In a bold amalgamation move, Orange and MasMovil are set to combine their Spanish telecom operations in a €19 billion deal. European regulators, however, have expressed concerns, fearing a spike in consumer costs due to a potential market monopoly. To address these apprehensions, Orange and MasMovil are shedding some assets, with Romanian telecom Digi earmarked to acquire parts of the business, paving the way for a more competitive landscape. Californian tech enthusiasts, early adopters and IT professionals are keenly observing this development, which is seen as a yardstick for regulator sentiment towards large-scale telecom consolidation in Europe.