O2 purchase by Three confirmed for £10.25bn as operator consolidation continues

All-cash deal will make Three the largest mobile phone operator in the UK as network consolidation continues across Europe in mobile and beyondThe owner of the mobile network Three has confirmed it is in exclusive negotiations to acquire O2 UK from Spanish telco Telefonica.The deal for £10.25bn in cash, including an initial amount of £9.25bn followed by a deferred £1bn, blocks Sky’s reported bids for the network and will make the combined Three and O2 operator the biggest in