A PYMNTS Company

EU Concerned Orange’s Belgian Deal May Hurt Competition

By  |  July 28, 2022

EU antitrust regulators opened on Thursday a full-scale investigation into French telecoms provider Orange’s bid for a majority stake in Belgian peer VOO SA, warning that it may reduce competition in the southern region of Belgium.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The planned acquisition of 75% of VOO values the company at 1.8 billion euros ($1.8 billion) and is part of Orange’s strategy of offering “convergent offers” in both broadband and mobile to customers in all European countries.

    The European Commission said the deal would cut the number of operators from three to two in the areas where the companies compete.

    The deal may also reduce competition in the retail markets for fixed internet services, audio-visual services and multiple-play bundles (including fixed-mobile convergent services).

    “With our in-depth investigation, we want to make sure that the acquisition of VOO/Brutele by Orange does not lead to higher prices or less quality for customers in Wallonia and parts of Brussels,” Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

    Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.