topic Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger in Discussions & Feedback

Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

PhoneChanger — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 16:10:54 GMT

http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/04/three-o2-merger-threat/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Thought this was an interesting read.

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

MI5 — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 16:16:14 GMT

What happens after the 5 year freeze is potentially worrying......

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

jonsie — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 16:17:08 GMT

Living in the real world I reckon it all boils down to greasy palms, backhanders and brown envelopes. Cynical? Me? Never....

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

Curr946 — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 16:38:10 GMT

That's how business is done, perhaps not by cash means now buy by other "Incentives"

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 16:56:00 GMT

Three did at one point to me seem to offer the most competitive rates. This did seem to slowly creep up and up and more so recently with the news of their legacy plan now costing double!

Yeah there is obviously inflation and stuff but they definitely went about it totally wrong!

I'm really not sure how I feel on the whole o2/Three merger to be totally honest.

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

MI5 — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 17:48:30 GMT

If three were to take over they would have to align their pricing - I guess they are still confident of securing the merger.....?

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

jonsie — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 17:51:14 GMT

I'm sure they are which is why they seem to be aligning prices.

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

Cleoriff — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 19:12:19 GMT

Well it's going to be interesting to see if it does go ahead then....

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

MI5 — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 19:14:49 GMT

Most likely depend on factors outside of either companies control in the end.....

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 19:51:35 GMT

Surely it needs to happen, or at least Telefonica needs it to happen

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

MI5 — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 19:52:48 GMT

Telefonica definitely need it to.....!

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

Curr946 — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 22:02:34 GMT

Why?

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

MI5 — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 22:10:40 GMT

Debts

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

sheepdog — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 23:12:40 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
What happens after the 5 year freeze is potentially worrying......

I wouldn't worry after 5 years, prices are still going to go up in between as per the contract annual inflation rise thus the freeze will only be in the context of the current T&C's.

Now somewhere in my mind I thought I read an article saying there's going to be an increase on all networks in this year over something forced onto them by ofcom. Can't remember what it is though but it got me seriously thinking if I needed to have a contract these days.

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

Cleoriff — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 00:25:26 GMT

More info released here from the Telegraph so it's certainly gathering momentum.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/telecoms/12139250/Millions-to-see-mobile-phone-bills-frozen-under-Three-O2-merger-plans.html

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

Curr946 — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 07:30:25 GMT

If the sell back spectrum it defeats the point, network wise

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

Cleoriff — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 07:46:08 GMT

Interesting that Ofcom are totally opposed to it quoting four rival mobile operators are required to protect consumers. I would be tempted to ask why BT and EE had no opposition from them. That takeover was allowed to go through with no problems.

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

gmarkj — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 07:55:53 GMT

the reasoning for their approval was that bt were a small operator in the mobile industry, meaning there were still 4 big companies and likewise ee were small in the home broadband industry.
overall they saw the deal as having little impact...

edited to add links:

competition and markets page (with links to all documents) - https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/bt-ee-merger-inquiry

summary (still 15 pages, but the complete investigation was 373 pages) - https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/5697d55aed915d474700001d/BT-EE_summary_final_report.pdf

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

Cleoriff — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 08:10:15 GMT

Yes I knew this was their rationale but it doesn't look quite so convincing when you look at the market share graph. (I know it involves more than looking at pretty pictures but I am just saying):smileywink:

Re: Interesting Article 3 & O2 Merger

MI5 — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 08:13:39 GMT

I guess Voda would have some strong objections too, looking at that graph.