INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
In the latest twist on the rollercoaster that is the AU$15 billion TPG-Vodafone merger, the Australian Federal Court has today allowed the
two telecom companies to merge.Rumours of the merger were first confirmed back in August 2018, with both companies announcing their
continue to do so.Almost a year later, the ACCC blocked the merger, positing that the market was already too concentrated for both mobile
and broadband services and that it would prefer TPG to enter the mobile market as its own entity to provide further competition.TPG and
Vodafone then took the ACCC to court, claiming that their merger would not substantially lessen competition, and now the companies have had
the hearing ruled in their favour.Anti-competitive?The ACCC stands by its initial assessment of the merger, with Chair Rod Sims saying that
is to be believed, a more concentrated market would lead to higher costs for consumers for both mobile and broadband plans.Naturally,
Vodafone and TPG claim much the opposite is true, with the former company stating that the merger will allow for a greater investment in new
unless further appeals are made by the ACCC.
