Operators have secured approval, subject to commitments, for a four-to-three merger following the Competition Council’s most important review of recent years
Romania’s Competition Council has approved the acquisition of the fourth largest mobile operator by the third
On 29 July 2025, Romania’s Competition Council conditionally approved two related transactions: the takeover of Telekom Romania Mobile (the country’s fourth and smallest operator) by Vodafone Romania (the third largest); and the purchase of assets of Telekom by Digi Romania (the second largest pre-acquisition). Specifically, Digi will acquire spectrum usage rights and infrastructure (including towers and associated equipment), as well as Telekom’s entire prepaid mobile business. Bogdan Chirițoiu (President, Competition Council) stated that in assessing these deals, the authority worked with the regulator ANCOM in considering how to preserve the benefits customers currently enjoy – e.g. high coverage and speeds relative to other European countries – given that Vodafone/Telekom would lead to a reduction in the number of mobile operators from four to three. The merged entity will leapfrog Digi to become the second largest operator in Romania, with both operators closing the gap on market leader Orange.
Merger commitments aim to ensure to that Digi and Vodafone invest in their networks and improve service quality
The Competition Council’s decision requires Vodafone and Digi to fulfil a series of commitments, including on pricing, which aim to address the competition concerns identified. The authority considers that the commitments will ensure that Vodafone and Digi continue to invest in the development of their networks (with a focus on improving signal strength along main public roads); enhance the quality of mobile data services for customers; and “optimise standards” in areas with the lowest network coverage or average download speeds. The two operators will be required to provide access to their networks to MVNOs at competitive wholesale prices and maintain Orange’s access to colocation services at mobile sites. Digi will also be required to offer Telekom’s prepaid customer contracts the same conditions and prices, and continue to offer prepaid mobile telephony services to all interested consumers.
The competition authority and the sectoral regulator both have a role in monitoring the commitments over the next four years
The merger commitments will be monitored for a period of up to four years by independent trustees, who will regularly report to the Competition Council on their implementation. The authority will also collaborate with ANCOM in monitoring the commitments, in particular those related to network investment, while the regulator itself will be in charge of ensuring that the transfer of spectrum and numbering resources occurs transparently and without affecting service continuity for end users. Competition law in Romania states that failure to fulfil an obligation, condition or measure imposed by the Competition Council could leave Digi and Vodafone subject to a fine of up to 10% of total turnover. According to Chirițoiu, the two transactions were the “most important” the authority has assessed in recent years, with the commitments expected to improve network quality and intensify competition, while avoiding “unjustified price increases”.
