• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

SEENIT

TV, Film, Broadband, Pay-TV, Games, Computing and Tech | News, Comment & Reviews

  • NEWS
  • FEATURES
  • ADVERTISE
  • Twitter

EC announce in-depth investigation into Three/O2 merger

November 2, 2015 - Staff@seenituk

three_kittyThe sale of O2 to Hutchison, owners of the Three mobile network, is to be subjected to an “in-depth investigation” by the European Commission.

On Friday the Commission said it had “concerns” the merge between the UK’s smallest two mobile providers could “lead to higher prices, less choice and reduced innovation for customers”.

The proposed tie-up was announced in January, just weeks after BT decided to buy EE rather than O2. The firm had been in talks with the owners of both networks about a potential purchase.

Last week the UK’s competition authorities gave their unconditional preliminary go-ahead for the BT/EE transaction but Hutchison and Ow owners Telefonica have been less lucky.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager says their tie-up would reduce the number of network owners from four to three, reducing competition both for end users and reducing choice for virtual networks looking for a host.

Vestager commented: “Mobile telecom services are increasingly important to consumers. Both to keep in touch with family and friends and to access online services.

With this investigation we want to ensure that consumers in the UK do not pay higher prices or face less choice as a result of this proposed takeover.”

The Commission now has 90 working days, until 16 March 2016, to take a decision and will investigate the extent to which the parties are close competitors, the market incentives that would be faced by the merged entity and the potential reaction of its competitors.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Tagged With: O2, Telecoms

Blu-ray and Gaming Top Buys

John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold to make UK Blu-ray debut

Eureka Classics to release Tsui Hark’s Time And Tide

Fast Times at Ridgemont High is coming to Blu-ray

RECENT

Watch Michael B. Jordan in trailer for Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse

Jeremy Piven stars in trailer for Last Call

Channel 4 confirms Taskmaster’s return date

The Secret Garden retains Number 1 spot in this week’s film chart

Popular

Disney+ confirms air dates for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Loki and Turner & Hooch

Apple TV+ is coming to Google TV

New Django series is coming to Sky and CANAL+

BBC, ITV and Channel 4 announce plans to merge Digital UK and Freesat

Featured

Ofcom calls for greater social and geographic diversity in TV and radio

BT Sport app now available on Now TV devices

StarzPlay is now available from Rakuten TV

Britbox – What does the new UK-centric streaming service offer?

ADVERTISE ON SEENIT

We’re pleased to offer a number of advertising opportunities to high quality brands including sponsored content, competitions and advertising placements.

Please contact us for details.

MORE FROM US

Copyright © 2021 · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Copyright · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy