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Unitymedia disappears from the market: What 7.2 million customers now need to know

Cable network operator Unitymedia emerged in 2005 from the merger of the providers iesy, ish and Tele Columbus (Baden-Württemberg and NRW). In 2009 the company was taken over by UPC Germany Holding BV. In 2015, the provider also took over Kabel BW’s customers and network. In 2018, Vodafone announced the acquisition of Unitymedia. In July 2019, Vodafone received the green light from Brussels for this merger (CHIP reported).-

The European Union is a driver of such acquisitions and investments. Consolidation has been taking place on the market for years. “Larger players on the telecommunications market are bringing the Union forward overall economically,” believes industry expert Torsten Gerpott from the University of Duisburg-Essen.

The EU Commission tied its green light to a number of conditions. In this way, Vodafone should ensure that customers would not suffer any disadvantages and that they could continue to benefit from fair prices, high-quality services and innovative products. Among other things, the company had to guarantee that a competitor – according to Telefónica – would be granted access to the cable network in order to ensure competitive pressure. In addition, the fees for free-to-air television channels that broadcast their programs via the Vodafone cable network in Germany should not be increased.

Experts also issue warnings. Such acquisitions generally mean that competition is fading for end users. There is a smaller selection of providers and therefore a smaller choice of tariffs.

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