The future of Mexico's telecoms regulator is at risk. While great progress has been made, there is still more work to do. To be effective in its endeavours, the IFT needs to be able to continue down the path it has set, and with its independence intact
Fixed-mobile convergence leads to improved consumer value and network quality
Having performed a deep-dive market analysis of FMC in France, Netherlands, Spain and Portugal, we have found that consumers can benefit from faster speeds and better value connectivity
What Brexit means for UK telecoms
Both sides are looking to maintain regulatory alignment with things like data protection set to continue, although Ofcom should be able to regulate with more flexibly. While the roaming regulation no longer applies, there may be sufficient incentives for it to continue
Telecoms and Big Tech under a Biden administration
The Biden administration is expected to bring significant change for telecoms and Big Tech. Overhauling broadband policy to foster competition and reduce the gap between urban and rural areas, restoring net neutrality rules, and continued restrictions on Chinese equipment vendors all seem likely
Italy’s network spin-off faces regulatory hurdles
After many yeas, Telecom finally announced the start of the legal separation of its copper and fibre network, which could also be the first step towards a merger with wholesale-only operator Open Fiber. But the separation will not be as strong as that of Openreach from BT in the UK
Fewer markets now susceptible to ex-ante regulation in Europe
There are now just two markets susceptible to ex-ante regulation across the EU – fixed wholesale local access, and wholesale dedicated capacity (i.e. leased lines). While voice interconnection markets are gone from the list, this does not mean complete deregulation
The industry’s response to COVID-19 so far
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way people interact with each other all over the world. Given the essential need for connectivity, regulators and policymakers have been swift to change their priorities and focus on ensuring network resilience and support for consumers. In this note we share some of the measures regulators and policymakers have been taking, along with those of the operators, and identify some of the challenges that lie ahead.
A look at Ofcom’s wholesale broadband proposals
Ofcom has published a draft of the UK’s Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review for the period 2021–2026. The review takes into account the faster pace at which full fibre deployment has happened over the last two years, and the role played by alternative operators. The concern for some infrastructure builders is the time it will take to get the enabling regulatory environment in place if they are to meet the Government’s ambitious connectivity target.
What will be keeping regulators busy in 2020?
As we start 2020, we look ahead to the key issues regulators and policymakers will grapple with over the coming 12 months. We consider four broad areas: the first year of work for the new European Commission; the development of 5G (with regard to spectrum awards and network security); broadband policy and roll-out; and the approach to regulating platforms and big tech.
Ofcom changes approach to regulating fixed telecoms markets
On 29 March 2019, the UK regulator Ofcom set out its initial approach for the next Fixed Telecoms Market Review, which will cover the years 2021–25; for the first time, a market analysis will have a time frame longer than three-years. Ofcom’s main objective is to ensure competition continues to develop, while at the same time supporting the recent surge in fibre investment.
