BT Regulatory & Compliance – Page 7
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M&A
BT readies itself to ward off unwanted advances
With its share price deflated, dividend suspended, and a series of financial challenges on the horizon, BT Group is consulting on the best way to shore its defences against unsolicited bids. Boutique banker and trusted Vodafone advisor Robey Warshaw may be added to BT defence team. KKR emerges as ...
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Network & Infrastructure
UK security industry braces for IP voice surge
Openreach looks set to take the plunge on all-IP exchange migration in the coming months and BT’s retail divisions are making a push for IP-based voice services. Industry body BSIA urging members to ensure electronic security estates are prepared for the impending analogue switch-off.
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Public Affairs
Ofcom wholesale voice review rings in changes for BT
The call services market is changing and Ofcom proposals aim to keep up with the times.
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Suppliers & SCM
Lords pressures BT on Huawei human rights record
Lords pushing to raise obligations of infrastructure owners to police the supply chain in a way that goes beyond current modern slavery legislation. Government recognised concerns as legitimate, but prioritising improving UK infrastructure rollout. Proposed amendments could put exclusion of Huawei from fixed infrastructure on a faster track than ...
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Premium
BT joins the i3forum carrier club
BT set to benefit from collaborative initiatives to combat fraud, as well as future blockchain initiatives.
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Elsewhere in BT Group, July 2020: CAT rules in favour; enterprise tool Onit deploys for BT legal
Long distance truck win; Legal continues to transform.
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Government eyes open infrastructure as 2025 plan stalls
DCMS looking at encouraging greater sharing across utilities and telecoms infrastructure, and encouraging Openreach to make use of rivals’ assets. UK government beating drum of infrastructure investment as part of the pandemic response, but references to 2025 Gigabit network deadlines fading into background.
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Financial & Performance
ONS data errors reshape UK telecoms landscape
The Office for National Statistics new methods marks change for the past 20 years’ price decline, but promise more accurate inflation and GDP readings. Change backs telcos’ claims that they are meeting demands of ‘more for less’ in tougher circumstances than assumed.
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Ofcom go ahead for Openreach race to switch off copper
Ofcom provides a degree of clarity on Openreach’s obligations ahead of relaxation of regulation, once fibre covers an exchange. However, a wait-and-see approach on determining what will constitute a fully fibre-enabled exchange means Openreach is stepping on the accelerator at its own risk.
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Enterprise (B2B)
BT defends role in poor-value NI land registry project
Audit Office critical of Department for Finance in failing to deliver taxpayer value from Land Registry contract, and for not securing sufficient transparency on BT’s slice of the income.
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Premium
EE could face longer wait for spectrum
Now-traditional inter-operator squabbling threatening to create months of delays to availability of new low- and mid-band spectrum for service delivery and development.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Can new telco group bridge COVID tracing’s digital divide?
New rapid response specifications group, E4P, aiming to facilitate interoperability across European track-and-trace apps through a focus on privacy and security, with standards ready by end-summer 2020. Conflict between centralised and decentralised approach to developing tracing apps may prove a stumbling block, however.
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Suppliers & SCM
BT remedies Prompt Payment Code failings
BT earns Prompt Payment Code signatory status after submitting substantial changes to supplier payment procedures, upping prompt payments to 95%.
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BT pushed on Huawei rights record as rebel MPs call for ban
Attempt to kick out Huawei from UK infrastructure within three years fails to secure backing of Commons. Government considering tougher demands on HRVs to head off rebels, who are expected to return with reinforcements in the summer. Ex-BT Chairman now lending his gravitas to Huawei as a senior advisor ...
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BT faces PR problems as workers worry
BT faces PR backlash over coronavirus response after allegations that social distancing measures were flaunted.
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Ofcom flags 5G auction rules ahead of COVID-19 rethink
SRN accord sees coverage obligations withheld, and operators will be expected to show similar cooperation to address contiguous spectrum requirements. Timing and nature of the auction may yet change as Ofcom rethinks plans for the year as impact of coronavirus is felt.
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BT offloads local operations in Latin America, France
Global unit looks for sharper focus on multinational enterprises while lightening infrastructure load. BT Enterprise confirms Tikit sale to Advanced.
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Premium
BT’s Universal Service Obligations kick in
Group’s new broadband USO kicked in, following up Ofcom’s appointment of the telco as its main USO enabler during 2019.
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Public Affairs
Phones 4u legal saga continues
The legal action against three of the UK’s mobile network operators, including EE, over the collapse of mobile retailer Phones 4u took a further twist.
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BT wins HMRC legal battle
BT Group won an application to revive legal proceedings in a value-added tax (VAT) refund battle with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).