Three CEO: 'UK robbed of Europe's best mobile network'
The merger of Three and O2 could have been special
The UK could have boasted Europe's best mobile network, but after the proposed merger between O2 and Three was blocked we're going to miss out. At least, that's what Three believes.
Speaking at a business update with TechRadar in attendance, Three UK CEO David Dyson briefly discussed the ruling by the EU Commission back in May.
"I think it was the wrong decision. UK consumers have been robbed of the best mobile infrastructure in Europe. Italy will end up with better infrastructure than UK in the short term."
Dyson said UK consumers have missed out on a bigger network, with more spectrum, better coverage and faster data speeds - and for Three itself it will find it more difficult to fight EE, which has just announced new superfast Cat 9 data speeds for flagship handsets.
Time to move on
Three is drawing a line under the O2 merger, with Dyson saying "We have to accept that decision, move on and work with what we've got. Another merger not in the pipeline."
So no merger with O2 and Three any time soon then - and the UK will continue to have four major players in the mobile market.
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John joined TechRadar over a decade ago as Staff Writer for Phones, and over the years has built up a vast knowledge of the tech industry. He's interviewed CEOs from some of the world's biggest tech firms, visited their HQs and has appeared on live TV and radio, including Sky News, BBC News, BBC World News, Al Jazeera, LBC and BBC Radio 4. Originally specializing in phones, tablets and wearables, John is now TechRadar's resident automotive expert, reviewing the latest and greatest EVs and PHEVs on the market. John also looks after the day-to-day running of the site.
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