BT have paid £12.5 billion to buy EE, who have a call centre at Cartsburn that employs around 700 people.

Although BT have said they expect to make substantial cost savings as a result of the deal, Greenock & Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil said he hoped the merger would have a positive outcome.

Mr McNeil said: “EE is a major employer in Inverclyde and I’m seeking an early meeting with BT to ask about future plans for the Greenock call centre.

“There is always a slight concern about how such mergers will affect local operations, but it could offer exciting opportunities for the future.” The centre was under the T-Mobile banner until the formation of EE in 2010, after T-Mobile and Orange merged. The BT-EE deal is expected to be finalised by March next year, subject to approval by shareholders of BT and scrutiny from the Competition and Markets Authority. An EE spokesman told the Tele it was impossible to say how Greenock will be affected.

He said: “We don’t even know at the moment if the deal will go ahead.

“However, Greenock is a very important part of EE.” The spokesman pointed out that EE and BT provide different services, so the deal was not simply bringing two mobile companies together. The takeover could create a communications giant covering fixed-line phones, broadband, mobile and TV.

BT says that within four years, the deal will be saving it £360m a year in operating costs and capital investment and it should be able to generate an extra £1.6bn a year in sales. It expects to spend around £600m in integrating the two businesses to achieve those annual savings.

Mr McNeil said: “We have to be positive about BT and EE coming together. Increasing the customer base can only be a good thing.

“I’m slightly concerned about BT’s comment about saving £360m in operating costs, but it’s important we remain positive.

“I would like a reassurance that the Greenock call centre will continue to be an important part of the operation.” BT have paid £12.5 billion to buy EE, who have a call centre at Cartsburn that employs around 700 people.

Although BT have said they expect to make substantial cost savings as a result of the deal, Greenock & Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil said he hoped the merger would have a positive outcome.

Mr McNeil said: “EE is a major employer in Inverclyde and I’m seeking an early meeting with BT to ask about future plans for the Greenock call centre.

“There is always a slight concern about how such mergers will affect local operations, but it could offer exciting opportunities for the future.” The centre was under the T-Mobile banner until the formation of EE in 2010, after T-Mobile and Orange merged. The BT-EE deal is expected to be finalised by March next year, subject to approval by shareholders of BT and scrutiny from the Competition and Markets Authority. An EE spokesman told the Tele it was impossible to say how Greenock will be affected.

He said: “We don’t even know at the moment if the deal will go ahead.

“However, Greenock is a very important part of EE.” The spokesman pointed out that EE and BT provide different services, so the deal was not simply bringing two mobile companies together. The takeover could create a communications giant covering fixed-line phones, broadband, mobile and TV.

BT says that within four years, the deal will be saving it £360m a year in operating costs and capital investment and it should be able to generate an extra £1.6bn a year in sales. It expects to spend around £600m in integrating the two businesses to achieve those annual savings.

Mr McNeil said: “We have to be positive about BT and EE coming together. Increasing the customer base can only be a good thing.

“I’m slightly concerned about BT’s comment about saving £360m in operating costs, but it’s important we remain positive.

“I would like a reassurance that the Greenock call centre will continue to be an important part of the operation.”