Brazil: CADE authorizes ‘interested third parties’ in Nextel / América Móvil deal analysis

Three months following the official announcement of Nextel Brazil’s purchase by América Móvil, the Administrative Council of Economic Defense (Cade) authorized competitors Oi, TIM and Telefónica to participate as interested third parties in the analysis of the merger operation, which will allow them to provide detailed information at a sensitive time for the industry, due to the expected disruption from the upcoming adoption of 5G technologies.

The companies will express their opinions on the case and have a week to present any type of document, data or information that may be relevant. The three companies have declared their opposition to the merger, although it is not clear that their arguments could have a great impact on this decision.

Oi, Telefónica and TIM believe the operation can directly affect their interests, mainly in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, arguing that the concentration would affect the essential inputs allowing them to offer their services.