The CRTC’s wholesale regulation aims to deliver more choice and lower prices for consumers while recognising the need to encourage operator investment
Australia: A delay to the 3G switch-off
3G devices as well as older 4G-compatible handsets could lose access to the emergency services, with the Government urging action from consumers to help complete the process
Nigeria: Operators required to overhaul retail tariffs
In comparison to its interventionist approach to regulating the terms of tariffs, the NCC adopted scaled-back versions of advertising rules in place around the world
Growing second-hand device markets
While limited supply of devices continues to slow growth for resale markets, operators and regulators have also looked to improving the longevity of devices
Fines for failing fraud protections
As some regulators place a greater emphasis on facilitating switching between providers, protections against SIM swapping and similar scams will be all the more important
Regulating deceptive digital design
Despite the FTC’s aim to lead the regulatory debate on so-called ‘dark patterns’, the EU’s recent legislative efforts have already outlawed the practices in a range of contexts
Portugal: Vodafone/Nowo merger blocked
Despite being in line with the preliminary view, there is still a chance the AdC’s decision could be appealed directly to the Minister of Economy, although this mechanism has only been invoked (successfully) once before
Event debrief: Fixing the Information Crisis
Despite its journalism-centric billing, the conference offered a range of discussions on how to update the regulation of US communications markets
US: FCC proposes a ban on phone locking
The US would join only a handful of other countries that have pursued a ban on SIM locking to encourage greater competition at the retail level
Tech and telecoms under a Labour Government
A quick implementation of online safety rules, strengthening the framework for AI and reforms to the planning system are likely to take priority over changes to connectivity policy
