BT says EE merger would create digital champion for UK

Firm hopes to persuade regulators to give the go-ahead to 12.5bn deal, which it says is needed to help Britain stay ahead of its peers

BT set out to convince regulators to pass its 12.5bn merger with mobile operator EE on Wednesday, claiming the deal will create a digital champion for the UK.

The nation's biggest telecoms company said that swallowing the UK's largest mobile network will not be bad for consumers, as rivals warned a lessening of competition could lead to price increases.