The CMA's concerns are pretty straightforward: The acquisition would leave the UK with one lone provider of pager services. This could lead to higher prices and a reduced quality of service. Standard CMA stuff, and the main reasons the merger of O2 and Three was blocked last year. But Vodafone isn't interested in cooperating with the CMA on a more thorough probe.

"Due to the expense involved with a prolonged investigation, Vodafone will not pursue the transaction and has made the decision to close down this business," the company told the Financial Times. The carrier also said it's surprised at the decision, considering no other country in Europe has more than one paging network.

Ironically, with Vodafone deciding to close the division completely, the CMA's fears of a monopoly player have actually come to fruition. Merger or not, Capita will soon be the UK's only provider of pager services.