Press Release: Commission opens full investigation into the MCI WorldCom/Sprint merger

The European Commission has decided to open a full investigation into the proposed merger between telecom companies MCI WorldCom and Sprint. The Commission will make a detailed assessment of the impact of the transaction on competition conditions in various areas of the telecom industry. In particular, the focus areas of the investigation will be the provision of top level connectivity services in the Internet (i.e. those networks to whom anybody must directly or indirectly have access in order to get universal reach on the Internet), of global telecommunication services to multinational companies and of termination in the US of international voice telephony calls. A final decision by the Commission is expected by early July 2000.