Government intervenes in BT’s TalkTalk acquisition over service continuity
The government has issued a public-interest intervention notice over BT Group’s planned acquisition of TalkTalk. Ministers said financial problems at TalkTalk and the importance of its networks require scrutiny of risks to phone and broadband continuity, as well as the usual competition assessment.
TalkTalk connectivity supports households, businesses and services including emergency calls, hospitals and medical alarms. The Competition and Markets Authority has been asked to report by 19 October, after which the government will consider the wider public interest. Customers do not need to take action and services are expected to continue normally during the review. The intervention does not by itself block or approve the deal; it opens a formal assessment of the potential consequences.
Source
