Public Affairs
All the latest public affairs news, analysis and insight, including legal, regulatory and political issues surrounding BT, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica and Vodafone.
UK Infrawatch Briefing: fibre consolidation, regulatory consideration, core reinvigoration
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including fibre consolidation questions raised; Ofcom and government open up opportunities; Neos Networks plans a comeback; people moves, and plenty more…
FullFibre eyeing next M&A target as UK altnets enter ‘consolidation phase’
FTTH Conference 2025: FullFibre CEO James Warner teases more M&A to come as altnets prepare for ‘consolidation phase’, underpinned by regulatory certainty and investor confidence…
Vodafone’s Vi stake diluted further as gov strengthens grip on Vi
Struggling operator Vi takes debt-to-equity conversion deal that will see the government’s stake near 50%, and Vodafone’s drop to a reported 16%.
Interview: telcos’ watchdog boss on efforts to keep suppliers in line on CSR
Vodafone’s Paras Shah, Chairman of CSR-focused telco association JAC, speaks to TelcoTitans about how its effort to monitor supply chain resilience and risk is going deeper and broader as signs emerge that operators’ supply chains are starting to diversify.
Struggling Vodafone Germany changes Strategy & Transformation chief
Consultant Sven Müller brought in to drive turnaround effort from new position on the OpCo’s Executive Committee.
BTwatch Weekly: overseas dealmaking, domestic lobbying
Latest from around BT as Orange and AT&T are reported to be in talks regarding an international asset optimisation deal; UK regulation in focus for Ofcom, Openreach, and its long tail of altnet competitors; 5G SA rolls on; and BT pairs with peers to fulfil PSTN obligations…
Game of two halves: Ofcom preps for next five years’ fibre investment
Ofcom declares its fibre strategy to date a success, but reiterates it was implemented with a long‑term outlook running at least over the course of the next review period.
Vantage Towers hopeful on ‘massive’ European small cells potential, with UK bringing the blueprint
MWC 2025: Head of Business & Product Development Jaime Abril paints optimistic picture of European market, but calls for regulatory shift and cultural change among MNO customers.
Telefónica puts finishing touches on Colombian exit plan
Telefónica and Millicom reach a formal agreement on consolidation of their Colombian businesses, preparing the way for Telefónica to exit the market. Movement also being seen on parallel effort to secure antitrust approval for transaction, and proposed buyout of government minority holding in Telefónica Colombia.
Orange, Eutelsat widen satellite services partnership
European pair to combine for Middle East and African satellite services, filling rural gaps and bolstering terrestrial infra.
‘Europe needs a DOGE’: Höttges looks to Musk for regulation blueprint
MWC 2025: Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Höttges has led the usual calls for policy overhaul in Europe, this time offering a direct comparison between European MNOs’ challenges and T-Mobile’s ‘freedom’.