Deutsche Telekom’s efforts to merge its Dutch business with local mobile rival Tele2 ran into problems Thursday, September 13, after the European Commission (EC) complained that a tie-up would lead to a reduction in competition and potentially mean higher prices for Dutch consumers, reported Telecom Paper.
The Commission’s preliminary investigation, already extended in June, found that the merger could have negative consequences for competition in the mobile retail market, especially in the consumer segment. The merger of the third- and fourth-largest mobile operators would reduce the Netherlands to three players. T-Mobile and Tele2 have also played a challenger role, introducing sharply priced and unlimited data offers in the past year, helping to intensify competition on the mobile market.
T-Mobile Netherlands said it was surprised the Commission had not recognised the specific characteristics of the Dutch market and the benefits of the merger, which would lead to the combined company still being number three on the mobile market with an around 25% share of customers.
Full Content: Telecompaper
Featured News
T-Mobile Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Sprint Merger After Appeal Denied
May 16, 2024 by
CPI
Google Faces Backlash Over Introduction of AI-Generated Summaries in Searches
May 16, 2024 by
CPI
CMA Launches Phase 2 Probe into AlphaTheta’s Acquisition of Serato
May 16, 2024 by
CPI
NFL Executive Escapes Testifying in High-Stakes Trial Over Televised Games
May 16, 2024 by
CPI
EU Consumers Lodge Complaint Against Chinese Retailer Temu Over Content Rules Breach
May 16, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Mapping Antitrust onto Digital Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystems and Competition Law: A Law and Political Economy Approach
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystem Theories of Harm: What is Beyond the Buzzword?
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Open Ecosystems: Benefits, Challenges, and Implications for Antitrust
May 9, 2024 by
CPI