(Telecompaper) Dutch operator KPN is open to a merger with another European player such as neighbour Belgacom, CEO Eelco Blok told Dutch paper Het Financieele Dagblad. Blok noted that the Dutch and Belgian operators have considered a merger before, for the first time around 15 years ago. However, Belgacom is still majority state-owned, and not all recent unions of Dutch and Belgian companies have proven successful, Blok said. The CEO noted that the synergies are all the more relevant now than five or ten years ago, especially as many services are now platform-based, such as IPTV and cloud services for businesses. While KPN has cleared the way with its recently agreed sale of Belgian mobile operator Base, Blok does not expect a deal with Belgacom to happen any time soon. Belgacom's CEO appointed last year, Dominique Leroy, has been skeptical in the past about mergers, saying there are "too many complications". Blok said he is open to joining another European group. "If I can rationalise it to myself, the customers and employees, I have no problem with it," he said. "We have to be realistic and not just think about today, but also how the company will serve customers 5-10 years from now."