PARIS, Sept 15 (Reuters) - France's Orange isclose to an agreement to buy Spanish fixed operator Jazztel in an effort to bolster its mobile operation in thecountry, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday.
Consolidation has been brewing in Spain for months, andOrange had already said it would look at opportunities to growits business there, where it trails leader Telefonica and Vodafone.
"They have reached a deal more or less," the person said oncondition of anonymity.
"Jazztel is the last independent fixed operator in thecountry. A deal would allow Orange to sell fixed-mobile packagesand better compete with Vodafone after its buy of cable operatorOno."
Orange and Jazztel declined to comment.
Jazztel shares rose 12 percent before being suspended bySpain's market regulator, giving the group a marketcapitalisation of 3.09 billion euros ($4 billion) at the closeon Monday. (1 US dollar = 0.7727 euro) (Reporting by Leila Abboud; Editing by James Regan)