According to the Securities Times app, the merger worth 15 billion British pounds (approximately 19.5 billion US dollars) between Vodafone (VOD.US) and Three UK, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison in the United Kingdom, is expected to be approved, provided that the two companies commit to a large-scale upgrade of the UK mobile network.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) also stated that the two companies should take measures to protect consumers and prevent price increases. The CMA temporarily found that committing to implementing a network investment plan will significantly improve the quality of the merged company's mobile network and promote competition among mobile network operators. The antitrust regulator will make a final decision on the merger between Vodafone and Three UK on December 7th.

In June 2023, Li Ka-shing's CK Hutchison announced a binding agreement with Vodafone to integrate their telecommunications operations in the UK. CK Hutchison stated that they will establish a joint venture company with Vodafone, where Three UK and Vodafone UK will become subsidiaries of the joint venture company. Shareholders of the newly established joint venture company include Vodafone and CK Hutchison's European telecommunications company CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings Limited, with 51% and 49% ownership respectively.

Sources say that the equity valuation of the merged company will be around 9 billion British pounds, with the new company having approximately 6 billion British pounds in debt, resulting in an enterprise value of around 15 billion British pounds. If this deal goes through, it will create the UK's highest revenue-generating mobile operator.

Analyst Karen Egan from Enders Research said: "If this merger is ultimately approved, the situation in the UK will be better." She added that blocking this deal "will not bring positive results for the economy or consumers."

Vodafone stated that the two companies have pledged to invest 11 billion British pounds in the merged company and are willing to have the UK communications regulator oversee the implementation of this plan. The company also stated that due to increased competition in the wholesale market, prices for mobile users are expected to remain unchanged or decrease. The two companies said in a statement: "The digital infrastructure in the UK is far behind its European counterparts. This merger is a rare opportunity to change the UK's digital infrastructure."