O2 deal bets Brits want just mobile service

Hong Kong

LI Ka-shing's US$15 billion takeover in the UK is a bet that Britons want just one thing from their telecommunications provider: mobile phone service.

While his competitors in the UK are adding television and broadband offerings, the Hong Kong billionaire plans to create the country's biggest wireless carrier by combining his Three unit with Telefonica SA's O2. No TV. No discounted broadband packages. Just mobile.