Vodafone / Three deal could leave consumers and businesses worse off

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Summary:

Vodafone UK and Three UK, two major mobile telecommunication providers in the UK, announced a joint venture agreement to combine their networks, serving 27 million customers. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an initial Phase 1 investigation to assess whether the deal would lead to a substantial lessening of competition, potentially resulting in higher prices and reduced quality for mobile customers. The CMA is concerned that the combined entity would reduce rivalry between mobile operators, leading to higher prices and reduced investment in network quality. The CMA has identified concerns and requires Vodafone UK and Three UK to address these issues within five working days; otherwise, the deal will proceed to a more in-depth Phase 2 investigation.

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