動きやすい 顧客s could 直面する higher 法案s with Three and Vodafone 合併, 監視者 警告するs

  • The £15billion Vodafone and Three 合併 creates UK's largest 動きやすい 操作者
  • But the 競争 and Markets 当局 警告するs it may 影響する／感情 price and 質?

By Sam Barker

Updated:

動きやすい 顧客s could 支払う／賃金 higher prices if the 合併 between Three and Vodafone is 許すd to go ahead, the 競争 監視者 has 警告するd.?

In June 2023 Three and Vodafone 発表するd 計画（する）s to 合併する in a £15billion 取引，協定 that would create the UK's largest 動きやすい 網状組織.

But the 競争 and Markets 当局 is 関心d that a 縮むing market of providers could 押し進める up prices for all 動きやすい phone 顧客s - not just those of Vodafone and Three.?

Any 動きやすい phone price 引き上げ（る） would just 構内／化合物 法外な 法案 増加するs of up to 7.9 per cent?on airtime that are hitting 顧客s from next month.?

Price panic: The competition watchdog thinks that reducing the number of UK mobile networks from four to three would mean less incentive for firms to keep prices down

Price panic: The 競争 監視者 thinks that 減ずるing the number of UK 動きやすい 網状組織s from four to three would mean いっそう少なく incentive for 会社／堅いs to keep prices 負かす／撃墜する

The CMA said: 'The CMA is 関心d the 取引，協定, which 連合させるs two of the four 動きやすい 網状組織 操作者s in the UK, could lead to 動きやすい 顧客s 直面するing higher prices and 減ずるd 質.

'The CMA is 関心d that 連合させるing these two 商売／仕事s will 減ずる 競争 between 動きやすい 操作者s to 勝利，勝つ new 顧客s. 競争の激しい 圧力 can help to keep prices low, 同様に as 供給する an important incentive for 網状組織 操作者s to 改善する their services, 含むing by 投資するing in 網状組織 質.'

There are only four 動きやすい 網状組織s i n the UK - Vodafone, Three, O2 and EE.

Other 動きやすい phone 会社／堅いs such as Sky 動きやすい, Lebara and Myca 動きやすい piggyback off the 存在するing four 網状組織s to connect their 顧客s.

The CMA thinks that 減ずるing the number of 動きやすい 網状組織s from four to three could have a 悲惨な 影響 on 競争.?

The 監視者 said it was 関心d that the remaining 動きやすい 網状組織s would have いっそう少なく incentive to keep prices low and 投資する in their services.

Vodafone and Three have five days to 答える／応じる to the CMA before it 開始する，打ち上げるs a second, deeper 調査.

CMA decisionmaker Julie Bon said: 'Whilst Vodafone and Three have made a number of （人命などを）奪う，主張するs about how their 取引，協定 is good for 競争 and 投資, the CMA has not seen 十分な 証拠 to date to 支援する these （人命などを）奪う，主張するs.?

'Our 初期の 査定／評価 of this 取引，協定 has identified 関心s which could lead to higher prices for 顧客s and lower 投資 in UK 動きやすい 網状組織s. These 令状 an in-depth 調査 unless Vodafone and Three can come 今後 with 解答s.'?

Airtime price rises?

動きやすい phone 使用者s are already 直面するing price 引き上げ（る）s of up to 7.9 per cent on the airtime part of their 法案.

These 中央の-契約 増加するs are 始める，決める to take place from March to May and will see many broadband and 動きやすい 会社／堅いs pass on cost rises linked to インフレーション - often with an extra 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 on 最高の，を越す for good 手段.

Most providers will base their price 増加するs on December 2023 消費者 prices ind ex (消費者物価指数) インフレーション 人物／姿／数字 of?4 per cent.

The steepest price 引き上げ（る）s so far this year are from EE, BT, Three and Vodafone, which will 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 most 顧客s a 7.9 per cent 増加する - インフレーション of 4 per cent 加える an extra 3.9 per cent.

Regulator Ofcom is considering 計画（する）s to 禁止（する） these インフレーション-linked price 増加するs from this summer, but not in time to stop this year's rises.

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