Three UK's owner is reportedly plotting a £9 billion bid for O2

[viridis]

"Telefonica-owned O2 has quietly become the subject of interest from Three UK owner Hutchison Whampoa. According to The Sunday Times, the UK mobile market could quite soon shrink from four major operators to just three, after talks between the two companies reportedly progressed to a point where Hutchison Whampoa is ready to make a £9 billion bid for Britain's second-biggest carrier."

http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/18/hutchison-whampoa-o2-acquisition/

[Anonymous]

They might change the name slightly, from O2 to O3 

[Anonymous]

Be interesting to see how this affects the other report on here about Sky looking at an MVNO with o2 and also whether Vodafone might now weigh in with a takeover of Sky or Virgin Media (owned by Liberty Global) or even another Voda blockbuster with an £80 billion takeover of Liberty?

[sheepdog]

I seriously doubt Vodafone will be allowed to take over Liberty Global as that would put them in a dominant position to monopolise the backbone infrastructure. BT would be the first to complain about it. Can't see them taking over Sky either as they'd be stretching themselves too far in debt to realise any profit for shareholders.

Question is, who actually holds the upper hand here - is it the infrastructure/content delivery mechanism or the actual media content that needs to be delivered?

Besides, Sky has a bigger fight on its hands from the likes of Google, Apple, Amazon etc on who gets the content rights. 

[Cleoriff]

Heard this on BBC news this morning....all been said before but maybe the BBC is a bit slow to catch up??

Mind you the figure mentioned in this article is 10 million not 9.....:smileywink:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30946005

[Anonymous]

In terms of cost for Vodafone Sky would be an easier purchase at around £20 billion v £80 billion for Liberty. Vodafone could buy Virgin Media from Liberty but that would cost some £20bn so Sky would be better value.

There would be limited competition concerns in the UK with either deal except in Fibre Backhaul re Virgin. The big issue would be in Germany where Voda owns Kabel Deutchsland.

Re o2 and Three, massive competition concerns here as the UK authorities want to keep 4 networks to ensure competition and a lid on prices. If it goes through we are likely to see more expensive prices in the uk.

[Anonymous]

The BBC won't speculate. They wait until the story is real before reporting it hence why they are generally considered as late to the party.

[davethorp]

Press release from Hutchison Whampoa (3's parent company)

http://www.hutchison-whampoa.com/en/media/topic/2729/HWL-O2/

Anyone still on O2 legacy tariffs? Get ready to be forced off if 3 do what they did with their own customer base. But on the plus side, no compulsory price rises for all. Just compulsory tariff changes for all!

[viridis]

Unlocked handsets.
Roaming off inclusive allowance
All you can eat data even on payg

O2 has stagnated, it needs change to survive.

[davethorp]

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@viridis wrote:
Unlocked handsets.
Roaming off inclusive allowance
All you can eat data even on payg

O2 has stagnated, it needs change to survive.

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1. O2 unlock handsets relatively easily if you are on contract unless it is an iPhone in the first 6 or 7 years of release of course

2. I'll give you that one

3. I'll half give you that one. Just don't try to tether with it (especially on PAYG). Or remain on a price plan that offers all you can eat tethering. Because you can't!

[viridis]

Don't need to tether, I use a 3 sim in my tablet and the price of 15 for unlimited data is unrivalled by anyone. And I use that same allowance abroad.

In the grand scheme of things, who would you rather have buy o2?
3 or talk talk?