All Public Affairs articles – Page 2
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M&A
Vodafone M&A attempt shot down in Portugal
Proposed Vodafone Portugal acquisition of market minnow Nowo ruled out by local antitrust body, but with potential lessons to take to UK merger wranglings.
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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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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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Public Affairs
EU trains regulatory spotlight on e& over CEE expansion plans
European Commission opens probe into UAE‑based operator’s planned PPF transaction amid “alleged subsidies” concerns.
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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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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
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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Public Affairs
DT agrees ‘painful’ compromise with German unions
Management averts further strikes by securing deal giving home market workers a 6% pay rise, as well as easing stance on collective agreement coverage and timeframe.
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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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Public Affairs
Deutsche Telekom workers stage strike ahead of ‘decisive’ pay talks
German union organises two days of industrial action to set scene for a fourth round of negotiations on wage increases.
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Financial & Performance
1&1 continues to push back against calls for German auction rethink
German challenger is at odds with established MNO rivals over how to allocate soon‑to‑expire spectrum rights.
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M&A
Merged Vodafone−Three ‘incentivised and able’ to ‘frustrate’, ‘harm’ BT — CMA
Merger-critical Competition & Markets Authority investigation is damning on logic and impact of combination, dubious of benefits. Network-sharing joint venture MBNL is at heart of concerns and may become a focus for any forthcoming ‘remedies’. Read more…
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Public Affairs
Deutsche Telekom fails to win over unions despite ‘highest ever’ pay offer
Several days of strike action prompt Group to come up with an offer on pay rises, but unions still want more.
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Network & Infrastructure
TPG signs more regulator-friendly rural RAN-sharing deal with Optus
Australia’s TPG Telecom signs MOCN agreement with Optus in bid to present true regional challenge to Telstra, taking notes from regulator’s report on the unsucessful Telstra deal to add to optimism about green-light prospects…
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M&A
Spain continues Telefónica share buy-up, reaching 6%
Further purchase from SEPI widens government’s lead as telco’s largest stakeholder, and marks continuation of wider plan to shore up national influence in the operator and defend strategic assets from foreign investors. Read more…
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Public Affairs
Vodafone-backed AST SpaceMobile landed with ‘stock drop’ class action
The NASDAQ-listed LEO satellite provider hit by class action after supplier problems caused a launch delay, and a subsequent slump in shares.
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Financial & Performance
Spain continues to build Telefónica buffer, increasing stake to 5%
Government increases shareholding in the operator by 2%, quickly following up acquisition of a 3% stake in March 2024.