Yuk! Vodafone/Three merger agreed

BBC link.

Subject to CMA agreement of course.

I don't want V running my service, though the extra capital could help Three coverage which would please me.

In reply to a post by pluralist:

I don't want V running my service, though the extra capital could help Three coverage which would please me.

Maybe better than Three UK closing... CK Hutchison Holdings were apparently 6 to 10 months ago with the return on investment in the UK.

Ah! I didn't know that. Indeed it is better than closing.

Though no doubt the brilliant deals I have will disappear in time.

In reply to a post by pluralist:

Ah! I didn't know that. Indeed it is better than closing.Though no doubt the brilliant deals I have will disappear in time.

Yeah, it was rumoured in the papers 6 months or more ago, think the FT had that important part. What happens to pricing is going to be interesting, assuming this gets through the CMA.

Corporate spiel here...

https://vodafoneandthree.uk

Three network infrastructure providers is about right for the UK in my view.

The real competition comes from the MVNOs so as long as they have access to any of those three on good commercial terms it should work.
The Vodafone / Three network will compete well against EE, VM / O2 will be out in the cold.

The EU Commission blocked the acquisition of O2 by Hutchison under the EU Merger Regulation. Thus leaving the UK with four networks rather than the proposed three.

On would think that four networks must cost more to run that just three. At the moment the four operators save money by not providing good coverage particularly in rural areas.

I would like to see the proposed merger of Three and Vodafone permitted on condition that the 4G signal coverage is improved.

The Three announcement says "The combination of Three UK and Vodafone UK will bring the advantages of 5G to every business and household in the UK, enabling the UK to deliver its ambitions for digital and economic growth and fully supporting the UK Government’s objectives for a world-leading digital economy."

I wonder if there will ever be such extensive 5G coverage? I have no desire for 5G myself.

Only left VF 3 months ago to join Smarty (a Three brand), so back to VF again. I didn't have any real complaints with them, but i'm happy with my £7pm for 12GB and free EU roaming. Hope it doesn't change too much.

In reply to a post by Michael_Chare:

The EU Commission blocked the acquisition of O2 by Hutchison under the EU Merger Regulation. Thus leaving the UK with four networks rather than the proposed three.

Interestingly both UK CMA and EU Commission said about 1.5 years later that the ruling was “probably incorrect”. In Germany they’ve dropped from 4 to 3 national networks without issue. In Ireland O2 sold out to Three and the O2 IE has gone.

On would think that four networks must cost more to run that just three. At the moment the four operators save money by not providing good coverage particularly in rural areas.

Yet they’ve all committed to the Government for the Shared Rural Network programme, so its not the case. This isn’t a planned ‘hole’ in coverage, its about return on investment. Too few people in rural areas for 4 networks to cover. So SRN is where the Govt funds a neutral mast location that the operators can add their hardware to.

I would like to see the proposed merger of Three and Vodafone permitted on condition that the 4G signal coverage is improved.

Perhaps lets start by Ofcom actually forcing the 4 operators to use the same measurement method, so we can compare?

I wonder if there will ever be such extensive 5G coverage? I have no desire for 5G myself.

Yes, because you won’t care its 5G, you just care for connectivity. In 10 years time we will have forgotten 4G, but everyone will still be using the same services. Just more people using more services at the same time. That is what 4/5/6/… G gives us.

i'd rather see and be happier, vf and 3 merge but only the network side, and become wholesale, and then split off three, smarty, voxi and voda as retail units.

The whole lets make as much money by selling spectrum has backfired badly. It should have been about service and that has failed.