Contrary to CMA’s current speculative view – the entry of a new 4th MNO – is the only effective remedy for the Vodafone / Three merger. The CMA Chief Executive, Alex Chisholm, categorically stated in the open letter he wrote to the European Commission during the 2016 investigation of the 4 to 3 Three / O2 merger in the UK that “Absent of a new 4th MNO entry the only option available to the Commission is prohibition.”.
While monthly prices are several times higher in more concentrated mobile markets – statistically significant correlations with confidence intervals as high as 99.99% – network performance and average download speed are NOT higher in more concentrated mobile markets.
Comprehensive analysis of commercial and merger mandated MVNO wholesale access frameworks and assessment of their efficacy in restoring effective competition in 4 to 3 mobile mergers