Public Affairs
All the latest public affairs news, analysis and insight, including legal, regulatory and political issues surrounding leading telecom and infra players.
Towerco-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.
Telefónica 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…
Germany’s O2 lines up job cuts as turnaround plan moves up a gear
Operator confirms it is in talks with employee representative bodies over plan that could axe around 1,400 employees from its workforce. Move comes as O2’s new management seeks to accelerate turnaround effort to fill in the void left by 1&1 contract loss and counter German competitive and economic pressure…
From 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’…
Vodacom 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.
Virgin 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…
EU’s DNA faces pushback, with MVNOs wary of spectrum rule changes
MVNOs World: With the upcoming Digital Networks Act, the EC aims to create a fresh start for the region’s telecoms industry and provide a much-needed boost to the bloc’s competitiveness. But it seems few see the norms, as proposed, as likely to deliver the galvanising force the Commission intends, with challenger players remaining concerned they will have to take one for the team as the EU bids to shore up their incumbent network operator rivals.
Telefónica’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…
CMA 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.
Vodafone chases defence opportunity with centralised German hub
European B2B chief Hagen Rickmann heads a move to consolidate and ‘bundle’ defence-related operations in Düsseldorf to target the sector “more strongly”, meet growing demand, and go head-to-head with rival telcos.
UK 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…