The transition to full-fibre means that copper retirement is now well underway. So far it has rarely been a straightforward or quick process given the strong regulatory oversight and need to protect those consumers who still rely on the copper network
Improving information on 5G coverage
5G is now available in 300+ locations of the UK. So far, only EE has fully explained how it defines a location as covered. Ofcom could play an important role in helping consumers assess coverage claims, much like its equivalent in South Korea does
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
App stores could face ex-ante regulation
App stores and operating systems are under increasing scrutiny from regulators due to increasingly common competition concerns. As Australia and France take the lead, the EC is likely to adopt an ex-ante regulatory framework due to the recent rise in competition cases that have emerged
Regulators fight disinformation around 5G and health
Despite no supporting evidence, there has been a vocal group claiming 5G causes adverse health effects. In response, regulators have been publishing measurements of radio emissions from telecommunications equipment, which revealed that 5G emissions are still far from the maximum limits set out in national and international guidelines. Some regulators are also having to combat widespread disinformation on a link between 5G and the coronavirus pandemic, which has sometimes resulted in mobile infrastructure being vandalised.
ARCEP examines the role of devices in achieving an open internet
Regulation around net neutrality has so far focused almost exclusively on internet access services, leaving other links of the value chain unexplored. However the French regulator ARCEP became the first to consider whether devices and operating systems are a weak-link in achieving an open internet.
