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Vodafone and Three agree massive merger to become biggest mobile phone operator in the UK

They have assured customers a smooth transition.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 14th June 2023

Telecomm companies Vodafone and Three have announced that they have agreed a massive merger that will see the join together to become the UK’s biggest mobile phone operator.

Vodafone and Three UK are two of the biggest mobile phone companies in the country and have been direct competitors for two decades, but following a deal with Three’s holding group, CK Hutchinson, the pair are now set to join forces pending approval from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Once the merger is completed, the newly-formed company will be the biggest mobile phone network in Britain, boasting an estimated market share of 27 million users, taking them past the likes of Virgin Media O2’s 24m and EE’s (owned by BT) 20 million-strong customer base.

It is thought that the transition for existing customers of each brand will be smooth, providing a “better network experience with greater coverage and reliability at no extra cost”, all from “day one”.

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Expected to have fully joined forces by the end of 2024, Vodafone and Three — or whatever they might rebrand as post-merger — the pair have promised to invest over £11bn into “the next generation of telecommunications“, i.e. the further implementation of 5G.

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The deal will see Vodafone hold the controlling share of the business with 51% of the shares of and Three taking up the rest, however, they have revealed that Vodafone has the option to buy up the remaining shares in three years’ time.

As for those of you who currently subscribe to either one of these companies, both sides have assured that there will be little disruption to your service, with Vodafone’s UK chief exec Ahmed Essam stating that this “will bring more choice and better value to customers nationwide”.

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Speaking to the BBC, head of mobile at a European research firm, Karen Egan, backed up his confidence, noting that other recent mobile mergers haven’t resulted in price hikes, adding instead that “consumers benefit from effectively funding just three nationwide networks rather than four”.

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Featured Image — Three UK/William Cook (via Unsplash)/Vodafone

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Manchester locals appealing for more information over a month after from finding family member’s body

Danny Jones Danny Jones GMP appeal after body of Chorlton man found dead in bedroom

A Greater Manchester family are still calling for more information now over a month on from the discovery of a man’s body at his Chorlton home.

William Riddell, 49, was found dead in the bedroom of a property on Astbury Avenue at approximately 11:35pm on Sunday, 10 November after being found by his stepdaughter, Sarah Hayden.

Details surrounding his passing are still scarce but a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released on bail “pending further enquiries”, leaving Sarah and the rest of her family still none the wiser as to the exact nature of his death.

Preparing to spend their first Christmas without him, they have issued a desperate appeal for more information, urging anyone who might have information to come forward.

Riddell, more commonly known as Billy by those close to him, was described as a “good, caring man with a big heart” and a popular figure in the local area.

Speaking via Greater Manchester Police, Sarah, said: “I want to be Billy’s voice and get answers for him. Billy was a nice and lovely man and all the community knew who he was. He was well-liked and we gave him a good send-off at his funeral.

“I would just ask anyone who knew him or has any information to come forward and tell police. Even if you think it’s a little or small thing – please come forward. We just want to get to the bottom of what has happened.”

Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, who serves on GMP‘s Major Incident Team, added in an official statement: “The family of Billy deserve answers following his death and we are working hard to ensure they get exactly that.

“We have closely supported Sarah and the wider family over the last month, and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can as they face their first Christmas without him.

“While a suspect has been bailed, we are still working flat-out to understand more about Billy’s life, the people he was close to, and events leading up to his death just over a month ago.”

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With that in mind, both GMP and Riddell’s family are asking anyone who might know anything or have information regarding people associated with Billy to come forward, reiterating that “even if you consider something to be small – your help could greatly benefit our investigation.”

You can contact police via 101 or by using the live chat function HERE, quoting log 3227 of 10/11/24.

Alternatively, you can contact the UK’s independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Greater Manchester Police

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Government aims to ‘turn the tide’ on homelessness with £1 billion funding boost

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Nearly £1 billion of funding is being pumped into Council budgets to help “break the cycle of spiralling homelessness” in 2025.

As part of the Government‘s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and in a bid to help tackle, reduce, and prevent homelessness next year, it’s been announced that more resources will be be made available for workers on the frontline who provide essential services to get rough sleepers off the street and into secure housing.

This significant investment means Councils will now be “better equipped” to step in early and stop households from becoming homeless in the first place.

According to the Government’s plans, these funded measures will include mediation with landlords or families to prevent evictions, helping homeless people find new homes, and providing deposits to access private renting. 

The funding will also be used to address the growing use of B&Bs and nightly-let accommodation, and the streamlining of funding structures to make it easier for Councils to spend their cash.  

Areas across the UK can also choose to channel resources into services such as Housing First.

Housing First has been massively successful in Greater Manchester, and has helped house hundreds of our region’s rough sleepers since it was first piloted, being described as “life-changing” along the way.

More than £633 million of the funding will be allocated for the Homelessness Prevention Grant – which is a £192 million increase from this year – while £185.6 million will go to the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, more than £37 million to the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and £5 million will be for the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots.

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This new £1 billion funding boost comes after it was announced back in September that Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished in England next year as part of the landmark Renters’ Rights Bill.

It will also look to support the Government’s ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation – with an extra £500 million ploughed into the Affordable Homes Programme to build tens of thousands of affordable homes across the country.  

Featured Image – Gary Knight (via Flickr)

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