News: HTA ACCC Updates On Proposed Merger Between TPG And Vodafone

Dec 13 (Reuters) - Australian Competition And Consumer Commission:

• UPDATES ON PROPOSED MERGER BETWEEN TPG AND VODAFONE
• EXPRESSED PRELIMINARY COMPETITION CONCERNS ABOUT PROPOSED MERGER BETWEEN TPG TELECOM & VODAFONE HUTCHISON AUSTRALIA
• PRELIMINARY VIEW THAT TPG IS CURRENTLY ON TRACK TO BECOME FOURTH MOBILE NETWORK OPERATOR IN AUSTRALIA
• ACCC INVITES SUBMISSIONS FROM INTERESTED PARTIES ON STATEMENT OF ISSUES BY 18 JANUARY 2019
• PRELIMINARY VIEW IS THAT TPG IS LIKELY TO BE AN AGGRESSIVE COMPETITOR
• PRELIMINARY VIEW IS MERGED TPG-VODAFONE WOULD NOT HAVE INCENTIVE TO OPERATE IN SAME WAY, COMPETITION IN MARKET WOULD BE REDUCED AS A RESULT
• WILL ALSO CLOSELY EXAMINE LIKELY IMPACT OF REMOVING VODAFONE AS A COMPETITOR IN FIXED BROADBAND MARKET
• IF TPG REMAINS SEPARATE FROM VODAFONE, IT APPEARS LIKELY TO NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADOPT AN AGGRESSIVE PRICING STRATEGY
• TO CONSIDER LONGER-TERM IMPACT OF PROPOSED MERGER IN RELATION TO INCREASED TAKE-UP OF MOBILE BROADBAND SERVICES IN PLACE OF FIXED HOME BROADBAND
• TO CONSIDER WHETHER OPERATORS WILL NEED TO OFFER BOTH MOBILE AND FIXED BROADBAND SERVICES IN LONGER-TERM TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE