Author: 21st Century Competition

Australia: Possible telco price signaling shows limits of the law (Competition Policy International)

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is reportedly eyeing several of the nation’s top wireless firms over whether they are signaling prices to each other to the detriment of competition.

Reports say Telstra, SingTel-Optus and Vodafone Hutchison Australia executives are being eyed by the regulator over public comments that may be …read more

Ireland: Cable co UPC is last hurdle for Hutchison, O2 merger (Competition Policy International)

Cable operator UPC is reportedly the final hurdle in the way of Hutchison Whampoa’s $1 billion acquisition of O2 Ireland.

Reports say Hutchison will need to officially sign a deal with UPC to create a mobile virtual network operator that would replace competition lost with its O2 purchase. Unnamed sources say …read more

EU: Commission needs more time on Germany E-Plus buyout (Competition Policy International)

The European Commission announced it would decide on whether to clear the proposed acquisition of Germany’s E-Plus by July 3, according to reports.

Telefonica is looking to acquire E-Plus, owned by KPN, for $11.8 billion. But the merger has raised eyebrows among competition authorities; the Commission took over the merger review …read more

US: YouTube’s Twitch buyout to face regulatory hurdles (Competition Policy International)

As sources come forward with information that Google-owned video streaming site YouTube is set to acquire video game platform Twitch in a deal valued at more than $1 billion, reports say the acquisition will not come free of regulatory hurdles.

While unnamed sources say the deal should be announced soon, reports …read more