James Robinson, senior analyst at Assembly Research, said “direct-to-device” services would be an important part of finishing the “connectivity puzzle” but cautioned that they would “not be able to replicate traditional 4G and 5G networks”.
The UK is the first country in Europe to move ahead with D2D authorisation, while the EU is consulting on similar proposals until the end of the month. Similar services are already available in the US, Canada and Australia.
UK regulator says plan for competitive broadband market by 2031 on track
Matthew Howett, founder of Assembly Research, said: “We need to wait and see if what’s proposed is enough to satisfy the government on its mission for growth.”
He said that any proposals needed to be compared to the list of strategic priorities for the regulator, which are set by government and have not yet been published.
CityFibre targets 1mn customers as it seeks crucial £1.5bn financing
How the £16.5bn Vodafone-Three UK merger will reshape Britain’s mobile landscape
Matthew Howett, founder and chief executive of Assembly Research, said that a successful appeal “would be hard-fought, expensive and face a high bar”. He expected “positive implications overall” for wholesale customers, consumers and businesses.
Howett said this was one of 10 attempts at large domestic telecoms deals in Europe since 2010. The majority were approved but often with structural commitments that “undermined the rationale for the mergers”. He added that operators on the continent would “have to wait to see” in terms of any revised approach to competition policy after calls from executives across the sector to be allowed to scale via consolidation.
Spain approves Saudi Arabia’s stakebuilding in Telefónica
James Robinson, senior analyst at Assembly Research, said the Spanish government likely felt more comfortable about approval given its own holding company had built up a stake in Telefónica “to offset foreign influence over a strategic asset”.
He added STC had not hit the 10 per cent mark, which would “instigate a fuller national security review.”
UK regulator paves way for £16.5bn Vodafone-Three merger
Vodafone and Three offer UK regulator new concessions on £16.5bn merger
BT suffers blow as Sky opts for CityFibre’s network in broadband deal
Virgin Media O2 buys Russian-backed broadband provider
The deal is one of the first big signs of consolidation among “altnet” broadband providers by the large infrastructure groups that many analysts have been predicting.
Matthew Howett, analyst at telecoms research group Assembly, said: “Altnets are a key piece of the connectivity jigsaw, but consolidation has been inevitable as new sources of funding dry up, focus on take-up intensifies and investors increasingly demand returns.”
UK telecoms groups under fire for adding inflation ‘premium’ to bills
According to a study by Assembly Research, a research company, commissioned by Virgin Media O2, average monthly household spending on telecoms services has fallen by almost one-fifth since 2017.
The report also found that the telecoms industry was investing up to £2.5bn a year in mobile networks, and about £3.8bn into fixed broadband. It estimated that combined capital expenditure accounted for nearly 70 per cent of total investment made by some of the largest industry players.
UK in danger of falling behind on 5G network rollout, analysts warn
Mobile industry executives highlight the decision of Boris Johnson’s government in 2020 to strip Huawei out of Britain’s nascent 5G networks because of national security concerns as a reason for the slow rollout.
“That absolutely put the brakes on deployment for the operators,” Matthew Howett, chief executive of Assembly Research, said.
European telcos seek network investment from Big Tech and streamers
Matthew Howett, an analyst at Assembly Research, said tech groups were right to point out that they already contributed to content delivery. “The question is therefore whether it’s enough to meet the demands placed on network infrastructure providers.”
Although previous attempts at changing the rules in Europe have not been successful, Howett suggested that policymakers’ greater awareness of the environmental benefits of network upgrades, and of the importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic, may pave the way for a different outcome.
Telecoms chiefs urge EU lawmakers to press tech groups on internet investment
Holographic David Attenborough points the way for 5G connectivity
Matthew Howett, founder of Assembly Research, admits that 5G may have appeared to be “just another ‘G’” up until now. But he says standalone is set to “enable a whole host of new use cases that we’ve probably not even thought of yet”, while providing the networks needed to turn “perceived pipe dreams of smart cities and autonomous vehicles into a reality”.
He adds that the transformation of UK factories and plants into 5G standalone test beds will make Britain a more attractive place to invest.
Brussels faces test of its will to tackle Big Tech
BT blows final whistle on sport as sale talks kick off
Vodafone criticised over timing of UK price rise
“Vodafone was caught between a rock and a hard place,” said Matt Howett, founder of Assembly Research, noting that although the company was simply later than its rivals in raising prices its timing was poor. “It doesn’t look good,” he said.
Mr Howett said that price rises that could have been frozen undermine those efforts. “You are giving with one hand and taking away with another. What consumers really feel most right now is what is coming out of their pockets,” he said.
Huawei curbs force UK telecoms groups to review 5G plans
Matt Howett, an analyst with Assembly, said that although the Huawei decision is important for the UK industry, it could have a negative effect on the economy if telecoms companies end up having to delay the roll out of 5G networks in order to comply with the cap.
“This will cost the economy if there is a material delay on 5G rollouts,” he said.
Will consumers reap the benefits of free broadband?
Matthew Howett, principal analyst at Assembly Research, said the “wheels would come off” the competitive market if it was replaced by a “bland public owned corporation selling standard connectivity”. That would hit innovation and investment in new services as it is hard to compete with free.
He also asked whether consumers would look forward to dealing with government customer services every time they had a problem with their WiFi. “No one says BT is perfect. It’s excruciating to deal with but dealing with the government would be like pulling teeth. It will be a nightmare,” he said.
