(Telecompaper) Telecom Argentina and cable TV provider Cablevision have announced a deal to merge their operations with a view to moving into the quad-play market ahead of a forthcoming regulatory shake-up. In a joint statement the companies said the respective boards have agreed that Telecom Argentina will issue 1.184 billion shares as part of the deal, leaving Cablevision shareholders with 55 percent of the combined entity. If approved by regulators and shareholders, the deal would allow the two broadband providers to offer fixed line and mobile services as well as pay-TV in time for the opening of the local telecommunications sector set for January 2018.