Telecom companies Orange and MásMóvil have formally notified the European Commission of their intention to merge, triggering the EU’s competition review process. The Commission now has until March 20 to decide whether to approve the deal in a first phase or launch a more in-depth investigation.
If a detailed review is deemed necessary, a second phase will begin, during which the companies may need to propose remedies to ensure the merger does not harm market competition. This phase could take up to four months, with a final decision potentially delayed up to a year.
Although both companies have expressed optimism about the process, experts in EU regulatory affairs warn that immediate approval is unlikely due to the size of the operation. The merger would reduce the number of major telecom operators in the Spanish market from four to three—both for internet access and mobile services—which raises concerns about its potential impact on competition.
