Liberty Global and Telefónica, owners of Virgin Media O2, have asked the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to reconsider its decision blocking their £2bn broadband merger. The companies argue that BT's acquisition of TalkTalk has materially changed UK market competition since the original review. The proposed merger aimed to combine Virgin Media O2's broadband network with TalkTalk's customer base, but the CMA initially blocked it citing concerns over reduced competition.
The partners now contend that BT's vertical integration with TalkTalk creates new competitive dynamics that warrant a fresh assessment of the deal's impact on consumers.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing