Vestager said on Monday, she was wary of too many mergers in the telecoms sector, warning that consumers could end up with higher bills and less innovative companies according to The Wall Street Journal.
“Incumbent operators argue that if they cannot merge with their rivals in the same country they will be unable to increase their investment. I’ve heard this claim quite often, but I have not seen evidence that this is the case,” she said.
“Instead, there is ample evidence that excessive consolidation may lead not only to less competition and more expensive bills for consumers, but that it also reduces the incentives in national markets to innovate.”
Vestager’s comments come as she scrutinizes a proposal by Norwegian telecoms company Telenor and Swedish peer TeliaSonera to combine their Danish mobile businesses.
She has already expressed concerns the deal may lead to higher prices.
Full content: The Wall Street Journal
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Justice Department Moves to End NCAA Transfer Rule
May 30, 2024 by
CPI
Kenya’s Competition Authority Proposes Tougher Regulations on Big Tech
May 30, 2024 by
CPI
KKR Secures EU Antitrust Approval for $24 Billion Acquisition of Telecom Italia’s Fixed-Line Network
May 30, 2024 by
CPI
European Court Sides with Tech Giants in Italian Regulatory Dispute
May 30, 2024 by
CPI
US Steel and Nippon Steel Secure International Approvals for $14.9B Merger
May 30, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Healthcare Antitrust
May 31, 2024 by
CPI
AI and Antitrust Considerations in U.S. Health Care
May 31, 2024 by
CPI
Uncertainty in the Bottom Line: New Antitrust Scrutiny and Enforcement in Private Equity Transactions
May 31, 2024 by
CPI
Effecting M&A Diligence When Competitors Are Involved
May 31, 2024 by
CPI
AI, Pharmaceutical Sector, and EU Competition Law and Policy: What Does the Future Look Like?
May 31, 2024 by
CPI