The Spanish government has given the green light for the merger of Orange España and MásMóvil. According to the Minister of Digital Transformation, José Luis Escrivá, the merger will create the country's largest telecommunications group with an estimated total value of 18.6 billion euros. The European Commission had already given the green light for the deal in February. Now there is nothing standing in the way of the merger.

"The result of this merger is the leading provider in Spain with over 30 million mobile customers, more than 7 million broadband customers, and over 2 million TV customers," Escrivá explained on Tuesday in Madrid to journalists. The merger includes an "ambitious and medium-term oriented industrial plan, which envisages strong investments in the coming years." The French group Orange will contribute its entire Spanish business (Orange España) to the project. The merger is expected to be completed in the first quarter or at the beginning of the second quarter.

An IPO of the New Company is Not Ruled Out. The Headquarters and the Name of the Titan are Yet to be Announced. The Spanish Mobile Market is Dominated by Fierce Competition Among Four Main Providers. According to the National Regulatory Authority CNMC, Telefónica's Movistar brand has so far had the largest market share at 27.1 percent, followed by Orange with just under 21.9, Vodafone España with 21.6, and Masmovil Ibercom with 20.3 percent.

Last autumn, the British corporation Vodafone announced its intention to sell its Spain business to the London-based investment firm Zegona Communications for a total of five billion euros. The deal is expected to be completed by the summer, pending regulatory approvals. Approval from Madrid's antitrust authorities is still pending. The Vodafone brand is to be retained for the next ten years.