Japanese mobile phone operator NTT DOCOMO and Dutch KPN MOBILE and the Hong Kong conglomerate HUTCHISON WHAMPOA have announced a broad alliance for winning third generation mobile phone licenses (UMTS) in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Belgium. In the UK, KPN MOBILE and NTT DOCOMO will share 35% of the capital of HUTCHISON 3G UK HOLDINGS, the subsidiary of HUTCHISON WHAMPOA which already holds a UMTS licence. The Japanese company will disburse £1.2 billion for 20% of the capital, and the Dutch company £900 million for 15%. In France, the three partners will create a joint undertaking to gain one of the four licenses that the government will attribute for EUR 4.95 billion. In Germany, the companies will form a consortium called E-PLUS to take part in future bidding for a UMTS licence. A consortium will be formed in the same way for a licence in Belgium.