EC investigates Vodafone's plans to buy UPC

The European Commission has delayed the planned acquisition of UPC by Vodafone's owner Liberty Global over concerns that the deal could lead to higher consumer prices in Germany, Czechia, Hungary and Romania. The EC has 90 days in which to reach a decision on the question and to investigate whether the deal would also lead to a slowing in the tempo of innovation in telecom and television services, said the commissioner Margrethe Vestager. UPC provides cable television and Internet to its clients, but only offers the service in the Czech Republic's larger cities. Czech consumers pay among the highest rates in the EU for Internet access. Vodofone was on course to pay €18.4bn for acquisition of UPC.