3 PAYG seems cheaper than 1m contract - what am I not getting?

d123

As I don't quite understand half of your post again I'll stop trying to explain (why do you miss so many words out between other words?).

I'll just say that everything you think is just that, what you are thinking and speculating without any reference to fact.

I think there is more chance of Nokia becoming world number 1 again than there is of Deutsche Telekom starting another mobile network in the UK.


Edit to add

Just noticed this on the BBC website. It appears OFCOM have also decided the competition aspect is worrying and OFCOM still wants 4 operators.

I suppose you don't like the new head of OFCOM quite so much any more?

Ofcom casts doubt on O2/Three merger

Ofcom chief executive Sharon White said in a speech in London on Wednesday night that "four operators is a competitive number".

The proposed £10.2bn ($15.6bn) deal would reduce the number of UK mobile networks from four to three.

She said mobile operators implied that the UK market was "too competitive".
Ms White also said they claimed that profit margins were too low.
O2 is owned by Spain's Telefonica, while Three is owned by Hong Kong-based conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa.

Competition or consolidation?
"Consolidation can in theory have benefits - improving economies of scale and making it easier to finance investment. However, Ofcom's experience is that competition, not consolidation, drives investment and delivers low prices," Ms White said.

Having four UK networks had delivered "good results for consumers and sustainable returns for companies", she added.

The Ofcom chief said a combined Three/O2 would have a market share of more than 40% and would remove the "competitive new entrant" in Three.

Her comments follow last week's warning by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that the merger threatened to "affect significantly competition" in both the retail and wholesale mobile markets.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34471742

simax

d123 wrote: »

Here's the OFCOM page, I can't find anything that reads how you have posted, and you certainly haven't quoted any of it.

http://media.ofcom.org.uk/news/2013/winners-of-the-4g-mobile-auction/



Again, you are using strange terminology, what is a "lower 2600mhz monopoly"?




Oh, I see, you were just making up a hypothesis with no basis in fact, DT have shown absolutely no inclination in getting involved in the UK market again.



No, any merger is looked at from all positions and anti-competition reviews will look at how it affects customers, with the EU that is actually one of the more important basic premises. Check the Danish merger that was refused, that was one of the points for rejection.

BT buying EE isn't a merger, so probably won't even need EU permission, it's a national issue for the national authorities to approve.

As things stand, the BT deal will probably be done quite soon with only minimal conditions (what happens with OpenReach seems more of a stumbling block than any spectrum arguments).

Three/o2, I think most in the industry will be more surprised if it gets approved in any form...

The only conditions I see are possibly hiving off EE's home broadband into PlusNet and relinquishing of some of the 2600MHz 4G spectrum as their joint holding would simply be enormous.

d123

And more bad news for those like diamonds who want this merger. The investigation is being extended until mid April 2016, so it's on a go slow.

The European Commission has given itself more time to investigate the planned merger between UK mobile networks Three and O2.

A week after announcing plans to investigate the deal, the continent’s competition regulator has extended the deadline for its review to mid-April 2016 (via WSJ).

The antitrust investigators are peering into the deal, which will see Three owner Hutchison hand over a whopping £10.25bn to Telefonica to take control of O2, if approved.

The commission will look into whether the deal will negatively impact competition in the UK, leading to higher prices and less choice for British consumers.

Last week, the commission said it "has concerns that the transaction would remove an important competitive force and that the merged entity would have limited incentives to exercise significant competitive pressure on the remaining competition.”

Today’s extension of the deadline is likely designed to give representatives from both networks the opportunity to make their case to the commission.

If the EU decides the deal will harm competition in the UK they could choose to block the deal. It could also advise the two parties on how to bring the deal in line with the rules.

Ofcom has also expressed concern: “We’re concerned that this proposed takeover would damage mobile competition, reduce customer choice and see prices go up. The deal could undermine important aspects of the UK market, such as shared networks and high street retail competition, which have helped deliver good results for mobile users over many years.

“Once competition is weakened, it is hard to re-establish. We have explained our concerns to the Commission, and will continue to engage with its review.”

The deal comes under increased scrutiny given the consolidation of the UK telecoms scene in recent years.

Orange and T-Mobile merged to become EE and now EE has been purchased by BT. With Three and O2 also set to become one, it would leave Vodafone the only major operator left as a standalone entity in the UK market.


Read more at http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/eu-antitrust-investigation-into-three-s-o2-purchase-extended#XVpcQ2T4xoOdmOFT.99

d123

simax wrote: »

The only conditions I see are possibly hiving off EE's home broadband into PlusNet and relinquishing of some of the 2600MHz 4G spectrum as their joint holding would simply be enormous.

I don't see BT fighting too hard to keep the excess 2600Mhz, EE already have a decent allocation.

There have also been a few rumblings from the Red network wanting OpenReach moved even further away from BT, possibly even into a completely separate company.

diamonds

d123 wrote: »

As I don't quite understand half of your post again I'll stop trying to explain (why do you miss so many words out between other words?).

I'll just say that everything you think is just that, what you are thinking and speculating without any reference to fact.

I think there is more chance of Nokia becoming world number 1 again than there is of Deutsche Telekom starting another mobile network in the UK.


Edit to add

Just noticed this on the BBC website. It appears OFCOM have also decided the competition aspect is worrying and OFCOM still wants 4 operators.

I suppose you don't like the new head of OFCOM quite so much any more?

It has, Nokia has the biggest calling capacity worldwide and it is on most smartphones without building a network, its called Skype.


Perfectly feesible T-Mobile could have a UK presence again, it went from debt to EvEn books to quids in, quite a turnaround


The Ofcom CE is a far cry better than the previously corrupt lawyer.

eagle

diamonds wrote: »

BT is no longer virtual, 4G I think was granted as the only reseller on a backdoor clause they were prob in talks of a buy out already. Virgin only got 4G for business plans.

Hmmm... I think you've confused a couple of things here:
- BT does have a 4G license, but not for a mobile network as such (aside from it's purchase of EE which is not finalised). I recall they won some spectrum and wanted to bundle it alongside WiFi in towns and cities where they had a WiFi presence
- BT Mobile is still a virtual operator: they have not purchased EE yet, but run their BT Mobile operation on the EE network currently.

I was not aware Virgin had any 4G spectrum. Can anyone clarify?

corf999

Who did virgin buy their 4g spectrum off, as far as recall they didnt buy any at the auction?

d123

diamonds wrote: »

It has, Nokia has the biggest calling capacity worldwide and it is on most smartphones without building a network, its called Skype.

World number 1 as handset maker, I thought that would be obvious to someone who has supposedly followed the mobile industry for years...

d123

corf999 wrote: »

Who did virgin buy their 4g spectrum off, as far as recall they didnt buy any at the auction?

Virgin is only an MVNO and has no spectrum of its own, in his own unique way I think diamonds is trying to say that only some business customers on Virgin Mobile have access to the 4G EE network while normal consumers get to use 3G only.

diamonds

eagle wrote: »

Hmmm... I think you've confused a couple of things here:
- BT does have a 4G license, but not for a mobile network as such (aside from it's purchase of EE which is not finalised). I recall they won some spectrum and wanted to bundle it alongside WiFi in towns and cities where they had a WiFi presence
- BT Mobile is still a virtual operator: they have not purchased EE yet, but run their BT Mobile operation on the EE network currently.

I was not aware Virgin had any 4G spectrum. Can anyone clarify?

BT can use that spectrum as they see fit,they did say mobile broadband but given EE no way will it be such, 2600mhz city infill of mobile services.

BT has EE, just look at its celebration of BT Mobile adverts everywhere since the latest announcement, still expect some of the joint 2600mhz spectrum to be hived away by Ofcom which rightfully so it should.



I do love a merger/buy out and regulation :rotfl: Good to see a regulator actually do some hard graft :T The UK has some of the absolute worst of all, cosy with its licencees.