Vodafone-Three merger approval marks UK’s shift to prioritise growth

Britain’s decision to allow two of its four mobile networks to merge is the first big sign that regulators have taken on board the government’s wish for them to prioritise economic growth and infrastructure investment over lower consumer prices.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) antitrust regulator cleared the $19 billion Vodafone-Three UK deal on Thursday after it accepted the companies’ argument that better networks would drive competition and be good for the economy.