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EU: Telefonica Deutschland wants Vodafone-Liberty deal blocked

By  |  October 22, 2018

On Monday, October 22, the head of Telefonica Deutschland called for EU regulators to block Vodafone’s planned acquisition of Liberty Global, saying it would lead to a “quasi-monopolisation” of the German cable TV market.

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    Britain’s Vodafone agreed in May to pay US$21.8 billion to buy Liberty Global‘s assets in Europe, with the main prize being Germany’s Unitymedia, but still needs regulators’ approval.

    “This takeover would mean the end of competition in the cable market and in the fixed broadband network,” Telefonica CEO Markus Haas said in a statement on Monday.

    “We must not allow a quasi-monopolisation of important parts of the infrastructure, which is of decisive importance for the economic future of Germany, to take place.”

    Vodafone sought EU antitrust approval for the deal on Friday, according to a filing on the European Commission website.

    Full Content: WSAU

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