Massive Verizon-Vodafone deal 'should sail through,' experts say

Verizon's $130 billion bid to buyout Vodafone's stake in Verizon Wireless is unlikely to face opposition from regulators despite being one of the biggest transactions in history, experts say.

The deal, which would be more than three times larger than AT&T's failed 2011 bid for T-Mobile, would give Verizon 100 percent ownership of the wireless venture. Verizon already owns a controlling share of Verizon Wireless, so gaining 100 percent ownership of the venture won't fundamentally alter the competitive landscape of the wireless industry, experts say. Harold Feld, senior vice president for Public Knowledge and a vocal critic of telecommunications industry consolidation, agreed that the deal is likely to receive swift regulatory approval. In a blog post, he explained that the companies will need to receive approval from the Federal Communications Commission, but he said to think of the process "more like a change of address notification than as a full on application."