CMA approves merger of Vodafone and Three in the UK

19th December 2024 By: Adam

Vodafone and Three welcome announcement by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”). After 18 months of detailed and thorough analysis, the CMA has approved the combination of Vodafone and Three in the UK.

The merger is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the UK’s digital infrastructure. From the outset, Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group’s CEO, described the combination as being, “great for customers, great for competition and great for the country.” Upon completion, this promise can be turned into reality.

Vodafone and Three have committed to invest £11 billion to create one of Europe’s most advanced 5G networks. The new network will reach 99% of the population and benefit over 50 million customers¹, through significantly better quality, greater reliability and enhanced capacity for handling ever-increasing data demand. This demand is set to accelerate further with more widespread adoption of new technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Great network connectivity is critical to so many elements of our daily life and is central to the UK’s economic growth ambitions. Businesses large and small depend on high-quality connectivity and advanced 5G is also crucial for the growth of the UK’s science and technology sectors, as well as improving public services and narrowing the digital divide.

The combination creates a new, stronger player in UK mobile, with the scale to drive more intense competition across both the retail and wholesale markets.The £11 billion network investment will require no public funding and, as highlighted by the CMA, will “boost competition between the mobile network operators in the long term, benefiting millions of people who rely on mobile services.”