The tangled web of mobile telecommunication mergers: Hutchison Whampoa, Telefónica and BT

Curwen, Peter and Whalley, Jason (2016) The tangled web of mobile telecommunication mergers: Hutchison Whampoa, Telefónica and BT. info, 18 (2). pp. 17-37. ISSN 1463-6697

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/info-08-2015-0041

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to demonstrate how consolidation within Europe’s mobile telecommunication markets requires willing buyers and sellers.

Design/methodology/approach – After highlighting the resurgence in merger and acquisition (M & A) activity in mobile telecommunications, the paper draws on a variety of secondary sources to analyse the strategies of three companies.

Findings – The paper highlights the interwoven nature of the strategies of three companies: BT, Hutchison Whampoa and Telefónica. BT has returned to the mobile telecommunications market in the UK, with the company it did not acquire being purchased by Hutchison. As Hutchison implements a “double or quits” strategy in Europe, it has acquired operations from Telefónica, which, in turn, has exited most of its non-Spanish European operations to focus on Latin America.

Research limitations/implications – The paper relies on secondary data and thus highlights the challenges of doing so and the need for more information regarding M & As to be in the public domain.

Practical implications – There is a need to adopt a sector-wide or regional approach for analysing the strategies of telecommunication companies.

Originality/value – The paper uniquely provides an overview of three corporate strategies to show how they interact with one another.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Europe, Consolidation, Mergers and Acquisition
Subjects: N100 Business studies
P900 Others in Mass Communications and Documentation
Department: Faculties > Business and Law > Newcastle Business School
Depositing User: Becky Skoyles
Date Deposited: 16 Mar 2016 14:07
Last Modified: 31 Jul 2021 21:32
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/26367

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