UK competition watchdog sniffing around Motorola profits after delay to replace company's Airwave service

The UK's competition regulator is consulting on whether to launch a probe into the supply of emergency services telecoms and data networks that could deliver £1.2bn in excess profit for Motorola from 2020 to 2026. Motorola owns the Airwave mobile radio network, which was first commissioned in 2000 to support the police, …

[Anonymous Coward]

Well if you'd specified a valid replacement

Then it could have been procured.

Airwave is not a cheap service, but then the radios and radio network are very different from the commercial phone networks, and the importance is also much higher.

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

Re: Well if you'd specified a valid replacement

I think the issue they are upset about is more:

You have an expensive system you are paying Company A for and so you get Company B to build a replacement.

Company A immediately buys Company B and somehow the system never materializes, meanwhile Company A ups its fees for supporting the old system.

[ARGO]

Re: Well if you'd specified a valid replacement

If only someone in the CMA had anticipated that might happen before the merger was approved.

Perhaps they would like to employ a few of El Reg's commentards in future?

https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2015/12/04/motorola_splashes_817m_on_airwave/

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

Re: Well if you'd specified a valid replacement

It would be like allowing a bus company to get a train franchise and then agree to paying separately for any rail replacement bus service

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Well if you'd specified a valid replacement

Doesn't help that the replacement specified unicorn drawn carriages, and every three months the wheel shape was changed by executive order.

[Anonymous Coward]

Airwave Car Park

I remember the airwave carpark was full of new premium motors, M3 CSL's, Porsche Carrera's etc etc.

was very envious

[John Robson]

Re: Airwave Car Park

And the offices contained some of the best people I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with - technically astute, humble, and friendly.

Of course there were also a couple of people who would cause to me to walk away from basically any future job offer as well.

[Oh Matron!]

To Quote S. R. Haddon

First rule in Government Spending: "Why have one when you can have two at twice the price"