TPG, an Australian telecommunications and IT company, and Vodafone Hutchison Australia, a mobile telecommunications company and Internet service provider that operates the Vodafone brand in Australia, agreed to merge in a A$15bn merger of equals. Australia’s competition regulator said it opposed the proposed merger between TPG Telecom and Vodafone Group’s Australian unit because it would reduce competition, particularly in mobile services. The deal cleared in February 2020. The merged company will be a more powerful challenger to Telstra and Optus in Australia, with an integrated fixed and mobile offering. It will also be better able to invest in next generation mobile and fixed networks and drive innovation, service and product improvements to benefit Australian telecoms customers.