Vodafone-Three Merger Approved by UK Regulator With 5G Investment Conditions

[mazz0]

1. Do regulators *ever* stick to their guns and actually prevent mergers between large companies?
2. Do the promises they receive from the merging companies ever actually avoid prices going up?

 

[cjsuk]

The worst network is O2 by a long shot. Best is EE but you pay though the nose for it and it’s the worst at my house.

Been with Giffgaff (O2 MVNO) for years. Zero issues.

 

[BuffaloTF]

Why do these deals get approved. There is so much evidence globally that going from 4 to 3 big players in an industry is bad.

Such as?

 

[Grayburn]

Less competition, worse for consumers. These are two crap networks, though.

Crap in some places but great in others, like all networks.

 

[garethh]

Three and Orange both owned by Hutchinson (Hong Kong). The telecoms industry is very incestuous.

I don't think they owned them at the same time though. They sold Orange in 1999 and Three started in 2003.

 

[Kingcoherent]

Have you not heard of wifi calling? lol


I believe you are correct

Well. I’m on virgin media for broadband. Fast when it works.

Tbh WiFi calling is part of the problem. Since networks have been able to rely on WiFi assisted calling they’ve a reduced incentive to improve coverage.

In any case I can have full bars of signal, but zero data and poor voice. I think the problem is just one of capacity. Too many people for the number of cell towers.

 

[jlwarlow]

The worst network is O2 by a long shot. Best is EE but you pay though the nose for it and it’s the worst at my house.

I find the same with O2. Signal and data speed are terrible but their price, iPhone support and EU roaming (where you use anyone's signal) keeps me with O2. I use WiFi calling at home but then no network is great where I live. EE have the best network and speeds near home and while out but they're a rip off. You can get a good deal from the retention team when you're out of contract and want to leave - but they don't do competative prices to get you in in the 1st place and you have to pay extra for EU roaming.

 

[Grayburn]

I find the same with O2. Signal and data speed are terrible but their price, iPhone support and EU roaming (where you use anyone's signal) keeps me with O2. I use WiFi calling at home but then no network is great where I live. EE have the best network and speeds near home and while out but they're a rip off. You can get a good deal from the retention team when you're out of contract and want to leave - but they don't do competative prices to get you in in the 1st place and you have to pay extra for EU roaming.

Where i live O2 outshines EE, who i was with, they lost 2 mast sites so it went downhill. Let me leave mid contract with no fee. But i dont rate O2 highly, but it can be good in places and i too stay with them for the roaming...and being the best where i live.