Mergers between two mobile network operators in the same country tend to draw considerable scrutiny under competition rules.
Out of the 13 such mobile mergers that were notified to competition authorities in the European Economic Area since 2004, 11 faced some form of intervention, with 3 transactions being ultimately blocked or withdrawn due to competition concerns.
Cullen International’s new Antitrust & Mergers Explainer looks at the assessment of mobile mergers, focusing on the European Commission’s case law over the past 20 years.
The Explainer examines the types of competition concerns the Commission has raised about mobile mergers and the evidence it typically relies on for its competitive assessment.
It also explores the evolution of the Commission’s practice regarding the commitments that the merging operators must offer to address competition problems.
For more information and to access the full report, please click on “Access the full content” - or on “Request Access”, in case you are not subscribed to the Antitrust & Mergers service.
more news
10 October 24
Analogue switch-off postponed in most LATAM countries
Our latest benchmark shows the regulation of the 700 MHz band. This band, once freed from broadcasting use, offered the first digital dividend in the Americas.
09 October 24
Ecodesign work will continue under the old Directive until 2026
The European Commission clarified how the transition between the two legal instruments will work. Get a free download of our analysis!
08 October 24
Affordability of universal service in European telecoms
Our latest benchmark on affordability of universal service shows that ten of the 13 European countries studied introduced social tariffs for fixed broadband and/or voice telephony. The designated universal service provider(s) must offer these tariffs to end users with special social needs.