Vodafone Group plc (LON:VOD) and Three have welcomed 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.
· Merger creates a new force in UK mobile, unleashing more competition and investment to transform the UK telecoms landscape
· Committed £11 billion investment programme to build the UK’s biggest and best network
· New advanced 5G network will bring vastly superior network quality to tens of millions of consumers and businesses up and down the country
· Investment will propel the UK’s telecoms infrastructure to the forefront of European connectivity
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 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.”
Margherita Della Valle said: “Today’s decision creates a new force in the UK’s telecoms market and unlocks the investment needed to build the network infrastructure the country deserves. Consumers and businesses will enjoy wider coverage, faster speeds and better-quality connections across the UK, as we build the biggest and best network in our home market. Today’s approval releases the handbrake on the UK’s telecoms industry, and the increased investment will power the UK to the forefront of European telecommunications.”
Canning Fok, Deputy Chairman of CK Hutchison and Chairman of CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings, said: “We have been operating telecoms businesses in the UK for over three decades and Three UK for the past two. We have invested in the people and the infrastructure, helping to bring the benefits of mobile connectivity to UK businesses and consumers. When Three and Vodafone are combined, CK Hutchison will fully support the merged business in implementing its network investment plan, the cornerstone of today’s approval by the CMA, transforming the UK’s digital infrastructure and ensuring customers across the country benefit from world-beating network quality.”
Vodafone and Three will study the Final Report in detail and will continue to engage with the CMA as they put in place the final undertakings.
The merger is expected to formally complete during the first half of 2025. Vodafone will own 51% of the equity and, after three years following completion and subject to certain conditions, Vodafone may acquire Hutchison’s 49% stake via a Put and Call option.
1. The merger will extend the network quality benefits well beyond the merged company’s own customer base to VMO2’s customers
