Merger: Vodafone’s £15bn partnership with Three UK given the green light
Vodafone has been asked to set up a national security committee to “oversee sensitive work” following its merger with Three UK.
The £15bn deal has been backed by ministers after a review under national security laws.
The review was prompted by concerns about Three’s ties to China, given that it is owned by Hong Kong group CK Hutchison.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said companies should set up a special committee to report sensitive work to the Government.
The company will be 51 percent owned by Vodafone and 49 percent by CK Hutchison, which said it was “pleased” with the green light.
However, the alliance still needs approval from competition regulators.
Last month, the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation into the merger after a formal investigation in January.
There are concerns that a partnership could lead to higher prices for all UK customers.
If the merger goes ahead, the combined group will have more than 27 million subscribers.
The two companies say a deal would result in an additional £11bn of investment in the UK.
