The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has issued a public interest intervention notice (PIIN) concerning British Telecommunications Limited's acquisition of TalkTalk Telecommunications Limited and PlatformX Communications Limited. This intervention, made on 5 October 2026, cites public health emergency and the prevention of disruption to public services, critical national infrastructure, and supply to vulnerable customers as grounds.
The Secretary of State will now determine if the transaction operates, or may be expected to operate, against the public interest. This decision will consider both competition and public interest issues.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is required to investigate the transaction and submit a report to the Secretary of State by 5pm on 19 October 2026. The report will include the CMA’s assessment of whether the transaction has created a relevant merger situation and, if so, whether it has resulted or may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any UK market for goods or services.