All Political articles – Page 2
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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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Network & Infrastructure
UK government shutters Huawei oversight committee despite continued presence
Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology states that examination of potential risks within Huawei’s equipment by a committee of NCSC and industry cybersecurity experts has ended, and been replaced with “stronger departmental governance arrangements”.
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Weekly Briefings
Infrawatch Weekly: Netomnia climbs UK altnet table, Poland drives on fibre, UK politicians play it safe
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including the emergence of a new £1bn challenger in the UK fibre scene, collab-driven network advances in Poland, connectivity promises in the UK General Election; people moves, and plenty more…
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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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Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: ex-OpCos begin turnaround; venturing moves in Europe, Africa
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem as the Group completes in Spanish exit and hears news of a turnaround from another former OpCo in Hungary, while prospective new ownership in Italy makes more M&A moves. Startup incubation and acceleration is brought to the fore in Portugal and Kenya; open RAN updates with partnerships in tow; drones take flight in Germany; and plenty more…
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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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Innovation (R&D)
BT R&D chief calls for “coherent” policies to support UK innovation
UK industrial strategy for telecoms needs a rethink to support homegrown technology development, drive demand, and revive ailing sector, according to Gabriela Styf Sjöman, Managing Director, Research & Networks Strategy at BT Group.
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Network & Infrastructure
Project Gigabit finally reaches Scotland with first rural fibre tender
UK government fibre build scheme opens procurement process for North East Scotland network, geared towards reaching 68,000 premises. Northern Ireland and Wales contracts in the pipeline, as are larger ‘call-off’ bundled lots that have piqued the interest of larger players…
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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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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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Financial & Performance
Safaricom dials down Ethiopia spending plan as loss drags Group profits
FY23–24: Safaricom slashes five-year investment target for Ethiopia, commits to tightened spend to weather challenging macro environment, but remains positive on progress and outlook.
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M&A
CriteriaCaixa becomes largest Telefónica shareholder with 5%
CriteriaCaixa exerts its muscle at Telefónica as CaixaBank gradually fades away.
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Network & Infrastructure
UK gov pledges satcomms R&D investment for ultra-rural homes
Spring Budget adds £160m to LEO connectivity funding pot days after warnings that UK SatCos require fresh funding to stay afloat. BT, Vodafone, VM O2 have named their partners, and early trials are beginning to emerge…
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Network & Infrastructure
UK’s £1bn 4G ‘not spot’ programme slammed by national auditor; ‘5G SA for all’ doubts
Behind schedule Shared Rural Network a mess but not quite a fail, and another example of government mismanagement. Ofcom slapped for unfit-for-purpose market definition and data. MNOs on hook for cost overruns, and better updates…
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Network & Infrastructure
Connectivity gaps in the spotlight as UK preps for automated vehicles
New study will explore the infrastructure needs for the deployment of connected autonomous vehicles in line with government 2025 goals, with connectivity at the core.
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Public Affairs
European Commission bending to Big Telco calls for consolidation — report
Draft policy paper shows EC ready to make big changes in telecom rules to allow its big players to scale, invest and better face other (typically US) service providers, according to reports.
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People
e& CEO Hatem Dowidar to take seat on Vodafone board
It’s a happy Valentine’s Day for Vodafone and e& as the partners obtain regulatory approval to get together in the board room.
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Public Affairs
UK: Lords maul government on digital exclusion, call for greater altnet role
Locally-focused altnets are seen as a valuable tool in bridging the Digital Divide by peers tasked with assessing the costs and consequences of digital exclusion.
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Network & Infrastructure
ETNO in existential crisis as Europe weighs response to global business threats
ETNO’s recent State of Digital Communications report portrayed the big beasts of European telecoms as open to change, but hamstrung by regulation and pondering long-term impact of letting infrastructure go.