Internet Alliance

NTT DoCoMo Inc., Royal KPN and Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. agreed to join forces in four European countries to win licenses for faster Internet access through mobile phones and share the cost of expansion. The alliance starts in Britain, where a unit of Hutchison, Hong Kong’s largest conglomerate, already owns a license. DoCoMo, Japan’s top wireless company, and KPN, the biggest Dutch phone company, will spend $3.2 billion to buy 35% of the unit. The companies will also link up to bid for license sales in France, Germany and Belgium. DoCoMo agreed to pay $1.8 billion for a 20% stake in Hutchison’s British unit, and KPN will pay $1.37 billion for 15%.