And industry observers such as Ameet Shah of PRTM, a consultancy, expect consolidation to spread the burden, either through sharing of networks or outright mergers, as Orange and T-Mobile plan in Britain.

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Though defined this way by Chavez, asymmetric war can be fought in support of the consolidation of a revolution and the spread of terror on an oppressed population or as a subversive force against a government the revolution seeks to overthrow.

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The new emphasis on quality and efficiency may encourage even more consolidation among hospitals bigger hospitals can spread risk across patients, invest in information technology and create standardised procedures that can easily be replicated.

ECONOMIST: Health-care services