EU: Telecom cos unite in fight for more M&A leniency

While facing more stringent regulations from the European Commission, Europe’s telecoms companies are reportedly uniting to demand more merger and acquisition activity for telecommunications industries within certain countries. According to media sources, the 37 carriers that make up the European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association want the Commission to ease-up its scrutiny of M&A activity in the sector; in exchange, the carriers would show their support for the Commission’s plans to develop a regional market. The Association will present its proposal to the European Commission in the next few weeks, according to reports, which will outline why the market needs to be de-fragmented. As it plans to hire an external consulting firm to support its agenda, the ETNO has held the view that domestic markets can sustain only three national wireless network operators and two fixed-line carriers.

Full Content: Bloomberg

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