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Vodafone and VMO2 extend their network sharing agreement. This is an interesting new piece to the Three and Vodafone merger puzzle as there was a question mark over how the site sharing agreements would work. Subject to an approved merger the merged entity would access the site sharing agreement, which would appear to leave BT isolated with regards to site sharing, although their network is extensive. Interestingly (again subject to CMA approval) VMO2 will purchase spectrum from the merged company. The big question is does this address the concerns the CMA had about site sharing and hence sharing of strategic network plans. #mergersandacquisitions #vodafone #three #vmo2 #telecoms #telecommunications #5g https://lnkd.in/eaFhMRhG

It was announced that Britain’s Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 had agreed to extend their network-sharing deal into the mid-2030s. This extension, which included a spectrum shift, had been designed to assist Vodafone in gaining regulatory approval for its merger with mobile operator Three. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been investigating the $19 billion merger between Vodafone and Virgin Media. The extended network-sharing agreement had stipulated that an enlarged Vodafone-Three entity would sell a portion of its combined 59% of the premium spectrum for 5G networks to Virgin Media O2, which currently possessed the lowest share of this spectrum. This strategic move had been intended to address the regulator’s concerns regarding the reduction of mobile networks in Britain from four to three as a result of the merger. Lutz Schuler, CEO of Virgin Media O2, had stated that the new agreement had aimed to resolve the issues highlighted by both Virgin Media O2 and the CMA in its initial decision.   Vodafone had emphasized that the extended network-sharing deal would enable Virgin Media O2 customers to benefit from the £11 billion ($14 billion) investment plan in 5G networks that Vodafone had pledged if the merger with Three were approved. Ahmed Essam, Vodafone’s CEO of European Markets, had indicated that the proposed merger, in conjunction with the new agreement, would enhance competition by establishing a robust third player in the UK mobile market.   Vodafone and Telefonica UK had initially agreed to a network-sharing deal in 2012 to expedite the rollout of 4G. Vodafone had later transferred its stake to its Vantage Towers spin-out, while Virgin Media O2, owned by Telefonica and Liberty Global, had sold part of its stake to GLIL Infrastructure the previous year.   In contrast, Britain’s other two networks, BT's EE and Three UK, had established their own network-sharing agreement in 2007. They had agreed to a less comprehensive deal the previous year, which did not include joint infrastructure upgrades and was set to expire in 2031.   The network-sharing deal between Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 had marked a significant step in securing regulatory approval for the Vodafone-Three merger. By reallocating some of the 5G spectrum to Virgin Media O2, the agreement had aimed to mitigate competition concerns and ensure a more balanced distribution of spectrum among the UK's mobile operators.

Virgin Media O2 has extended its network-sharing agreement with Vodafone and will acquire spectrum for a merged Vodafone/Three UK if a deal is greenlighted by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority VMO2 was conspicuous by its absence when the CMA published responses to its issue statement on the tie-up of the UK’s third and fourth largest mobile network operators, but in a statement today said the deal will “transform the experience for tens of millions of customers across the UK and (subject to CMA approval) will rebalance the mobile market by creating a third scaled network operator,” in rhetoric similar to the two merging parties. The new network sharing agreement “significantly extends” the current agreement between Vodafone UK and VMO2. Although the agreement is independent of the merger being waved through, if approval is granted then the merged entity of Vodafone and Three (MergeCo) will be permitted to participate in the agreement. In this instance, VMO2 will also acquire spectrum from MergeCo at market value, a condition that was widely expected to be mandated by the CMA anyway. Thanks to Massimo Fatato, NTT DATA UK&I for weighing in on the impact on the UK's MVNO market as well! Read more on Capacity: https://lnkd.in/eqJ6vBHS

🚫 We cannot use emojis in the text. But we can write up a post for LinkedIn based on the article "BT Warns Three UK and Vodafone Merger to Damage Competition, Cause Higher Prices - ISPreview UK". Here's a possible text: --- Hey everyone, just read a concerning article from ISPreview UK about the potential merger between Three UK and Vodafone. BT is warning that this could significantly damage competition and lead to higher prices. It's essential that we keep an eye on developments like this to ensure fair competition and affordable services for consumers. #Competition #Telecoms #BT Check out the full article here: [link] --- https://ift.tt/oavKhtE

Consumers Council calls for the promotion of MVNOs At the event “talk 2 Action”, Thailand’s Consumers Council presented a handful of policy proposals to the telecom regulator (NBTC), following the merger of the two telecom operators True Corporation and Telenor’s dtac in March 2023. The merger has caused a #duopoly in the market with no competition, increased pricing, lower quality and the same package/pricing between the two operators AIS - Advanced Info Services Plc. and TRUE/DTAC. 1. Develop and promote the competitive level of the state-enterprise telco, National Telecom (NT) which is the only option left for competition in the market and support it with a budget. 2 Promote mobile virtual network operators (#MVNO). Add MVNO business units and service system for such. Set the wholesale price lower than the retail selling price and not less than 30% 3. Promote new service providers into the market 4. Promote more Wi-Fi and public internet services. The TCC also called for the review on telecommunications and internet mergers. As part of a set of conditions, the TRUE/DTAC merger was supposed to have reduced is average service rates by minimum 12 percent…199 days ago!!! In addition, the quality and standard of services must not be lower than before the merger. Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) was also presenting at the event where they confirmed what many had already complained about since the merger that, not only has the prices on the mobile packages increased while data amount/voice minutes has decreased but the two operators had the same pricing and packages. See more on that here: https://lnkd.in/g53vG25x In related news, Thailand’s Foundation of Consumers revealed the results of its telecom service survey today with 81% of the respondents saying they have encountered higher prices and usage problems within the last 6 months, clearly showing the negative impact of the TRUE/DTAC merger. The survey was conducted from 9-23 November 2023, with nearly 3,000 people responding to the survey. Top issues were slow data speed, frequent signal drops, increased pricing, the package/pricing is the same between the duopoly so there was no choice, and customer support is difficult to reach. In addition, the head of NBTC ’ consumer protection department said that complains to the telecom regulator had almost doubled. The regulator has said earlier that they are looking to promote MVNOs and competition in the country. Video: Thailand's Consumers Council Talk 2 Action even: https://lnkd.in/guvbyKxS

CMA Initiates Phase 2 Investigation of Vodafone/Three Merger: What Does This Mean for UK Telecom? The Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) decision to refer the Vodafone/Three merger to a deeper investigation reflected deeper concerns about a potential reduction in competition within the UK telecom market that will certainly require remedy for the transaction to proceed. The CMA is concerned that the merger could have a negative impact on consumers and businesses in a number of ways. It is suggested that it could lead to a double whammy for consumers: higher prices and potentially lower quality service. With fewer mobile operators competing for customers, there could be less incentive to invest in network upgrades and expand coverage. This could result in slower data speeds, fewer service options, and potentially even dropped calls in congested areas. Furthermore, the CMA is concerned that the deal could stifle competition by limiting the options for mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) like Sky Mobile, Lebara, and Lyca Mobile. With fewer wholesale network providers to choose from, MVNOs might have less bargaining power when negotiating rates, potentially leading to higher prices for their customers. Undeterred by the CMA's scrutiny, Vodafone and Three UK are continuing to highlight the benefits of the merger. They argue that a combined network would lead to superior coverage, speed, and overall network performance for customers. Additionally, they believe the merger would create a more robust competitor in the wholesale market, providing MVNOs with greater choice and potentially fostering innovation in the mobile landscape. Finally, Vodafone and Three emphasise the significant investment the merger would unlock, allowing them to challenge the dominance of BT/EE and Virgin Media O2. The Phase II investigation was widely anticipated and will last until into the summer. The considerations outlined by the CMA were no surprise either (perhaps the limiting of competitive options for MVNOs was given higher prominence than we had anticipated). For both organisations and their competitors, this is where the assessment of the deal becomes critical and every care must be taken in delivering submissions on both sides. #vodafone #three #consolidation #telecoms

TEMBLING TERRIBLY TEMPTED TELCOS of Spain Significant transformation is expected in the telecommunications market in Spain in 2024, marked by the merger between Orange and MásMóvil, as well as the acquisition of Vodafone by Zegona. Changes are anticipated such as widespread price reductions, an increase in network saturation due to competition for more customers, and the need for creative strategies for profitable deployments. Vodafone and Lowi: Zegona, by leading Vodafone, seeks to make it more profitable for a future sale, which could imply an aggressive strategy in prices and services. Competition with Digi, known for its ultra-cheap rates, could intensify, especially if Digi acquires the assets of the Orange/MásMóvil merger. Lowi, Vodafone's low-cost brand, is expected to play a prominent role in leading competitive prices. Movistar and O2: Movistar, now not subject to strict regulations as a dominant operator due to Orange/MásMóvil overtaking customers, is expected to adopt more aggressive tariff tactics to regain its position. O2, Movistar's budget brand, could adjust its strategy to compete on prices, but could be more reluctant to reduce costs. Orange/MoreMobile: Orange/MásMóvil's future strategy is uncertain and will depend on CNMC regulation. It is expected that the economy of scale will allow it to remain in a defensive but comfortable position. The multi-brand strategy used by MásMóvil could be simplified, and some brands could disappear out of which can Lyca Group a UK based prepaid service provider invest sufficient enought and manage to acquire back its fire brand Lyca Mobile Spain, Can possibly Cube Movil will be merged or replaced? There are a lot of surprises, uncertainity and unstability currently, where as after first quarter of 2024 the market may start to mark its positioning in the Spanish market by creating the better strategies mainly competetive pricing and commision structure with educated and experienced team of every single company will definitely make sure to execute proper strategies to convince retailers and end users Wholesale offer: A conflict is expected in the wholesale market, as Orange will look for new clients for its network after the merger with MásMóvil, highlighting the interest in attracting Digi. Zegona will also compete by offering more attractive conditions. Digi, as a cheap operator, will be a beneficiary, since operators will compete to have it on their networks. In general, a price war and greater competition are expected in the telecommunications market in Spain, with possible impacts on the quality of the networks and investment in 5G,

Small step for O2 and big for entire GSM network 🦾

The proposed merger between Vodafone and Three UK has sparked intense debates, but recent analyses shed new light on its potential impact... According to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), concerns about reduced competition and potential price hikes surfaced during their investigation. However, Opensignal's research suggests a different narrative - the merger could pave the way for a new challenger in network coverage, particularly in 5G. While debates continue regarding the merger's potential impact on competition and pricing, it's crucial to consider the broader context of the telecom industry. With falling revenues and increasing costs, achieving sustainable growth is becoming challenging. Consolidation may offer a viable solution, enabling operators to streamline operations and invest in advanced networks. As regulators navigate the complexities of the telecom landscape, the focus remains on ensuring that consolidation fosters healthy competition and drives innovation. For any discussions or inquiries related to telecom matters, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]. #Telecoms #5G #Merger

🚫 BT Warns Three UK and Vodafone Merger to Damage Competition, Cause Higher Prices - ISPreview UK 🚫 Hey LinkedIn fam, Big news in the telecom world! BT has cautioned against the potential merger between Three UK and Vodafone, warning that it could severely damage competition and lead to higher prices for consumers. The telecom giant raised concerns over the impact on market competition and the potential negative implications for customers, signaling the importance of maintaining a healthy competitive landscape. This is definitely something to keep an eye on as it unfolds! What are your thoughts on this issue? #Telecom #Competition #ConsumerRights https://ift.tt/5C0VaqE