Public Affairs
All the latest public affairs news, analysis and insight, including legal, regulatory and political issues surrounding BT, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica and Vodafone.
DT questions Vodafone’s cable TV defence tactics
Deutsche Telekom says slow disconnection of German users freed from bulk contracts by recent law change is dulling move’s intended competitive benefit.
Arch-snaffler Digi open to Vodafone Italy asset deal
CEO of Romanian telecoms group indicates interest in any remedial asset sales by Vodafone Italy acquirer Swisscom, as it looks to accelerate growth of sub-scale local business.
Telefónica dismisses execs over Venezuela bribery fines
Operator disciplines and parts with key staff after the US Department of Justice fines operating businesses, citing collusion with two vendors to bribe government officials. Read more…
OTE boss reassures over fibre build after slowdown
About 100,000 Greek homes are lopped off incumbent’s 2024 fibre build out plan, after marked slowdown in rollout pace this year.
1&1 still rueing May’s 5G network outage
German challenger operator is seeking compensation from partners over outage that has had lasting effect on commercials and financials.
Greek incumbent ‘not happy’ over utility rival’s fibre power trip
OTE Group wants Greek telecoms watchdog to intervene to ensure a level playing field between it and utility PPC, as latter prepares a wide-scale (and less regulation-encumbered) fibre roll out programme.
BT ‘pulling levers’ to account for UK Budget burden
CFO Simon Lowth puts annual additional cost at £100m for the Group, with transformation plans to be ‘brought forward’ to compensate.
Vodafone, Three welcome ‘path to clearance’ as UK merger verdict nears
UK’s Competition and Markets Authority gives a provisional nod to operators’ merger plans, subject to ‘remedies’ to allay competition concerns.
Vodafone Albania chief calls for quality control on shoddy altnets
Chief Executive Balazs Revesz wants the country’s 200-plus broadband providers held to higher operational standards to spur take-up and investment.
Vodacom considers appeal after courts block MAZIV fibre plans
Proposed South African fibre JV blocked by Competition Tribunal after lengthy review process, but details of decision not yet published.
Phones 4u: Antitrust “enforcer” CMA to weigh in on UK MNO collusion claims
For the first time ever, the Competition and Markets Authority is to intervene in an antitrust Court of Appeal hearing, homing in on alleged collusion between O2 UK and EE CEOs at 2012’s infamous Landmark Hotel meeting. It does not appear to be dwelling on 4G collusion or poor record-keeping smoking guns. Read more from TelcoTitans’ in-depth ongoing coverage…