(Reuters) – Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE) may be forced to sell assets closer to home and take a knife to its cost base if its $39 billion deal to sell T-Mobile USA to AT&T (T.N) collapses.

Investment bankers in the telecoms sector say the German group’s immediate priority will be to protect its dividend, which it will struggle to do if the deal fails.

Full Story: DealTalk: Deutsche Telekom may be forced to exit UK