joint venture would have about 28 million customers, making it the largest player in the U.K. market with a share of 37 percent.