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Written question asked by Adam Afriyie (Conservative) on Monday, 16 November 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 18 November 2015. It was answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative) on Thursday, 19 November 2015 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.


O2: Three

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed merger of O2 and Three on the competitive functioning of the mobile telecommunications industry.

Answer

The assessment of the impact of mergers on competition is a matter for the independent competition regulators. In the case of the takeover ofTelefónica UK (O2)byCKHutchison Holdings Ltd. (CKHH), which owns Three, the competent authority is the European Commission, due to the international scope of the deal, although the UK Competition and Markets Authority has applied for jurisdiction.

Any authority ruling on this merger will take advice from Ofcom, the UK’s independent communications regulator, on competition in the mobile communications sector in the UK.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
16450
Session
2015-16
Subjects
Competition Telecommunications O2 Three
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk