All Legal (compliance, regulatory) articles – Page 2
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Network & InfraUS to pay $10bn+ to Eutelsat, SES to clear ‘super band’ 5G/6G spectrum
Massive payout shores up finances for European satellite duo in return for setting aside Upper C-band GEO spectrum and transitioning services, freeing capacity for a 5G/6G ‘super band’ of frequencies in the US.
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Network & InfraOfcom wields TAR in move to block Openreach fibre discounts
For the first time, the regulator intends to direct Openreach to withdraw proposed new fibre customer pricing, citing an ‘unfair’ and ‘aggressive’ approach from the incumbent. Ofcom puts the Telecoms Access Review into action, altnets welcome the move, and Openreach accuses the regulator of protecting rivals’ “poor business models”. Final decision pending…
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Deep DiveStarter for No 10: the key digital infra demands awaiting the UK’s new Prime Minister
Deep dive: Andy Burnham built his political reputation around regional growth in Manchester. Digital infra leaders now want to know whether those principles will translate into a coherent national strategy for fibre, mobile networks, data centres, and digital infrastructure investment, as the industry enters a pivotal moment…
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Public AffairsGermany finally gets ducts in a row with new BNetzA regs
Networks watchdog firms up contractual framework for access to incumbent Telekom Deutschland’s underground assets, following several years of industry arguments. Regulator claims to have “removed the obstacles to duct access” for altnets, and handed a much-needed boost to Germany’s pressured fibre infra sector. But not everybody is happy…
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Public AffairsO2 becomes latest German telco to confirm wide-scale cutbacks
Operator firms up plans to eliminate 1,100 positions by the end of 2026, targeting €185m in annual savings. Decision is latest in a series of efficiency measures at O2, following loss of 1&1 wholesale contract and rise in competitive pressures…
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Strategy & ChangeKPN may rethink fibre ambition after Delta buy blocked
Dutch incumbent’s Chief Executive Joost Farwerck calls watchdog’s decision to thwart bolt-on purchase of fibre assets from rival Delta “very strange”, and warns it may prompt a rejig of its footprint expansion goal for 2030.
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Partnerships & AlliancesNew Spanish resilience regs said to prompt expanded Telefónica-Cellnex tie-up
Operator reportedly extends Cellnex energy backup partnership to cover up to 1,000 additional sites. Deal comes as Spanish telcos face more stringent redundancy requirements from the government, following last year’s major electricity grid outage…
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AnalysisReality check: assessing telco claims of Europe’s High-Risk Supplier crackdown cost — Strand Consult
Guest analysis: with 30% EU exposure remaining, concentrated on 5G RAN, specific countries and three big telcos, John Strand considers media and industry warnings of HRS rip-and-replace costs overstated, evidencing Denmark, the UK and other European markets as showing transition can be managed without derailing 5G rollout. In an age of national security, he also deems it essential for securing future mission-critical contracts.
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Public AffairsVodafone avoids court in no-admission settlement with UK franchisee claimant group
Vodafone has drawn a discreet line under a high profile dispute with dozens of UK franchise partners, reaching an out-of-court settlement that should minimise further reputational broadsides over allegations of unscrupulous pandemic-era behaviour.
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M&AEC cedes oversight of SFR takeover to French authorities
Iliad’s SFR transaction was a potential sticking point, but the EC has agreed to refer it to France, with discussions already underway with Bouygues Telecom and Orange.
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Public AffairsTowerco-telco tensions: Italy’s INWIT trades blows with reluctant anchor tenants
Fastweb and TIM claim early victories in the INWIT dispute as they attempt to terminate contracts, but the challenged towerco insists the core issues remain unresolved. The battle could have significant implications for tower economics, tenant relationships, and Vodafone-backed Vantage Towers.
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OperationsTelefónica fibre partner Atelco said to file for bankruptcy after Spanish contract loss
Telefónica fibre services subcontractor reportedly files for insolvency after losing critical ‘local loop’ contract, with union talks over future of workforce underway. Telefónica said to have aimed to simplify operations with the renewal, as part of wider cost-cutting measures that include renegotiating supplier deals…
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M&AFrom bitter critic to anchor investor: Xavier Niel replaces e& as Vodafone’s largest shareholder
In-depth: Audacious French telecoms tycoon snaps up e&’s stake in a €5bn transaction. Niel expresses confidence in strategic direction and ‘value creation potential’, just two years after expensively venting frustration at ‘mismanagement’…
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Network & InfraVodacom says more work needed on satco-telco compatibility
DTW Ignite: Jayesh Hargovan warns that while LEO satcoms is reaching maturity, integration challenges remain a major blocker to development of telco–satellite relationships, delaying time to revenue for both CSPs and satcos.
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Public AffairsVirgin Media O2 hit with £28m fine over contract cancellation failings
UK watchdog issues “largest ever fine” under consumer protection rules after finding that VM O2’s ‘two-tier’ agents system and tactics served to delay or prevent customer switching. Fine comes after operator has invested in significant user experience improvements, following separate pushback over consumer practices…
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Public AffairsTelefónica’s proposed wholesale infra access price hikes in spotlight
Operator proposes steeper wholesale price increases for accessing its physical infrastructure as part of an updated bid to alter MARCo regulatory scheme. Move sees Spain’s CNMC target further deregulation in the wholesale broadband segment, although previously suggested MARCo changes proved controversial…
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M&ACMA uprates Netomnia–nexfibre investigation to Phase 2 as altnets call for ‘urgency’
Altnet buyer nexfibre gets pragmatic and skips straight to the in-depth competition review, keeping hopes alive for completion before the end of the year. The UK’s fibre scene is set to change, but the CMA will now decide the extent.
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Analyst BriefingUK Infrawatch: DSIT pictures satellite success as AI snags Ofcom attention
Analyst Briefing: nexfibre looks beyond ‘cornershop’ fibre; Ofcom rethinks AI, mobile quality, and spectrum policy; more altnet sale rumours; plenty more…
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M&AVodafoneThree networks chief: merger remedies more ‘asset’ than ‘burden’
Chief Network Officer Andrea Donà has framed strict regulatory remedies as an “engineer’s paradise” as the UK operator sets about its £7bn network integration programme.
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Public AffairsDutch watchdog blocks Glaspoort’s proposed DELTA Fiber asset buy
Dutch competition authority draws a line in the sand after investigating whether deal adds to its concerns over KPN “bead stringing” to expand its fibre footprint. KPN questions whether response to “relatively small transaction” is warranted …