All Competition articles – Page 2
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M&ARegulator still dubious on Vodafone–Three merger; wants further compromise
Proposed merger of two underpowered MNOs found to have negative ramifications for UK competitive landscape, but the antitrust body offers road to approval via series of behavioural and structural ‘remedies’.
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Financial & PerformanceBT Q1 FY25 In-depth: adjusting to changing competitive landscape
Group revenue falls as competition proves fierce and challengers pinch subscribers. The usual trouble at Business, new headaches at Consumer, and reliable performer Openreach presents questions of its own…
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Network & InfrastructureOpenreach initiates infra-sharing crackdown as altnets told to get compliant
So-called ‘whereabouts’ compliance must reach 90% for altnets to avoid potential eviction from Openreach networks, with three-month grace period before any action taken. Altnets also unhappy with current failings, and investors wary of compliance weakness. Read more…
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Public Affairsnexfibre joins calls to tighten Openreach infra choker, ensure lasting UK fibre competition
UK fibre wholesaler calls for new and improved regulation to provide platform for altnet competition as attention turns to Ofcom’s next five-year framework. Echoes broad consensus among INCA members that more could be done to limit Openreach dominance, encourage altnet investment…
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M&ABT outlines investment fears as Vodafone−Three merger tips spectrum scales
Operator overwhelmingly backs CMA’s decision to launch in-depth merger investigation and calls for closer attention to be paid to the unprecedented spectrum asymmetry that could follow. Ericsson, altnets, and trade unions also weigh in…
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Network & InfrastructureVodacom sues regulator and MTN over alleged improper spectrum sharing
Suspicions on MTN’s perceived overperformance in Ookla testing prompted Vodacom to investigate its rival’s spectrum practices, and allege malpractice in new court filings.
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M&ADigi lands fresh role in OTE’s Romanian exit saga
OTE has signed an MoU with West Network Invest, said to be majority owned by Digi Romania.
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M&AVodafone−Three welcome deal’s security clearance as focus turns to antitrust
UK government green-lights merger (with caveats) after conducting security review, but Vodafone−Three are far from celebrating as the CMA’s investigation steps up a gear and leaves consolidation in doubt…
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Financial & PerformanceInwit boss hopes wave of Italian telco deals will halt sector decline
Wireless infra player’s General Manager Diego Galli sees prospective wave of Italian market consolidation as good news for operators’ suppliers, including TowerCos, by strengthening telcos’ cash position and arresting recent slump in spend.
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Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: ups and downs in Group’s network-sharing tie-ups and M&A; RAN mega-tender KO
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem, including: commencement of massive RAN tender; regional network-sharing in Australia; and UK merger with Three competition concerns mount. Elsewhere: Vodafone Business seeks role in edge compute innovation; Vodacom Tanzania facing legal action; and more consolidation prospects in the Netherlands and Spain explored…
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M&AMerged Vodafone−Three ‘incentivised and able’ to ‘frustrate’, ‘harm’ BT — CMA
Merger-critical Competition & Markets Authority investigation is damning on logic and impact of combination, dubious of benefits. Network-sharing joint venture MBNL is at heart of concerns and may become a focus for any forthcoming ‘remedies’. Read more…
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Network & InfrastructureTPG signs more regulator-friendly rural RAN-sharing deal with Optus
Australia’s TPG Telecom signs MOCN agreement with Optus in bid to present true regional challenge to Telstra, taking notes from regulator’s report on the unsucessful Telstra deal to add to optimism about green-light prospects…
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Public AffairsRound 3: Phones 4u’s MNO collusion claims OK’d for appeal
EXCLUSIVE: Court of Appeal to reconsider initial judgment that cleared operators and then-parents. Questions may include whether more weight be given to findings that attempts were made to fix 4G pricing by O2 and Vodafone, that EE misled Ofcom, and that Ronan Dunne made an apparent admission of coordination between Telefónica and Vodafone. Deutsche Telekom and Orange still potentially on the hook as former EE owners, but extent of any direct impact still pending. Learn more…
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M&ACMA concerned Vodafone-Three could access O2 and EE secrets
As expected, the UK merger is headed for tougher scrutiny in a longer investigation following an initial review by the Competition and Markets Authority.
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Partnerships & AlliancesTelefónica open to fresh Digi Spain wholesale deal
Group confident in retaining wholesale client despite optional switch to Orange-MÁSMÓVIL following EC’s merger approval.
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Venturing & Investmentsnexfibre readies billion-pound spend to snag second spot in UK fibre build race
£1bn to be pulled from funding pot as wholesale NetCo looks to identify as second in 2024’s UK fibre race, in terms of both additions and overall challenger build-out; confirmed remaining outside of VM O2 NetCo carve out…
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Deep DiveProfile: WightFibre closes in on Gigabit Island dream; Openreach relegated to wannabe
Isle of Wight operator edges towards completion of Gigabit Island build. Now to deliver on hefty financials. Petri dish to watch Openreach play (very distant) challenger to hyperlocal with real moat. Read on to find out more…
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Financial & PerformanceSafaricom Ethiopia is yet to get M-PESA up to speed in race with Ethio Telecom
Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia hails “great momentum” for M-PESA but its flagship m-money offering remains dwarfed and outpaced by rival Ethio Telecom’s Telebirr, following the latter’s headstart.
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Public AffairsBT begins ‘robust’ defence in £1.3bn overcharging class action
BT takes to the courtroom to face groundbreaking “overcharging” lawsuit — argues no case, but presented as fleecing elderly for whom time of essence; with another class action in the works…
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Content & TVTelefónica forks out €1.3bn for La Liga streaming rights
Continuation of distribution deal with DAZN will see Movistar Plus+ customers retain access to all La Liga football matches until 2027.