The operators with the third and fourth largest market shares in the UK today announced their intention to merge. We’re talking about Vodafone and Three. The combined company would overtake EE (currently No. 1) and O2 (No. 2) to become the largest operator in the country, while reducing competition as there were four before and now there are only three.
As part of the proposed transaction, Vodafone will own 49% of the combined business and CK Hutchison Telecom Holdings (three The owner of the brand) will have 49%.
Of course, as usual in In these cases, nice things are promised to the client, with the aim of making everyone forget that if such a deal is done, there will actually be less competition in the market. “Millions of Vodafone UK and Three UK customers will enjoy a better network experience, greater coverage and reliability at no extra cost, including through certain flexible, no-contract, no annual price increases and social tariffs Offers”, joint press release states.
The merged business is tentatively called MergeCo ( so imaginative! ) , which is said to reach 576 the percentage of the UK population with 5G standalone networks, “providing customers with up to a six-fold increase in average data speeds 576”.
MergeCo will invest £23 £100 million UK Over a decade, by “building a best-in-class 5G network faster” ( compared to what? not mentioned), “the merger will Up to £5 billion a year in economic benefit before 1200”, whatever that means. Every school and hospital in the UK promises to get standalone 5G with 1200 for what it’s worth.
Also through
, MergeCo will provide fixed wireless access to 49% of households. Current Vodafone UK chief executive Ahmed Essam will become chief executive of the combined company, and current Three UK chief financial officer Darren Perks will be chief financial officer of the combined company.
The deal is expected to close by the end of next year, pending regulatory and shareholder approval, the former of which could seriously delay things.
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