Public Affairs
All the latest public affairs news, analysis and insight, including legal, regulatory and political issues surrounding BT, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica and Vodafone.
Sees.ai flies high with Boeing backing
Vodafone partner picks up $100,000 funding from the aerospace giant.
UK telco execs call time on net neutrality
BT’s Allera, VM O2’s Cobian, and Vodafone’s Essam share their views on ‘big tech’ contributions to network investment.
BT’s Digital Voice switchover on track despite delays
CEO Jansen confident in operator’s ability to rectify problems in analogue‑to‑digital switchover.
BT makes steady progress on broadband USO
Latest update shows 4,600 premises connected, with thousands more in the works. Excessive costs remain a problem for rural premises despite Ofcom intervention.
Deutsche Telekom strikes wage deal with union
Agreement on wage increases reached after third round of talks.
Q1 FY22: Telefónica facing challenges with a spring in its step
Strong start to FY22 saw cross‑examination on prospect of a quick upgrade on guidance for the year. VM O2 the odd one out as three of Telefónica’s core markets show strengthening operational performance and clear vision for market evolution. Telefónica Tech building momentum, but strategy of buying short‑term growth ...
Vodafone gains partial victory against former ONO execs
La Audiencia de Madrid rules that ONO execs accused of tax fraud before Vodafone takeover should pay VAT fees siphoned off cableco’s books. Ruling falls well short of €140m in damages Vodafone was originally seeking.
BT: UK can beat EU to TechCo network contributions
While Europe’s ‘fair contribution’ row on network investments intensifies, BT’s Policy & Public Affairs Director Alex Towers underlines opportunity for UK to “get there first”.
Elsewhere in Vodafone Africa: Telkom SA settles with ICASA
Telkom SA reaches out‑of‑court settlement with ICASA over spectrum auction; Vodacom granted appeal in Please Call Me case.
“If you’re a bully, you get a pasting”: union continues BT bashing, confirms action ballot
Communication Workers Union Annual Conference galvanises members as it takes fight to BT. Industrial action ballet to go ahead “as soon as possible”. “These people have no integrity” says Deputy General Secretary Andy Kerr.
Still no date for Safaricom Ethiopia launch
STE indicates it is close to reaching network‑sharing agreements with Ethio Telecom. Changes to national payments law should pave way for M‑PESA.