Brussels, 19/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has given the go-ahead for UPC's purchase of Noos from the Suez group. This involves two cable operators active in France in several pay television markets, the acquisition of televisual content, internet, telephone and telecommunications infrastructure. The operation will allow the UPC to access the first ranking in the French cable pay television market but it will only have a modest chunk of this market compared to the number one player Canal+ or TPS, another large satellite pay television operator in France. In the context of the internet and telephony services, France Telecom will remain the uncontested leader in this market. UPC will also have to confront competition from NC Numéricâble and France Telecom Cable, which occupy very strong positions on the cable pay television market but also on neighbouring markets such as tele-visual content, satellite pay TV and ADSL, as well as internet and telephone technology.