EC must allow OFT to investigate Orange/T-Mobile deal, says Which?

03 February 2010

As the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has asked the European Commission to allow it to investigate the merger of Orange and T-Mobile, Which? chief executive, Peter Vicary-Smith, says:

“We’re pleased that the OFT has asked to investigate the deal and see no reason why the European Commission should object. It’s only right that a deal affecting UK consumers should be scrutinised by UK regulators.

“This merger will clearly have a huge impact on the mobile market, since it will form the biggest mobile operator in the UK and bring the number of networks down to just four. We don’t believe the deal should go ahead unless the OFT and Competition Commission are satisfied there will be no detriment to UK consumers”

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