Age assurance engages the familiar trade-off in online safety regulation between protecting children and guarding privacy rights. As appetite grows for restrictions on access to digital services, we examine existing methods, regulatory approaches, and wider debate.
The funding and resourcing of NRAs
As national regulatory authorities take on new statutory duties across a range of policy areas, their staffing and budgets have diverged. We compare the resourcing and funding of various European NRAs, and consider their capacity to meet their new duties.
PSTN switch-off: Public communications and preparedness
As countries prepare for the PSTN switch-off, tensions have risen over whether consumers are ready to make the migration to digital voice. We review the role governments have played in communicating about the switch-off and consider other challenges in readiness
Unpacking broadband advertising rules
Broadband labelling and advertising rules bring greater transparency for consumers when comparing tariffs and choosing a service. We compare common elements of labelling schemes around the world and consider their relationship to competition in the market
Comparing approaches to regulating online safety
Online services have brought great benefits, but have also come with risks of harm and illegality. As regulators around the world are working to establish a safer online environment, we compare how these efforts stack up and the challenges being faced
Remedies in four-to-three mobile mergers
With renewed calls for in-market consolidation and pending transactions in two European countries, it is timely to revisit previous merger review decisions. We’ve analysed the commitments in four deals and considered the impacts they had on the market
Broadband subsidies: Comparing what’s on offer
As competition in the rollout of high-speed broadband intensifies, there has been a renewed push to connect non-commercially viable areas. Public funding has been made available, but some governments are being more supportive than others
Competition in digital markets: Comparing regulatory regimes
Antitrust has done little to deter anti-competitive behaviour by big tech, and so a preference for ex-ante rules has emerged. From market definition through to the appeals process, we assess how these regimes intended to curb the power of big tech compare
Consumer readiness for the PSTN switch-off
Regulators have rarely seen the need to intervene in the switch-off of the PSTN, leaving the process and its communication to operators. Only in some countries have they stepped in to protect consumers from service outages in the event of a power cut
Making the case for mobile consolidation
Operators in Europe have renewed calls for consolidation in mobile. Whilst some regulators and competition authorities might be more receptive than in the past, operators will need to convince them that consolidation really is key to unlocking investment
