Chris Loder, Conservative MP for West Dorset, told the Express: “My experience of Vodafone is such that I share the CMA’s concerns that this merger could lead to higher prices, reduced quality and lower investment.
“Vodafone first needs to focus their attention on helping rural residents with telecoms infrastructure and investment before they even contemplate a merger on this scale.”
In mobile phone “not-spot” Stoke Abbott in Dorset, campaigner for better connections John Foot said: “It’s all very well for the big phone companies to plough ahead getting fatter and fatter while whole areas of the country, like Stoke Abbott, have no provision at all.
“Lack of universal coverage is holding back many rural communities like ours but the big phone companies only seem interested in making easy money in urban areas.”
Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, said: “Residents in rural areas like Shropshire already face enormous difficulties getting a decent mobile signal, and are fed up with paying the same price as people in urban areas for a far worse service.
“They already often have no choice when it comes to provider – they have to go with the one who provides a signal near their home.
“We need to see the benefits of the Shared Rural Network, which are far from obvious at the moment, or improved service through rural roaming. I am highly concerned by the prospect of prices going up and quality getting even worse.
“I’m therefore glad to see the CMA asking for more evidence that the merger won’t damage competitiveness in the market.”
It comes after the Daily Express highlighted the issue of people living in rural areas struggling to get decent access to mobile phone coverage.
Our campaign was backed by Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan who said she “completely agrees” with the drive.
She said: “We set a target of reaching 95% via the shared rural network.
“That’s 95% of 4G coverage by 2025 and we’re on track to meet that target.
“In fact we introduced the wireless infrastructure strategy last year, which went a step further, by saying that we’re going to get standalone 5G to all the populated areas by 2030.
“This is a government that understands how important connectivity is to people’s lives and quality of life.
“That’s why we’ve prioritised not just mobile connectivity, but also gigabit broadband as well.”
Commenting on the report, Julie Bon, Phase 1 decisionmaker for this case at the CMA, said: “Millions of people in the UK depend on effective competition in the mobile market in order to access the best deals for them.
“While Vodafone and Three have made a number of claims about how their deal is good for competition and investment, the CMA has not seen sufficient evidence to date to back these claims.
“Our initial assessment of this deal has identified concerns which could lead to higher prices for customers and lower investment in UK mobile networks.
“These warrant an in-depth investigation unless Vodafone and Three can come forward with solutions.”
Vodafone UK CEO, Ahmed Essam, said: “Having reached this important milestone, we look forward to working with the independent panel on the Phase 2 process.
“By merging our two companies, we will be able to invest £11billion to help the UK realise its ambitions to be a world leader in next-generation 5G technology, and increase competition across the industry.
“This transaction will create an operator with the scale required to take on BTEE and VMO2, give MVNOs greater choice in the wholesale market and is in the wider interests of customers, competition and the country.”
Three UK CEO, Robert Finnegan, said: “The current market structure is holding the UK back, which is not good for customers or competition.
“By creating a third player with the necessary scale to invest, the combination of our two companies will deliver one of Europe’s most advanced networks and move the UK into the digital fast lane, benefiting customers from Day One.”
