Public Affairs
All the latest public affairs news, analysis and insight, including legal, regulatory and political issues surrounding BT, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica and Vodafone.
India’s Vi boosted by talk of more government debt relief
Troubled Indian operator reportedly set to get another leg up in its bounce-back effort as government considers dismissing INR 1tn+ of AGR dues…
MásOrange CEO wants Spain to make spectrum fee cut
Meinrad Spenger proposes changes after charges reportedly led to joint venture’s failure to find a buyer for surplus 3.5GHz rights.
Telefónica stays on as Spain’s universal service provider
Operator to retain regulatory obligations to ensure universal internet access and voice service provision in Spain until end of 2026, as other operators not keen to take over role. Regulator CNMC proposes that government enforce further speed and data volume upgrades… Normal 0 ...
Is UK’s AI Action Plan under-powered?
UK government unveils aspirational plan for growing the AI sector, with a partner sought for a new data centre in its first AI Growth Zone, but questions remain about the power capacity to underpin the impending data and AI explosion…
Spain’s fibre foundations need a fix-up
Market seen in self-adjustment mode to smooth out overlaps between FibreCo estates while also filling gap between urban and rural FTTH coverage.
nexfibre: Keep leash on Openreach to drive UK fibre competition
nexfibre development chief Giles Rowbotham speaks with TelcoTitans on need to drive UK fibre competition by maintaining regulation of Openreach. Says Ofcom needs to keep an eye on wholesale pricing and copper-to-fibre migration process, as well as consolidation, investment, PIA, and local-level factors within wider market…
Cordiant gets thumbs up for Belgian data centre acquisition
Irish investment group teams up with Belgium’s TINC to form merged infrastructure player, comprising Datacenter United and Proximus’ data centre arm. Pair seeking to capture cost synergies and create economies of scale to drive “long-term” value for investors…
4iG’s Vodafone buy under fire amid political scrutiny of state role
Hungarian opposition Socialist Party accuses Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government of negligent mismanagement of public funds during the acquisition of Vodafone Hungary by 4iG and state-owned holding company Cornivus.
Ex-Vodafone chief Colao cautions Italy against SpaceX alliance
Former Vodafone CEO and Italian government minister Vittorio Colao urges EU to focus on developing member state-owned satellite constellations to avoid strategic dependence on foreign providers. Comments come after reports that Italian gov is working on a fresh comms pact with Elon Musk’s SpaceX…
Ericsson christens telco API venture ‘Aduna’, installs CEO
Vonage exec Anthony Bartolo appointed CEO of Aduna, the Ericsson-led network API joint venture.
UK’s Project Gigabit: billions committed, but just 1.6% take-up at last count
Nearly four years in, government’s Project Gigabit spend reaches £2.2bn with latest Openreach contracts, but connections faltering at just 11,000 as commitments and subsidies yet to translate to boots on the ground. With another £400m in the procurement pipeline for 2025, when will cash finally convert to real impact? In depth non-chummy review of UK rural fibre programme inside…