CMA’s new pragmatism over having three UK mobile operators will provide more genuine competition than the current setup

• Vodafone and Three merger could get go-ahead, says watchdog
• What could UK merger mean for customers?

Compare and contrast. Back in September, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had a big grumble about Vodafone and Three’s plan to merge their UK mobile operations. A combination of the third- and fourth-largest operators could result in “a substantial lessening of competition” and “tens of millions of mobile customers having to pay more”.

And now? As long as the duo honour their promises to splash the cash and invest in their combined network, long-term competition should be boosted, “benefiting millions of people who rely on mobile services”, thinks the CMA. That is not yet the watchdog’s final word on the matter, but the light is flashing green for the deal.