Telefonica O2

UK broadcaster Sky will later this month significantly increase competition in the country’s mobile market by finally launching its own MVNO called Sky Mobile. Pre-registration for the service, which piggybacks on Telefonica O2’s network, starts 31 October.

Margrethe Vestager said companies involved in failed mergers in the UK and Denmark were “not effective” in finding solutions that would have enabled the deals to go ahead.

Having failed to merge with UK rival Telefonica O2, 3 UK attacked market leader BT/EE with a call for regulatory intervention.

Telefonica plans to float at least 25 per cent of Telxius, its global infrastructure unit, in the second half of 2016. The group intends to remain as Telxius’ majority shareholder.

EE’s offer of six months free access to BT Sport is a first sign of crossover marketing since BT’s takeover, as well as representing a change in tactics for the UK’s largest mobile operator.

Telefonica chairman Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete does not appear to be in a hurry to decide on the group’s O2 UK business, although reports claim a number of bidders are sizing it up following the rejection of CK Hutchison’s £10.

CK Hutchison’s £10. 5 billion bid for Telefonica O2 in the UK is expected to be rejected by the European Commission, according to two media reports. The news is unsurprising given the distance between the EU competition authorities and Hutchison.