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.
The EU's Electronic Communications Code is still a long way away from getting approved
With the trialogue negotiations between the Commission, Council and Parliament now underway, an approved final text should in theory be imminent. However, the Council and the Parliament still have significant differences of opinion given their respective positions, and must still take on board the concerns of the industry, which is generally skeptical about the likely success of the code in creating a sensible framework for investment.
India moves closer to protect net neutrality
Indian authorities appear to have fully embraced the stance of a strong oversight towards net neutrality. This started in 2015, with the first public consultations on the issue; continued in 2016, with the explicit ban of zero-rating; and is even more apparent in the recommendations issued by the TRAI on November 28, 2017.
FCC’s net neutrality repeal will hand back regulatory powers to the FTC
The FCC announced on November 21, 2017 that it will vote on the repeal of its Open Internet Order of 2015, which enshrines the principles of net neutrality. The proposal has been expected since the change in US administration at the start of 2017, and will likely result in a return to the pre-2015 status quo, pulling back the reclassification of broadband as a telecommunications service.
Event: Global Broadband Futures
On 13 November 2017, Assembly participated in the inaugural Global Broadband Futures event in Sydney, Australia organised jointly by CommsDay and The National Broadband Network (nbn). The conference brought together speakers from Australia (nbn), Germany (DT), South Korea (KT), UK (Openreach) and New Zealand (Chorus), with the aim being to share international experience of the rollout of fibre broadband networks.
Ofcom pushes ahead with 2.3/3.4GHz spectrum award despite industry concerns
Ofcom has finalised how the 2.3 and 3.4GHz spectrum will be awarded and in doing so has decided on two different restrictions on bidders. The auction timetable expects bidding to begin as early as late October 2017, but given the strongly held positions by some in the industry, that looks ambitious.
The end of roaming in the EU
On June 15, 2017 after a decade of imposed price cuts, the premium for using your phone while travelling in the EU is set to disappear for good. While the initial intervention was a bitterly controversial one at the time, it was eventually embraced by operators, many of which ended up going beyond what was required.
US braced for net neutrality shake-up
On 18 May 2017, the FCC will hold an open meeting during which it will consider a range of subjects. The biggest and most contentious relates to ‘restoring internet freedom’ – a vote (which is widely expected to be passed), on rolling back the net neutrality rules. Following the vote, the challenge for the FCC will be to ensure that the repeal will not result in a regulatory vacuum.
New battle lines drawn after a year of setbacks for BT
Q4 and full year 2016/17 was always going to be a difficult set of results for BT given the enormity of the year they’ve had which saw two scandals (with considerable financial consequence), and the end of a protracted battle with the regulator over one of the most important lines of business. While that battle may be over, it’s clear there’s a new one beginning over Ofcom’s wholesale local access market review and investment incentives which looks set to dominate the agenda over the coming months.
The UK’s Digital Economy Bill becomes law just before the election
On 27 April 2017 the Digital Economy Act received its Royal Assent and therefore became law. The bill had been before Parliament since July 2016 and was subject to a number of amendments before being rushed through owing to the general election on 8 June 2017.
