BT–TalkTalk puts the price of a telecoms rescue under scrutiny
By Jon Menon ( October 7, 2026, 12:57 GMT | Comment) -- The UK government is moving to add telecoms continuity to the public-interest grounds for reviewing mergers as it scrutinizes BT’s completed rescue of TalkTalk. The CMA has two weeks to assess competition concerns before minister Lisa Nandy decides the next steps. The deal protects vulnerable customers from disruption, but raises questions about broadband competition and the speed of scrutiny.The UK government plans to add a new public-interest ground to merger law as it reviews BT Group’s rescue of TalkTalk. The move puts a question at the center of the deal: How should ministers weigh the risk of customers losing vital connections against the loss of a broadband competitor?...
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