Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

As O2 has ten times the number of customers that VM has (34m v 3.4m) you would think that it would be the logical brand to retain if the new company did choose just the one brand.

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

Half(-ish) the UK population? That doesn't seem correct, it seems unlikely. How is the figure made up?

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

Don't forget than many people have a work and home mobile.
More info here and also see the merger website link from Pierre.

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

Ta.:)

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

Still not 10x.

Virgin Media UK has 5.5m cable customers taking over 13.4m products (TV, phone, BB) plus a further 3.2m Virgin Mobile subs

As well as those taking multiple sim cards, the O2 figure also includes 8.7m wholesale customers - Sky Mobile, Lycamobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile


RGUs (as of March 2020)

O2 Retail - 26,368,000
Virgin Media UK (cable + mobile) 16,700,500

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

VM has an ARPU of around £50, and O2 of only £14. So although VM has a smaller customer base, the scope for improved revenue is large.

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

02 was the first venture in to mobile networks then know as bt cellnet

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

!unsubscribe 02-Facts

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

Virgin Media O2 and its shareholders are exploring a takeover bid for Trooli

https://news.sky.com/story/virgin-me...snt-sf-twitter

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

The consolidation of altnets is starting.

Jurassic, Swish, Giganet and Allpoints are merging into one (don't know what the name will be).

Zzoom and VMO2 are looking at Trooli.

VMO2 is also building new FTTP networks for NexFibre, on which VMO2 will be an anchor tenant, but the network will be open to other ISPs to use. Similar to the Cityfibre model.

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

Think I read somewhere that a new build network needs a 40% market share to be viable and most of the altnets aren't reaching this.

The competition has however been good for customers as it's forced Openreach to speed up its own fast fibre roll-out.

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

The original CATV builds in the 90's works on 30% penetration, and most achieved that, but it wasn't enough everyone went bust, hence the consolidation eventually to VM.

Some Altnets are only 10%, Network construction costs are a bit cheaper because of PIA but it's not sustainable.

Altnets overbuilding each other is also madness.

If you overbuild an area that already has BT, VM & Cityfibre you're taking a big risk. If you overbuild an area that has those three plus another altnet, you like losing money.

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

Vodafone and Three UK owner CK Hutchison have agreed a merger subject to approval by regulators.

The merger would make them the biggest mobile phone operator, overtaking both BT/EE and Virgin Media O2

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

Makes sense.

The only thing they won’t have is a fixed Access Network, but there will be plenty to lease or buy.

Re: Liberty Global in talks to merge Virgin Media with O2
 

They do have a fixed network just not in the way that OR or VM does. Its pretty extensive too in excess of 13,000km....they're one of the largest providers when it comes to the backhaul and interconnect space (obvs the former are larger).