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Vodafone / Three - Merger Discussion

Do you approve of a merger between three and Vodafone?

  • Yes

    Votes: 113 34.3%
  • No

    Votes: 117 35.6%
  • Don't Care

    Votes: 33 10.0%
  • With Restrictions (Please Specify)

    Votes: 25 7.6%
  • Prefer As Is

    Votes: 35 10.6%
  • Yes the merger will get the go ahead

    Votes: 19 5.8%
  • No the merger will be blocked

    Votes: 2 0.6%

  • Total voters
    329

The Wee Bear

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LATEST UPDATE: (26th November 2024)

Another 2 responses to the remedies working paper published.


Three Announcement
Vodafone Announcement

CMA launches investigation into Vodafone / Three merger

Combined Network Website (Including CEO's Video)

CMA Provisional Findings

CMA Demands Changes for Vodafone and Three UK to Merge

Vodafone UK response to CMA provisional findings

Vodafone & Three response to CMA provisional findings.

Vodafone and Three respond to notice of possible remedies.

Responses to possible remedies. (3rd October 2024)

Additional responses to possible remedies. (4th October 2024)

Additional responses to possible remedies. (7th October 2024)

CMA provisionally finds Vodafone / Three could address competition concerns through network investment and customer protections.

Vodafone and Three’s response to the CMA’s Remedies Working Paper.

Responses to the remedies working paper published.

Feel Three to leave your thoughts in this thread folks. :)

 
Last edited:
I prefer if Vodafone and Three stayed as standalone networks, I can tell you one thing if they did merge you wouldn't get cheap Three unlimited deals on cashback and if you did it would be Vodafone style limited to 2 Mbps.

One advantage of a merge Three customer would actually get a 2G network in someplaces Three got zero coverage where on Vodafone they got 2G in the same place.
 
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I prefer if Vodafone and Three stayed as standalone networks, I can tell you one thing if they did merge you wouldn't get cheap Three unlimited deals on cashback and if you did it would be Vodafone style limited to 2 Mbps.

One advantage of a merge Three customer would actually get a 2G network in someplaces Three got zero coverage where on Vodafone they got 2G in the same place.
Like I posted on the other thread. VF do still have fairly decent cashback deals on unlimited/uncapped speed packages. £17 for 24 months.

Not exactly 3 cheap, but still...
 
Like I posted on the other thread. VF do still have fairly decent cashback deals on unlimited/uncapped speed packages. £17 for 24 months.

Not exactly 3 cheap, but still...
It still a good deal but its not the same caliber as Three bargain bucket price.
 
I think Three not intruding speed caps is part of their issue on over subscribed areas.

If the takeover goes ahead there's nothing stopping Vodafone from doing this to provide a much more stable network, and those who want/need more for the sake of having more, pay more to cover further investments in the area.
 
Just thought I'd pop a wee thread here folks just to save the Vodafone speed testing thread from getting all clogged up. (As suggested by JP)

Feel free to post opinions on what you think, if any, the merits that a merger would bring. (y)

Personally I like my standalone three as it is, better the devil you know. :giggle:
Missed opportunity to create a poll.
Can you do that retrospectively?
 
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Missed opportunity to create a poll.
Can you do that retrospectively?
Added hopefully Lucian, thanks for the suggestion. (y)
 
I just can't see it happening. They're chalk and cheese. If it does then I reckon they will keep Voda as the "premium" brand and Three will become the Plusnet mobile of the new meganetwork - restricted so it works like Three does today but won't take much benefit from the extended network.
 
Why is there the "Prefer as is" option as that is covered by "No".

Clearly most of us would/have selected one of those two options.
 
Why is there the "Prefer as is" option as that is covered by "No".

Clearly most of us would/have selected one of those two options.
I knew someone would ask that. 😁
 
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Had me scratching my head for a minute as my first reaction was to select "No" then I had to think if I should pick the "as is" option:-)
 
Had me scratching my head for a minute as my first reaction was to select "No" then I had to think if I should pick the "as is" option:)
It's just a rough guide to what folk think, so don't scratch your head too much pollax. 😁
 
Just spotted soemthing else that could hint at the purchase of three. Vodafone and O2 have a 5G proposed spectrum trade. If vodafone then further buys 3, they will have one continuous block of 5G C spectrum from 3410MHz to 3540MHz and then also the 100MHz three currently owns (3580MHz to 3680MHz). This could mean Vodathree ends up with 230MHz C band (if I've done my maths correctly lol)
Screenshot_20220818-165422_Edge.webp
 
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The thing I want the most is for three and especially vodafone to start using some of their low band spectrum to provide indoor level 5G. It’s one of the biggest positives of the 3G shutdown for me. I think vodafone is shutting theirs down first (2023) and they have a large amount of low band spectrum to use.

I’ll be looking forward to Vodafone having band 3 spectrum. If some of the spectrum is given to O2 then I do think this merger could end of benefiting everyone, but with Ofcom we really never know…

EDIT: it would be great if someone made a spectrum map like PeterC’s with the combined vodathree frequencies so we can easily see how fair/unfair this may be competition wise.
 
I said no because a reduction in wholesale and main network operators means a reduction in competition and ultimately a rise in prices. There has been talk of Three wanting to sell its business for the a good few years. A merger between O2 and Three got blocked in 2016 due to concerns by the CMA. Vodafone and Three merging would disadvantage Three customers as its customers are generally more budget conscious much like myself. Vodafone is not a network for the budget conscious and prices /would/ rise under a takeover by Vodafone.

We may have a number of MVNOs but main operators may increase the prices they charge to allocate their resources to third party MVNOs for a share of their bandwidth on the network.

Three is also making amazing progress right now in improving their network. I was very much for Three merging with O2 back in the day as back then Three’s network was pretty abysmal but with the inroads they are currently making with their breakneck 5G rollout, they’re innovating well enough that they don’t really need the help of another operator to help them improve. They have enough spectrum and a plan in place to build their network out which will propel them forward to compete with the other big 3 networks.

I just hope the ‘Big Network Build‘ will improve rural coverage/capacity as well as shed Three’s age old reputation for being an underdog.
 
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