Public Affairs
All the latest public affairs news, analysis and insight, including legal, regulatory and political issues surrounding BT, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica and Vodafone.
German government looks to speed up fibre build to flats
Fibre industry organisations and players back key measures proposed by the German government to accelerate fibre rollout to multi-dwelling units, but indicate further procedural changes are needed to remove “bureaucratic hurdles”…
Orange faces union disquiet over plan to simplify French operations
The ‘Regain’ plan is now in the consultation phase, but unions are unhappy with multiple aspects of the proposals. No job cuts are planned, but the number of departments could be slashed to four, and five major centres replaced by nine smaller ones.
UK AI council looks north as energy demand set to soar — but connectivity an afterthought
Initial meetings of the government’s AI Energy Council see predictions of surging energy demand and challenges in ensuring existing infrastructure is up to the job, but connectivity requirements appear sidelined with fibre operators asbent…
UK takes step closer to D2D satellite services go-live
Regulator Ofcom to launch a framework that will permit direct-to-device satellite services next year, using BT, VodafoneThree, and Virgin Media O2 spectrum.
Indus Towers eyes Airtel’s Africa markets in first move beyond India
Indian towerco’s Board of Directors gives the go-ahead to move into Africa, starting with three markets, with a helping hand from longstanding customer and controlling shareholder Bharti Airtel…
Union slams Capita’s offshoring plans for Virgin Media O2 contract
Contact centre provider Capita has sparked outrage at the Communication Workers Union over plans to move 150 jobs that support Virgin Media O2 from the UK to South Africa.
Orange Belgium ups data security after breach talks with watchdog
Operator gets green light from Belgian telecoms regulator to introduce new proposed security measures, aimed at preventing fraudulent SIM swapping after recent cyberattack …
Openreach lobbies for regulatory flexibility as fibrecos take market share, struggle with debt
Openreach’s regulatory lead is twisting Ofcom’s arm to give it pricing freedom in regions where it faces two rivals. VM O2 and CityFibre contend that a firm hand is required to protect still fragile competition. While altnets are winning market share, their lenders are nervous…
T-Systems bullish on sovereignty shift; untouched by tariff ‘turmoil’
Q2 FY25: Deutsche Telekom says enterprise IT business on track to meet FY25 guidance and longer-term targets.
Ruling looms in DT’s €80m outsourcing row
ISS, DT’s facilities management supplier in Germany, indicates a tribunal ruling on long-running disagreement between the pair is close.
1&1 taps fingers as it awaits spectrum sharing offer from rivals
Following regulator’s ruling in March, 1&1’s CEO Ralph Dommermuth says it’s not yet clear when the operator will be able to secure a deal to access low‑band spectrum.