This research study, conducted by BRG and commissioned by GSMA with support from Connect Europe, offers guidance on how the European Commission can update its tools for assessing mergers at a time when the review of the EU’s merger guidelines is underway – an essential step for restoring competitiveness across many European industries.
The report’s core message is clear: traditional, largely static assessment models are no longer fit for purpose. They tend to overemphasize short‑term effects – most notably immediate price impacts – while failing to sufficiently account for the longer‑term benefits mergers can generate, such as stronger innovation, improved service quality, and enhanced global competitiveness.
To address this gap, the study calls for a more realistic and comprehensive approach – one that complements standard analytical tools with dynamic, forward‑looking assessments capable of capturing the full spectrum of merger effects.
Author: BRG
Publisher: GSMA with support from Connect Europe
Publication date: January 2026