The deal will see Orange take sole control of MasOrange, the operator formed through the merger of Orange and MásMóvil in 2024
In sum – what to know:
Regulatory clearance – The European Commission approved the deal under a simplified review, citing no competition concerns.
Full ownership – Orange will acquire the remaining 50% stake in MasOrange, consolidating control in Spain.
Strategic move – The deal strengthens Orange’s position in its second-largest European market and supports long-term growth plans.
The European Commission has approved French telecom group Orange’s acquisition of full control of Spanish telco MasOrange, concluding that the transaction does not raise competition concerns under EU merger rules.
The deal will see Orange take sole control of MasOrange, the operator formed through the merger of Orange and MásMóvil in 2024. The transaction primarily affects Spain’s mobile and fixed communications markets.
According to the European Commission, the acquisition “would not raise competition concerns, given the limited impact on the market structure,” and was reviewed under the EU’s simplified merger procedure, typically reserved for cases deemed unlikely to affect market dynamics.
The approval follows Orange’s announcement of its intention to acquire the remaining 50% stake in MasOrange for €4.25 billion (currently $4.97 billion), completing its transition to full ownership. The move is part of Orange’s broader strategy to strengthen its position in Spain, which is its second-largest market in Europe.
MasOrange has emerged as the largest telecom operator in Spain by customer base following the combination of MásMóvil and Orange’s local operations. The initial merger, valued at approximately €18.6 billion, closed in March 2024 and included provisions allowing Orange to assume full control within a 24 to 42-month window.
With regulatory clearance now secured, the transaction is expected to close before July 2026, subject to final conditions. Orange has indicated that full ownership will support the acceleration of its strategic plans in Spain and reinforce its long-term industrial commitment to the market.
The Commission’s decision reflects a broader trend of consolidation in European telecom markets, where operators are seeking scale to support network investment and compete more effectively, while regulators continue to assess potential impacts on competition and consumer choice.
