All Legal (compliance, regulatory) articles
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InterviewChelot: wholesale scale is ‘mission impossible’ without nexfibre-Netomnia deal
Interview: “I have a wholesale platform, but I have no wholesale customers”. Jeremy Chelot’s Netomnia hit a structural ceiling, with bowing out the only way to progress the Openreach challenge. Firing back at nexfibre deal critics, he asks for alternatives to his Plan B, deeming consolidation the best route and reflecting on the challenge of leading a business through a sale.
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M&AOrange’s Heydemann is confident on new SFR takeover bid
CEO of French incumbent is hoping for a positive response to its second bid for assets from distressed rival SFR, alongside Bouygues and Iliad. As well as dangling a higher, €20bn+ offer in front of seller Altice, she notes a change to the deal’s structure would help the French trio mitigate some execution risk. She also remains confident of the case for consolidation.
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Strategy & ChangeDeutsche Telekom said to explore T-Mobile mega-meld
Group’s leadership said to be weighing a full combination between it and its American powerhouse, thus sorting out current disconnects that could complicate future deal-making and strategy. Shepherding any such deal through the corridors of Washington, Berlin, and Brussels would be highly challenging, however.
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M&AOrange gets Spanish green light to absorb MásOrange
Spanish government said to follow EC in allowing Orange to absorb local joint venture, ahead of June target for completion. Move sees French operator clear another barrier to consolidation of Spanish telco major and realisation of accompanying ambitions for growth.
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M&AFrench trio increases bid for SFR, starts exclusive talks
New offer gives SFR a total enterprise value of €20bn, with Bouygues still in the driving seat, Orange and Iliad onboard.
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M&AOrange nets EU clearance to absorb MásOrange
Regulatory approval of the €4.25bn deal was clearly a perfunctory affair, and will give back Orange full control of its Spanish operations.
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M&ATelefónica moves to exit Mexico in latest Hispam sell-off
Telefónica lands agreement to offload Mexican operations to Melisa Acquisition, marking the latest move in the operator’s accelerated Hispam retreat…
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Strategy & ChangeAge of outcomes: Gamma empowering SPs with global expansion, portfolio diversification
As turn-of-the-decade markets mature, communications platform provider Gamma is charting a new course for its service provider partners, leveraging strategic expansion into Asia-Pacific and promoting portfolio diversification to differentiate and unlock new revenue streams.
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Partnerships & AlliancesDT and EWE given fresh fibre build pass till 2030
Despite competitor qualms, German infra giants gain a renewed regulatory green light, with conditions, for fibre joint venture Glasfaser Nordwest.
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Network & InfraINWIT fights back as anchor tenants threaten to dismantle Italian towerco business model
In-depth: Towers showdown erupts in Italy as Fastweb + Vodafone looks to pull out of its INWIT MSA and is met by ‘conflict’ accusations and a legal response. With Vodafone still exposed indirectly, and peers observing with interest, Europe’s once-staid infra sector continues to reset…
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M&ALiberty’s Fries dismisses CityFibre ‘sour grapes’ over £2bn nexfibre bulk-up
UK altnet tensions continue to heighten over the competitive implications of planned acquisition of Substantial Group, as Liberty Global CEO hits back at CityFibre over calls for in-depth CMA inquiry.
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AnalysisCutting through the satellite hype: Starlink and LEO’s threat to global telecoms assessed — Strand Consult
Guest analysis: with D2D connectivity dominating discussions at MWC26, terrestrial operators must reassess their broadband and defence sector strategies. Strand Consult’s outspoken founder cuts through the hype to separate disruptive fact from industry fiction…
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InterviewIrrational and anti-competitive: CityFibre CEO urges CMA scrutiny of nexfibre-Netomnia-VM O2 consolidation play
Exclusive: In his first interview as CEO, Simon Holden unpacks Ofcom’s TAR framework and why the Competition and Markets Authority must intervene in the contentious £2bn nexfibre–Netomnia merger to protect infrastructure competition and prevent re-emergence of duopoly stagnation.
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Strategy & ChangeVIRTUS bets on tier-two Europe in ‘speculative’ data centre expansion
Interview: Macquarie-backed operator VIRTUS Data Centres is accelerating its European ambitions with a speculative build model, targeting tier‑two metros to stay ahead of hyperscaler demand and replicate a tried-and-true campus model. Business Development VP Christina Mertens talks ambition, strategy, and investor backing…
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Network & InfraUK government targets ‘zombie’ data centre speculators in sweeping energy grid overhaul
Tougher requirements proposed for applicants, designed to curb ‘speculative activity’ artificially inflating massive power connection demand on the national grid, led by ever-larger data centres.
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M&A‘Loosen the leash’: Telefónica’s Murtra repeats call for telco M&A rethink
MWC26: Spanish group’s Executive Chairman Marc Murtra again urges European regulators to loosen the shackles on telco deal-making.
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EventwatchTrust me I’m a telco: sector insecurity seeps into MWC opener
MWC26: Telco CEOs take to the stage to warn of “unknown threats” and an emerging “Wild West” as the pace of technological change outpaces the rate that international operators, governments, and regulators can react…
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Public AffairsGerman broadband regs shift prompts altnet angst
German broadband providers show unease over regulator’s move to refocus onto regional markets when gauging incumbent Telekom Deutschland’s market power, and potentially relax the operator’s regulatory obligations in four cities.
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Suppliers & SCMDT in fresh bid to settle €80m outsourcing row
ISS, DT’s facilities management supplier in Germany, indicates the pair have entered discussions over a deal that would end their long-running contract dispute.
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M&AEC cites need for ‘European champions’ as merger guidelines review looms
In depth: Anticipation builds as first sighting of revised EU merger guidelines is slated for April, and telcos are busy lobbying for an M&A rule change…