Revising the criteria for how mergers will be assessed in Europe moving forwards is long overdue and today’s publication of the European Commission draft Merger Guidelines is therefore welcome, as is the opportunity now for the mobile industry to analyse their implications and provide feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fundamentally, we encourage a balanced approach to weighing theories of benefit against theories of harm. A dynamic framework<\/a> is needed to reflect modern market needs, and innovation, investment and resilience are correctly recognised as parameters of competition that can benefit from consolidation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is now critical to ensure the final Guidelines will serve Europe\u2019s industries and consumers smartly in the years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In particular, unlocking investment in the mobile sector is crucial for driving European competitiveness on the global stage in increasingly fractious times. While there remains no magic number for operators in a given country, the ability to explore opportunities to scale and, as a result, improve the quality of service being provided to consumers is very important for Europe\u2019s digital future and strategic autonomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor more information, please contact:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n