Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 have extended their UK network sharing agreement for over a decade, including a provision for the proposed Vodafone UK and Three UK merger.
Subject to CMA approval, the merged entity (MergeCo) will join the agreement, with Virgin Media O2 acquiring spectrum from MergeCo.
This extension ensures that Virgin Media O2 customers and MVNOs with wholesale partnerships benefit from MergeCo’s £11bn network investment plan.
Ahmed Essam (pictured), CEO of European Markets at Vodafone said: “The proposed merger, together with this agreement, will boost competition by establishing a strong third player in the UK mobile market and will improve the balance of spectrum holdings, levelling the playing field between the UK’s mobile operators.”
Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media O2, added: “We believe that this new agreement addresses the issues we have voiced and the CMA outlined in its initial decision, and will now continue our engagement with the regulator in this spirit.”
