Early in the morning on the 6th of June 2018, it was announced that the EU had finally reached a long-overdue agreement on the new Electronic Communications Code, which will replace the existing regulatory framework of the EU telecoms market. A full text of the draft was only released early in July.
Telstra joins the growing number of telcos opting for network separation
Telstra’s recent announcement that it will create a standalone business for its fixed infrastructure is part of the company’s decision to go through a thorough restructuring. Yet, while this is an independent business decision, it is hard not to link it to changes in the country’s telecoms landscape due to regulatory and policy choices. Telcos in other countries are making similar moves, and in all cases regulation plays either a direct or indirect role.
Technology companies start tackling screen addiction – social media should follow suit
The fact that the biggest OS providers have started taking action shows how important it is to tackle this issue; social media platforms now need to take similar steps, to avoid prescriptive regulation and to make sure they do not suffer reputational damage. We have captured these developments as part of our ongoing research into Fake News, which shows social media companies still have a lot to do in this respect.
Two weeks into GDPR: How do tech companies’ new privacy policies compare?
GDPR has been in place two weeks now, much to the relief of the many individuals who were swarmed with emails requiring fresh consent to the receipt of newsletters and other marketing messages. Leading up to the 25th May, customers have also been notified of the changes to the privacy policies most tech companies inevitably had to make. Assembly has studied how they compare, with particular regard to the validity of GDPR’s safeguards outside the EU, and to the legal bases adopted for treatment of personal data.
Discontent around the new European Electronic Communications Code is no good thing
On 6 June 2018, the EU announced a political agreement on the long-awaited European Electronic Communications Code. Stakeholders across the board are unhappy; however, the favourable treatment of wholesale-only networks could solve some long-standing problems facing wholesale access regulation over the last 20 years.
Three UK’s road to 5G leadership
On 6 June 2018, Three UK held an analyst event focused on recent network developments, spectrum holdings and plans to launch 5G. While specific details around their 5G launch remain under-wraps, there’s a clear ambition to be a leader from the start. The recent acquisition of fixed wireless access broadband provider Relish, and success in the recent Ofcom auction have positioned Three well to extend their footprint and what can be achieved.
GDPR is almost here, but it will not change the world in a day
The most talked about day of the last two years is almost upon us. The European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force tomorrow, promising much stronger rights and safeguards for users’ personal data. For now, the main effect it has had has been, paradoxically, to irritate the very people it is supposed to protect, due to the deluge of emails we have all received from companies seeking fresh consent.
Are DPAs ready for the consistent approach required by GDPR?
Among the significant changes it will bring about, the GDPR includes detailed rules for Data Protection Authorities to adopt consistent approaches and interact more regularly and effectively with one another. To this end, the newly founded European Data Protection Board will play a key role in overseeing the consistency mechanism created by GDPR. Assembly’s research shows there are still striking differences in funding and staff across DPAs.
BT reshapes consumer division
Following last week’s Q4 results, today we saw how BT Group plans to implement its new strategy starting with the reshaping of its consumer division. There were a number of announcements made, the most important of which we have summarised here.
How are European data protection authorities approaching GDPR?
The entry into force of GDPR is now imminent. Assembly’s Privacy and Data Protection Tracker has analysed and compared the approach taken by Data Protection Authorities in various countries, to prepare businesses for the new regulation. Differences in approaches across countries remain, although the pan-European nature of GDPR means companies can find useful insight in the activity of all DPAs across the EU.
