All Legal (compliance, regulatory) articles – Page 5
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone hands VM O2 a spectrum bonus to win merger support
Following more than a year of talks, Vodafone wins Virgin Media O2 round to its proposed Three merger with an extended network sharing agreement and approval-dependent spectrum transaction. Questions remain about MBNL future, BT response, and CMA viewpoint…
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Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: less tech, more outcomes for BT’s consumer and procurement teams
Latest from BT and its ecosystem, including calls from Consumer’s Kevin Lee to ‘forget the jargon’ and Chief Procurement Officer Cyril Pourrat on the centrality of AI to the future of buying. Infrastructure sharing in focus at Openreach; network executives exit; and Rivus folds after BT takes business elsewhere…
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Network & Infrastructure
Openreach initiates infra-sharing crackdown as altnets told to get compliant
So-called ‘whereabouts’ compliance must reach 90% for altnets to avoid potential eviction from Openreach networks, with three-month grace period before any action taken. Altnets also unhappy with current failings, and investors wary of compliance weakness. Read more…
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Products & Services
Brazilian watchdog puts Vivo’s AI chatbot under the microscope
Brazilian regulator Anatel investigating Vivo’s use of AI in customer service, citing privacy and security concerns.
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Public Affairs
nexfibre joins calls to tighten Openreach infra choker, ensure lasting UK fibre competition
UK fibre wholesaler calls for new and improved regulation to provide platform for altnet competition as attention turns to Ofcom’s next five-year framework. Echoes broad consensus among INCA members that more could be done to limit Openreach dominance, encourage altnet investment…
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M&A
Romania’s competition body runs rule over OTE’s latest exit plan
Competition Council says it has begun process of assessing antitrust implications of convoluted joint buyout by Clever Media and Digi Romania, which carries OTE’s hopes for an exit from local telecoms market.
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Network & Infrastructure
DT embraces common APIs for wholesale broadband framework revamp
Group is participating in a TM Forum Catalyst project that aims to create a global standard for the wholesale broadband access market.
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M&A
UK fibre M&A ‘easy’ (compared to challenges of compatibility, integration, compliance)
Challenger leaders at INCA gathering call out lack of industry standards as key obstacle to more M&A. Integration and migration are costly and complex, making compatibility a consideration for prospective buyers. Compliance also increasingly important in valuations. More positive is XGS-PON embrace, deemed a “damn fine standard for a starting place”, but beware legacy tech. Learn more…
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M&A
BT outlines investment fears as Vodafone−Three merger tips spectrum scales
Operator overwhelmingly backs CMA’s decision to launch in-depth merger investigation and calls for closer attention to be paid to the unprecedented spectrum asymmetry that could follow. Ericsson, altnets, and trade unions also weigh in…
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Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: policy in focus as BT execs make the General Election rounds
Latest from BT and its ecosystem, including discussions of a political nature from a handful of senior Group leaders in the build up to the UK’s General Election. The future of TV, planning policy for network expansion, and the need for pro-innovation and investment changes all earned a mention…
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Content & TV
BT policy chief calls for TV distribution rethink as IP takes hold
Policy & Public Affairs Director Helen Burrows describes current content distribution regulation as insufficient and outmoded, with need to update and reflect change in audience demand.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodacom sues regulator and MTN over alleged improper spectrum sharing
Suspicions on MTN’s perceived overperformance in Ookla testing prompted Vodacom to investigate its rival’s spectrum practices, and allege malpractice in new court filings.
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Network & Infrastructure
British parliamentarians depart with last swing at ‘unconvincing’ 5G plans
The outgoing Public Accounts Committee’s final report on mobile connectivity portrays government efforts to improve mobile coverage as lacking focus, data, and clear evidence of value.
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People
Openreach corporate affairs and brand chief exits
Catherine Colloms, long-time Director of Corporate Affairs & Brand, has left Openreach after leading the business through its BT split.
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Public Affairs
Union rejects Deutsche Telekom’s second ‘record’ pay offer
Talks between operator and worker representatives extended to end of the week after union rejects DT’s fresh proposals as “insufficient”.
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Financial & Performance
Vodafone Germany to lose half of TV customer base as new tenant laws take effect
Vodafone’s largest and last standalone European market braces for a slump in performance this year while revamping operations in an attempt to revive growth. Tenant bundling law change set to accelerate longer term trend of customer losses at misfiring major OpCo.
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Network & Infrastructure
German operators respond cautiously to BNetzA’s proposed spectrum auction compromise
Three existing MNOs, which have been loudly complaining over spectrum access cost burden, would pay just under €600m for five-year rights extension under new BNetzA proposals.
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M&A
Vodafone−Three welcome deal’s security clearance as focus turns to antitrust
UK government green-lights merger (with caveats) after conducting security review, but Vodafone−Three are far from celebrating as the CMA’s investigation steps up a gear and leaves consolidation in doubt…
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Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: BT adds to concerns about Vodafone−Three UK merger, EE Finance gets Patterson’s Glow
Latest from BT and its ecosystem of partners and suppliers in a week where the UK’s competition authority revealed the level of concern it has about Vodafone UK’s proposed merger with Three — with BT’s networks found to be one potential flashpoint. EE continues retail revamp; Etc. ignites EV charging trial; and Business advances its Portfolio makeover…
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Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: ups and downs in Group’s network-sharing tie-ups and M&A; RAN mega-tender KO
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem, including: commencement of massive RAN tender; regional network-sharing in Australia; and UK merger with Three competition concerns mount. Elsewhere: Vodafone Business seeks role in edge compute innovation; Vodacom Tanzania facing legal action; and more consolidation prospects in the Netherlands and Spain explored…