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UK: Vodafone wants strict conditions on BT’s latest takeover

By  |  December 16, 2014

Spain-based Vodafone has reportedly asked UK communications regulator Ofcom to impose strict conditions on BT’s proposed acquisition of EE to ensure the telco will not discriminate against competitors.

Reports say Vodafone, which operates TalkTalk in the UK, is concerned that BT’s nearly $20 billion takeover of EE will allow BT to hike prices charged to wireless operators that need to use BT’s fiber network. The reports were revealed by an unnamed source.

BT is looking to acquire EE, a joint venture between Deutsche Telekom and Orange. But industry experts are concerned the takeover will only strengthen BT’s dominant position to allow rivals access to its network. TalkTalk, EE and Hutchison Whampoa-owned Three all depend on the infrastructure for their operations. Other experts, however, say that because BT and EE run different types of operations, antitrust authorities may swiftly approve of the deal.

Full content: Bloomberg

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