Finnish telecom operator Sonera has not ruled out taking part in the European telecom consolidation process this year, its spokesman said yesterday.

The company has repeatedly been named as a potential merger partner for other European peers, with the latest coming on Sunday when a British paper linked Finland's largest operator with British Orange and Dutch KPN Mobile, which is selling its 21 per cent stake in Eircom.

France Telecom and KPN yesterday denied the report.