Vodafone and Three to merge in multibillion-pound deal

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A workers’ union called on the government to block the deal, saying it would give a company “with deep ties to the Chinese state” an “even more prominent place” in the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure The firms are expected to have a combined 27 million customers if the deal gets the go ahead. Hong Kong-headquartered CK Hutchison will own 49 per cent of the combined business Canning Fok, group co-managing director of CK Hutchison, said: "Today’s announcement is a major milestone for CK Hutchison and for the UK. Gail Cartmail, executive head of operations for Unite said: “This deal will give a company with deep ties to the Chinese state an even more prominent place at the heart of the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure.