This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35320831

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
BT takeover of EE gets final Competition and Markets Authority clearance BT takeover of EE gets final Competition and Markets Authority clearance
(about 1 hour later)
BT Group's takeover of mobile phone network EE has been given final clearance by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).BT Group's takeover of mobile phone network EE has been given final clearance by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The £12.5bn deal brings together the UK's largest fixed-line business and the largest mobile telecoms business.The £12.5bn deal brings together the UK's largest fixed-line business and the largest mobile telecoms business.
The CMA said it was unlikely to harm competition as BT was "smaller in mobile" and EE a "minor player" in broadband.The CMA said it was unlikely to harm competition as BT was "smaller in mobile" and EE a "minor player" in broadband.
BT said the combined company would be "a digital champion for the UK". But rival Vodafone said it still had "wider market concerns".
The deal creates a giant covering fixed-line phones, broadband, mobile and TV. The deal creates a communications giant covering fixed-line phones, broadband, mobile and TV.
John Wotton of the CMA said: "The evidence does not show that this merger is likely to cause significant harm to competition or the interests of consumers."John Wotton of the CMA said: "The evidence does not show that this merger is likely to cause significant harm to competition or the interests of consumers."
BT chief executive Gavin Patterson said: "The combined BT and EE will be a digital champion for the UK, providing high levels of investment and driving innovation in a highly competitive market."BT chief executive Gavin Patterson said: "The combined BT and EE will be a digital champion for the UK, providing high levels of investment and driving innovation in a highly competitive market."
The deal was originally announced in February last year, and the CMA provisionally approved the merger in October last year. Analysis: Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC technology correspondent
Rivals TalkTalk and Vodafone called for competition authorities to force BT to spin off its Openreach operation. It started in 2014, but now the reshaping of the UK's telecoms landscape is finally nearing completion.
BT and EE, with 35 million customers between them, will be a formidable force across both the fixed and mobile broadband markets that are vital to Britain's economic wellbeing.
Too powerful, said rivals, with a third of each of those markets - but the UK's Competition and Markets Authority did not agree.
The other piece in the jigsaw is the planned takeover of O2 by Hutchison, owner of Three, which would leave the UK with three big mobile players.
That is in the hands of Brussels, but the CMA has lobbied hard to have its voice heard - and it's hard to see why this deal would be blocked now that the BT/EE merger has gone through.
But there is still one more opportunity for rival firms and consumer groups to halt this consolidation.
The regulator Ofcom is nearing its decision on the shape of the whole UK telecoms market - including the key question of whether BT's Openreach division, which runs the broadband network, should be hived off.
Ofcom's boss Sharon White has indicated that the status quo isn't her preferred option.
Her decision was due by the end of January, but has now been put back until the end of the month.
Perhaps Ofcom still needs to work out whether this jigsaw is coming together to produce a pretty picture for consumers.
BT's EE acquisition was originally announced in February last year, and the CMA provisionally approved the merger in October last year.
Rivals TalkTalk and Vodafone at the time called for competition authorities to force BT to spin off its Openreach operation.
Reacting to Friday's CMA announcement, Vodafone said: "We are reviewing the CMA's document in full.
"As previously stated, we believe it is imperative that the wider market concerns relating to BT Openreach raised by a number of parties and recognised by the CMA, need to be thoroughly scrutinised by Ofcom in its Digital Communications Review."
Openreach maintains the UK's copper and fibre communications cable network.Openreach maintains the UK's copper and fibre communications cable network.
In July, regulator Ofcom started looking into whether BT and Openreach should be split up.In July, regulator Ofcom started looking into whether BT and Openreach should be split up.
BT Openreach was created ten years ago with the remit of giving competitors access to its telephone and broadband network on equal terms. BT Openreach was created 10 years ago with the remit of giving competitors access to its telephone and broadband network on equal terms.
Ofcom had concerns that Openreach's performance on behalf of those providers had often been poor.Ofcom had concerns that Openreach's performance on behalf of those providers had often been poor.