The Office of Fair Trading has asked the European Commission for a UK review of the proposed joint venture between Orange UK and T-Mobile UK. Although the case is currently being looked at in Europe because both companies have the majority of their businesses outside the UK, the OFT wants to look at the UK aspects of the deal because it "threatens significantly to affect competition in mobile telecommunications in the UK".
If this request is granted, the OFT could then decide to refer the merger to the Competition Commission – a process that could take in excess of six months.