Telefónica Regulatory & Compliance – Page 7
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Public Affairs
Álvarez-Pallete: scrap ePrivacy, improve GDPR
Telefónica Executive Chairman José María Álvarez-Pallete calls on the European Commission to withdraw its proposed ePrivacy Regulation in favour of better enforcement of GDPR. ePrivacy ambitions of “harmonised” single market will not come to fruition, says the Spaniard. Calls for improved data legislation to compete with Asian and US ...
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Content & TV
Movistar Plus+ signs €1.4bn DAZN deal for La Liga rights
Telefónica’s pay-TV platform to broadcast every Spanish top-flight match for five years from the 2022–23 season. DAZN retains production responsibilities, with Movistar Plus+ customers granted access to broadcasts. DAZN continues telco partnership strategy to ease rights costs.
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Public Affairs
CNMC pledges post-merger review of Telefónica regulations
Proposed merger of Orange with MÁSMÓVIL would create largest player by subscribers. CNMC President will seek to balance obligations of telcos with those of digital platforms. Regulator reports on football rights contracts are being ignored.
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Public Affairs
Álvarez-Pallete lambasts regulators for being stuck in the past
If WhatsApp et al are not regulated, then neither should Telefónica, he says. Álvarez-Pallete accuses Spanish regulator of dragging its feet over reforms.
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Strategy & Change
Telefónica lays out circular economy plans
Group pledges zero waste to landfill and refurb of 500,000 mobile phones by 2030. Backed by MAIA equipment reuse platform. Plans follow GSMA call to action for telecoms sector.
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People
Telefónica alumnus tapped for state’s expanded Indra interest
Communications director Sergio Sánchez reportedly added to board at former Telefónica investment Indra Sistemas. News follows a 10% increase in the Spanish government’s shareholding in the company and adds to apparent power struggle in the boardroom.
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Public Affairs
Alierta era scandal still haunting Telefónica
Telefónica pays €6m into court to cover potential civil liabilities linked to trial of disgraced former advisor Rodrigo Rato. Newspaper speculation portrays Rato’s co-defendant, former Telefónica counsel Sánchez de Lerín, as “the man with the briefcase of secrets” linked to the telco. Rato litigation an ongoing hangover from earlier ...
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Premium
Elsewhere in Hispanoamérica: Movistar Peru fails penalty appeal
Telefónica Colombia doubles up on sustainable borrowing; Telefónica Peru back in naughty corner as Osiptel probes unauthorised SIM card vendors.
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M&A
Oi mobile sale hits another road bump
Brazil’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) representative at antitrust regulator CADE gives thumbs down to proposed sale of Oi Group’s mobile assets to Telefónica|Vivo, Claro Brasil, and TIM Brasil. Non-binding decision cites competition concerns and recommends “administrative proceedings” to investigate collusion among trio to exclude other interested companies. Oi says ...
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Premium
Elsewhere in Brazil: Vivo signs solar deal with Helexia
Group makes customer satisfaction pledge; Vivo ramps up solar project.
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M&A
Regulator approves Oi sale
Decision confirmed, subject to conditions, after Brazilian regulator Anatel postponed ruling last week. A board member had asked for additional time to review sale to a consortium featuring Telefónica|Vivo, Claro Brasil, and TIM Brasil. Final approval still required from competition authority CADE.
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Public Affairs
Telefónica handed EC fine for Brazilian non-compete deal
Decade-long proceedings close with Telefónica — along with Pharol — ordered to hand over €79m for antitrust breach. European Commission findings upheld despite yo-yoing, with final charge held for Telefónica and down slightly for Pharol.
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Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica’s PangeaCo begins operations in Peru
Telefónica appears to have failed to find an investor for the Peruvian FibreCo. Political situation may have complicated efforts to find a partner.
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Public Affairs
Ofcom details O2 UK ‘carelessness’ in billing investigation
Regulator publishes 74-page document highlighting the extent of O2 UK feet-dragging in its investigation as to why the operator overcharged customers during a seven-year period. Demands O2 UK review its processes and systems to ensure accuracy and completeness of responses to information requests in future. Restates view that £150,000 ...
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Public Affairs
Álvarez-Pallete warns of dangers of “digital slavery”
Telefónica Executive Chairman asserts that societal imbalance and data exploitation are risks that must be addressed as the world’s economies are digitised. Dire warnings of ‘slavery’ fit with Group commitments on creation of a digital rights framework that would see operators positioned as trusted partners.
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Premium
Elsewhere in UK: VM O2 augments EV fleet
VM O2 augments EV fleet; becomes founding member of National Databank to provide free data to low-income households.
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Network & Infrastructure
CNMC backs Telefónica on ‘irregular’ duct occupation
New rules will see Telefónica able to cut off operators that install cables without permission. CNMC employs MARCo regulation to draw up three new procedures.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Telefónica Group: operator in line for tax refund
Ecosystem building in quantum and cloud data; tax refund boost
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Strategy & Change
Telefónica offers redundancy plan to almost 3,000 staff
Unions still not satisfied with latest redundancy offer. Group offers a higher pay increase of 1.5% for 2023.
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Public Affairs
Ericsson loses latest skirmish in Telefónica Avatar saga
Ericsson blocked from unilaterally changing working conditions for employees transferred from Telefónica in 2010 in conjunction with the AltamirA platform acquisition. A renewed deal linked to the platform removes Telefónica’s minimum spend commitment.