Fixed/Mobile Integration in the Telecommunications Sector: Substantial Issues in EU Merger Control

To counter the decline in Average Revenue per User, Mobile Network Operators adopted one of the four potential strategies: local mobile and cross-border mobile consolidation; fixed/mo-bile (F/M) mergers and local cable consolidation. The first part of this two part article critically analysed four-to-three telecom mergers across the European Union. This article seeks to present and critically assess the approach of the EU in its assessment of F/M mergers, alongside a focus on its conglomerate merger enforcement activities. To assess the non-hor-izontal effects in F/M mergers, this article undertakes an inter-disciplinary approach using insights from competition law, economics and corporate strategy.