Carphone cleared to buy AOL's British internet access business

The European Commission today approved the acquisition of America On Line’s British internet access business by Carphone Warehouse Group, seeing no antitrust problems.

The EU antitrust office in Brussels said it found in sectors where the two companies’ activities overlapped – internet access services and fixed-line phone services – “the combined entity’s share of the relevant market would not give rise to competition concerns” since there remained enough competitors.

CPW plans to acquire AOL’s British internet business, which is being sold off as part of the reorganisation of AOL’s British interests.

CPW has more than 1,500 stores across the EU. It sells mobile phones and connections and offers fixed-line telecommunication services to commercial and private customers as well as internet access to residential customers in Britain and some other EU nations.

A wholly-owned Time Warner subsidiary, AOL provides online services and internet access in the United States and Europe.