The transaction of sale of Telekom Romania Mobile assets to DIGI and Vodafone marks a defining stage for the Romanian telecom market, representing a final solution after two years of attempts to reshape the sector, according to Bogdan Chiritoiu, president of the Competition Council. This operation involves the transfer of essential assets, such as frequency spectrum, network infrastructure and customer portfolio, and the decision will have a major impact on how the market will be organized in the medium and long term.
In the context of this transaction, the authorities concluded that maintaining a healthy competitive environment requires reducing the number of major operators from four to three. Although an ideal structure would be represented by four players, reality requires that, after numerous failed attempts, the market resign itself to three operators, in order to ensure that services remain accessible and of high quality for consumers. Currently, Orange is the market leader, and DIGI and Vodafone are expected to play competitive roles, thus contributing to maintaining a balanced dynamic in the sector.
Technical aspects, such as network coverage and signal quality, are essential criteria in assessing the conditions imposed on operators. In the process of distributing assets, the authorities will carefully analyze the technical conditions that can influence both prices and user experience. Investments in 5G technology will also be a priority, given current and future economic needs. Thus, it is desired that both DIGI and Vodafone become strong enough to compete in a balanced way with the leader Orange, without allowing either of them to become dominant and negatively affect competitiveness on the market.
Another important element in this reconfiguration is maintaining the possibility of other players entering the market, even theoretically. The presence of virtual network operators (MVNOs) could contribute to intensifying competition, helping to keep prices low and stimulating innovation in the sector, even if prices are currently so low that market entry seems unattractive. This openness to new participants is seen as a mechanism to maintain competitive pressure, essential for a dynamic and adaptable economic environment.
Regarding the pace of the transaction, Telekom Romania Mobile expressed its desire to close the operation in a short time, emphasizing the urgency of completion after two years of rush. However, the authorities emphasized that it is not advisable to accelerate the process until the Easter holidays, preferring that all details, from network coverage and signal quality, to download speed, be carefully evaluated before finalizing the transaction. In general, the operation is expected to be completed in the first half of the year, although an exact deadline cannot be guaranteed, as it is important that the final decision is taken carefully to ensure a balanced competitive environment.
In short, the transaction of sale of Telekom assets to DIGI and Vodafone is perceived as a strategic move aimed at consolidating a constantly evolving telecom sector, where low prices and high quality services are desired. The structural change brought about by this operation will determine not only a realignment of the competitive force between existing operators, but also the opening to possible new players, thus guaranteeing a dynamic economic landscape and important benefits for all consumers in Romania.
