https://techmonitor.ai/technology/networks/vodafone-three-merger-security

The proposed Vodafone-Three merger has been conditionally approved on security grounds by the UK Cabinet Office. In its national security assessment, the government department said that any merger between the two companies could only proceed if they created a ‘National Security Committee’ to manage sensitive contracts won in the public sector. Regular updates on that work would also have to be provided to the UK government. Vodafone and Three welcomed the news in a joint statement. 

“We strongly believe [the merger] will strengthen competition in the UK’s mobile sector and enable a significant step-up in the UK’s mobile network infrastructure,” the two firms said. The deal, which would lead to the creation of Britain’s largest mobile operator, remains under investigation by the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA.)