The Three/O2 one—what lies ahead for the EU telecoms sector?

Table of contents

• Original news
• Are there any differences between this transaction and the three phase II clearance decisions with remedies in 2012 and 2014 (relating to Austria, Ireland and Germany)? What has the Commission learnt from those transactions?
• Given what happened in the aborted TeliaSonera/Telenor merger investigation and public statements by Commissioner Vestager and others, what remedies are the Commission likely to require in this transaction?
• If the Commission does require a fourth MNO to be created, how could the parties achieve this?
• What impact is this transaction and the BT/EE merger likely to have on the UK telecoms sector?
• What are the challenges ahead for the sector in Europe (including changes to roaming charges proposed by the EU)?

Article summary

Competition analysis: Following the Commission’s decision to refer the Three/O2 deal to phase II, Jeremy Robinson, partner at Watson Farley & Williams LLP, assesses what changes may be ahead for the telecoms sector in Europe.