The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) raised antitrust concerns around Nexfibre’s planned takeover of fellow broadband player Netomnia, in provisional findings from a probe which could derail the tie-up.

CMA stated that as the pair compete as wholesale providers in their respective network footprints, there was a chance of overlap which could lead to increased prices for customers.

It has asked the two companies to provide remedies within the next two weeks, while interested parties can submit comments on the provisional report until 23 October. The deadline for a final decision is 15 December.

Nexfibre, owned by Liberty Global, Telefonica and InfraVia Capital, announced the deal to acquire Netomnia in February.

Should the deal go through, VMO2, also owned by Liberty Global and Telefonica, pledged to commit traffic across 4.6 million homes.

CMA said that while there is some uncertainty regarding the timing of the future upgrade, it was satisfied there was a long-term incentive for the operator to go ahead with the plan.

Not real
In a joint statement on behalf of Nexfibre shareholders, the company stated: “The CMA’s Interim Report does not reflect the commercial and competitive reality of Britain’s fibre market. It fails to prioritise the fibre investment the country needs, and the creation of a scaled, sustainable challenger to Openreach.”

In the lengthy CMA report, the watchdog also said it believed CityFibre would have most likely agreed a deal to buy Netomnia, had Nexfibre not made a move.

CityFibre has called on CMA to block the deal.

The post CMA sounds alarm on £2B UK fibre deal appeared first on Mobile World Live.

BT Business rolled out a new AI suite in the UK to help businesses adopt the technology while overcoming complexity and security concerns which may be holding them back.

The operator stated AI from BT was introduced following research it conducted which revealed 66% of small businesses recognise the potential benefits of AI, but more than half are not yet realising its full-value.

It highlighted AI Receptionist as a standout feature. BT stated it can help businesses manage customer enquiries “around the clock” and never miss a call.

BT stated small businesses in the UK can lose £3.7 billion per year through missed calls, with 67% missing at least one potentially valuable call on an average day.

It stated AI Receptionist can simplify management of appointments, and provide a more efficient system for follow-ups and a tailored customer experience, with customisable voice and accent options.

The company stated it would be particularly useful across trades and field-based businesses, for estate agents, legal and financial services, the hospitality sector and retailers.

Other tools include an AI Adoption Hub offering practical guides, prompt packs, expert insights and real-world examples of businesses using the technology.

BT Business CEO Jon James said AI has the potential to drive growth in the UK “but many businesses are struggling to know how to begin and how adopt simply and securely”.

“AI Receptionist is the first step in the journey, helping businesses capture every opportunity, reduce admin and deliver responsive, personalised service around the clock, while keeping their customer data protected.”

The post BT pitches AI receptionist to UK businesses appeared first on Mobile World Live.