The UK competition watchdog has provisionally found that Nexfibre’s £2bn purchase of rival Netomnia could substantially reduce competition in wholesale fixed broadband.
The Competition and Markets Authority has asked Nexfibre and Netomnia’s owner, Substantial, to propose ways to address its concerns by 16 October. The CMA plans to consult publicly on those proposals before making a final decision.
Nexfibre, backed by Liberty Global, Telefónica and InfraVia Capital Partners, announced the deal in February. It said the acquisition would extend its network to about eight million premises by the end of 2027, creating a larger challenger to BT’s Openreach.
Nexfibre’s shareholders disputed the CMA’s interim findings, arguing that the deal would bring £3.5bn in international investment and help expand full-fibre coverage. Rival provider Cityfibre has called on the watchdog to block the purchase.
Please note! Comments are published by readers. The opinions expressed may not reflect the position of the editorial team. NYCT is not responsible for the content of readers' opinions and asks authors to observe moral standards, not to incite national or racial hatred, and to avoid rudeness. Think before you speak. You are responsible for your words! By publishing an opinion, you agree to the rules! If this request is ignored, NYCT reserves the right to deprive the user of the ability to leave comments.