Public Affairs
All the latest public affairs news, analysis and insight, including legal, regulatory and political issues surrounding leading telecom and infra players.
O2 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…
UK Infrawatch: clues emerge of improving altnet sector health
Analyst Briefing: Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including the latest in fibreco results season, Aberdeen investment going south, Grain embraces network growth, Project Gigabit gets a funding boost, and plenty more…
KPN 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.
New 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…
Reality 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.
Vodafone 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.
EC 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.
UK infra body sees Project Gigabit progress as DSIT ups budget
The government is signalling confidence in Project Gigabit, increasing funding and reaffirming delivery targets even as concerns persist over supplier finances, rollout delays, and the long-term viability of parts of the fibre market.
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…