Public Affairs
All the latest public affairs news, analysis and insight, including legal, regulatory and political issues surrounding leading telecom and infra players.
Ofcom 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…
Starter 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…
Germany 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…
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.