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Public AffairsTAR: Ofcom eyes ‘problematic’ promotions as access review sets regulatory landscape
Telecoms Access Review released, setting the scene for the next five years of regulation in the UK’s fast-shifting fibre market. While not signalling any major change of course, likely pleasing incumbent Openreach, altnet take-up appears to be receiving more attention as a litmus of market health, offering a possible fillip to challengers.
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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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Public AffairsGerman fibre players cautiously welcome BNetzA’s copper switch-off plans
German telcos and industry bodies issue guarded welcomes of German regulator’s latest regulatory plans to enforce copper shutdown in parts of the country, although timeline for the switch-off still not firmed up…
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Public AffairsThe EU’s DNA has landed, but receives lukewarm industry response
While telco groups have welcomed the prospect of spectrum reform to provide greater investment certainty, copper switch-off plans and a new approach to ‘fair share’ earn a far more mixed reception…
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Public AffairsEU resetting copper switch-off to ‘mandatory but conditional’ 2035, pressuring slow-mo incumbents
In depth: leaked draft of EC Digital Networks Act reveals copper shutdown ambitions delayed by five years. Incumbent, copper-overweight operators like Deutsche Telekom look set to face heat if new enforcement capabilities introduced. Other highlights include spectrum trading, easing up on regional consolidation, and streamlining oversight…
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Public AffairsVodafone to face MPs as franchisee ‘scandal’ escalates
Vodafone executives are set to meet with MPs as more allegations emerge about the operator’s franchising operation, raising political interest in the case that Vodafone considers a mere “commercial dispute”…
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Public AffairsTelefónica trims Spanish job cutback plan in bid for union deal
Talks continue between employee reps and bosses over Group’s latest planned round of cutbacks.
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Public AffairsUK gov walks barrier-busting tightrope in bid to ease MDU connectivity headaches
Government sets so-called Barrier Busting Task Force to work, aiming to remove blockers to Gigabit upgrades at multi-dwelling units and apartment blocks. Openreach welcomes the proposals, but Whitehall must avoid giving the incumbent any inadvertent advantage…
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Public AffairsUnions call on Telefónica for ‘one last effort’ on strategic reorg
Talks continue between employee reps and bosses over Group’s latest planned round of cutbacks.
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Public AffairsGerman regulator goes back to the drawing board after 5G defeat
The Federal Network Agency is forced to restart 5G spectrum award proceedings, although questions remains about whether the auction will need to be replayed…
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Public AffairsVodafone hits out at German authorities in 1&1 antitrust case
German operator levels accusations of bias against the Federal Cartel Office in its investigation of alleged anti-competitive behaviour.
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Public AffairsVodacom clears final hurdle to get Maziv fibre JV over the line
South African telecoms authority greenlights the creation of Vodacom’s fibre joint venture with CIVH. Having overcome the final obstacle on Maziv’s journey to launch, CEO Dietlof Mare is aiming to have the business “operating at full speed” by April 2026…
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Public AffairsUK telcos to face mass lawsuit over alleged overcharging
BT, Virgin Media O2, and VodafoneThree to fight legal challenge over alleged overcharging of customers, albeit with a reduced scope courtesy of the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s ruling on the case…
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Public AffairsClearing the Eir: Irish operators criticise ‘excessively lax’ access rules
Industry body ALTO, representing operators such as BT, Vodafone, Enet, and Sky, calls for review into regulation of incumbent.
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Public AffairsIndia considers Vi reprieve to promote UK trade, foster relations — report
Vodafone-backed Indian operator Vi may benefit from UK-India trade negotiations as reports emerge that the New Delhi government may waive some debts.
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Public AffairsTelefónica said to mull Spain job cuts ahead of Murtra’s strategy reset
Telefónica reportedly preparing an incentivised early-retirement plan to cut at least 6,000 jobs across Spanish subsidiaries. The operator is said to be aiming to present plans to unions following upcoming strategy reset…
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Public Affairs‘Enormously aggressive’: nexfibre leads altnet complaints against Openreach copper-to-fibre discounting
Connected Britain 2025: As Openreach pulls levers to combat massive broadband losses, and drive fibre adoption alongside, altnet leaders have called out the discount pricing strategy as unsustainable. nexfibre execs have called it an exploitation of the incumbent’s significant market powers, CityFibre warns of structure advantage, plus views from other altnets, rivals…
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Public AffairsOrange Poland could see last regulatory shackles removed, if rivals allow
Regulator UKE plans to remove Orange’s local loop unbundling and bitstream access wholesale obligations in move likely to be closely watched by European telco giants, amid calls for looser rules.
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Public AffairsBT’s Kirkby pulls no punches in review of UK regulatory, fiscal policy
Connected Britain: Allison Kirkby lets loose on Downing Street policy, with greater fiscal certainty needed to fund much-needed infra investment and AI adoption. Regulatory policy comes in for inevitable criticism too, as the BT boss sets the scene for the Chancellor’s upcoming Budget and Ofcom’s pending Telecoms Access Review…
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Public AffairsOrange pushes ahead with its own agenda as regulatory change drags on
Christel Heydemann points out that Orange is not waiting for EU merger guidelines to be revisited before considering measures that would create synergies, as it did in Spain.