Arqiva has submitted its response to the Competition Commission's notice of possible remedies concerning its inquiry into the completed acquisition of National Grid Wireless Group by Macquarie UK Broadcast Ventures Ltd (parent company of Arqiva).  Arqiva's response addresses the possible remedies suggested by the Commission, which range from behavioural remedies to some form of potential divestment.  Arqiva strongly believes that an effective behavioural remedy is the best way to maximise the benefits to the industry and minimise the risk to the Digital Switch Over (DSO) project.

In that spirit the company has put forward a comprehensive behavioural package which will share the synergies of the merger with customers and which will guarantee prices in the future.  As required by the notice of possible remedies, Arqiva has also put forward certain divestments.  However the company maintains that even a limited divestment would significantly increase risk to the DSO project, and reduce the other benefits to customers.

Arqiva and National Grid Wireless remain subject to a ‘Hold Separate' arrangement during the review process and continue to operate as separate entities.  The Competition Commission has advised that the review process is now expected to be completed during March 2008.

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