European regulators said that Three's parent company, Hutchison, had "failed to adequately address the serious concerns raised" over the deal, which would have increased prices and harmed innovation.
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As regulators prepare to publish their objections to Three's proposed acquisition of O2 UK, Three's parent company has pledged to freeze prices for all customers on both networks for five years.
Hutchison Whampoa, the parent company of the Three brand, has announced plans to sell 33 percent of the combined Three and O2 network once its buyout of O2 UK is completed.
Just a few weeks after BT confirmed that it is in talks to acquire EE, the parent company of Three is said to be considering a £9bn bid to take over O2 from Spanish communications giant Telefónica.
The UK's telecommunications regulator, Ofcom, has announced that five companies have successfully bid for 4G spectrum, in an auction that raised just £2.34bn - far less than had been expected.
The UK's telecommunications regulator, Ofcom, has confirmed that seven companies will bid in the auction for 4G mobile spectrum in January 2013, with new 4G services launching as soon as late Spring.
