EU: Commission deepens investigation of Scandinavian telecoms merger

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager has stepped up an antitrust investigation into the merger between Norway’s Telenor and Sweden’s TeliaSonera mobile operations in Denmark, the two companies said Tuesday.

The European Commission has sent a statement of objections to the two companies, a significant step in EU antitrust proceedings. The regulator had expressed concerns over the deal in April. The executive is concerned the merger could have an anticompetitive effect on the Danish telecoms market.

It said it could potentially reduce the number of mobile operators in the country from four to three and that this could lead to price increases for consumers and fewer innovative products.

“Contrary to the concerns raised in the statement of objections we firmly believe the merger will ultimately be beneficial for competition and Danish consumers. We will continue in a constructive dialogue with the Commission to make sure all concerns are properly addressed,” Telenor and TeliaSonera said in a joint statement.

Full content: Fierce Wireless

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