This landmark deal is poised to create Britain’s largest mobile operator, poised to serve an impressive 27 million customers.

Vodafone and Three have committed to investing £11 billion over the next eight years to bolster Britain’s 5G network. Furthermore, selected mobile tariffs and data plans will be capped for three years to shield customers from immediate price hikes.

Additionally, virtual mobile providers will benefit from pre-set wholesale prices and contract terms for the same duration.

The merger is expected to significantly enhance the quality of the combined network, promising more expansive coverage, faster speeds, and superior connections across the UK.

The industry has primarily hailed the merger as a game-changer for 5G infrastructure, connectivity innovation, and competition in the UK telecom market. Analysts believe this strategic move balances the necessity of upgrading the UK’s infrastructure while ensuring competitive dynamics remain intact.

However, some experts caution that the merger may reduce competitiveness in retail and wholesale markets, potentially leading to higher consumer prices.

Vodafone and Three must formally accept the CMA’s merger conditions to proceed. The merged entity will be required to publish annual progress reports on its network.

The regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), had previously raised concerns that the deal could raise people's bills.

But Stuart McIntosh, who led the watchdog's probe into the merger, said it had now concluded it was "likely to boost competition" in the mobile sector and should be allowed to proceed.

"For retail customers, we would require the Parties to cap the prices for selected plans, protecting current and future customers, including customers on their sub-brands, from short-term price rises during the early implementation of the network plans," he said.

Vodafone and Three have previously claimed their merger will create thousands of new jobs.

But the union Unite has warned in the past that the deal could add an extra £300 a year to customers' bills, and lead to "up to 1,600 jobs" being lost.