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| BT takeover of EE gets final Competition and Markets Authority clearance | BT takeover of EE gets final Competition and Markets Authority clearance |
| (35 minutes 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. |
| But rival Vodafone said it still had "wider market concerns". | But rival Vodafone said it still had "wider market concerns". |
| The deal creates a communications 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." |
| BT has around 88,000 employees in 61 countries, with 72,000 of those working in the UK. | BT has around 88,000 employees in 61 countries, with 72,000 of those working in the UK. |
| It controls 31% of the UK fixed-broadband market, according to Ofcom, and has a 37.6% share of the market for UK home phone traffic. | It controls 31% of the UK fixed-broadband market, according to Ofcom, and has a 37.6% share of the market for UK home phone traffic. |
| The deal would add EE's 33.8% mobile market share to BT's portfolio. | The deal would add EE's 33.8% mobile market share to BT's portfolio. |
| Analysis: Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC technology correspondent | Analysis: Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC technology correspondent |
| It started in 2014, but now the reshaping of the UK's telecoms landscape is finally nearing completion. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 February. | |
| Perhaps Ofcom still needs to work out whether this jigsaw is coming together to produce a pretty picture for consumers. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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 10 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. |