The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has issued a preliminary assessment to the parties involved in the acquisition of Cellnex Ireland Limited and Cignal Infrastructure Limited by Phoenix Tower International Holdco, LLC.

The CCPC's assessment highlights concerns about potential competition reduction in the passive infrastructure sector, critical for mobile network operators and service providers who rely on it for hosting active network equipment.

Both Phoenix and Cellnex are independent tower companies hosting active network equipment for various operators in Ireland, including mobile network operators, Fixed Wireless Access operators, wireless broadband network operators, and emergency services.

The proposed transaction was notified to the CCPC in March 2024, leading to an in-depth investigation to determine if it will significantly lessen competition in the State. The full investigation is expected to conclude by February 2025.

Once the investigation is complete, the CCPC will publish the outcome on its website, followed by a non-confidential version of its determination. Due to the ongoing nature of the merger review, no further details can be provided at this time.