Following an in-depth investigation, the European Commission has approved Liberty Global’s acquisition of mobile operator BASE in Belgium, subject to conditions. Liberty Global and BASE have agreed to sell their interests in the mobile brands Mobile Vikings and Jim Mobile to the Flemish broadcaster Medialaan who will enter the market as a new MVNO with favourable access conditions on BASE’s mobile network. The transaction will result in the merger of Telenet, a Belgian cable operator owned by Liberty Global, and the mobile network operator BASE (currently owned by KPN). Telenet offers both fixed and mobile services (as an MVNO) while BASE is currently a mobile-only operator. With access to its own mobile network, Telenet will be better positioned to guarantee quality of service for its customers and meet the rising demand for mobile data.
CRA advised Liberty Global on the transaction, and its economic analysis focused on competition in the retail mobile market.
See the EC’s press release for further details here.