Vodafone confirms talks with Three UK about merger

Combined networks would be Britain's biggest mobile operator, challenging Vodafone, EE and O2

Vodafone and the owner of Three UK are in talks about a potential mega-merger that would create Britain's biggest mobile operator.

Vodafone and CK Hutchison, the parent company of Three UK, have long been considered potential merger candidates after a wave of consolidation in the UK and European telecoms sectors in recent years.