Ringfenced spectrum, licence cancellation and a new plan to boost competition in telecoms have dialled up the pressure on operators
Australia: Court prohibits Telstra/TPG rural tie-up
The parties could yet adjust the proposed agreement or appeal to the Federal Court, for which success would mean meeting a high legal threshold
South Korea: Operators fined for deceiving consumers on 5G speeds
Marketing 5G performance unachievable in the real world prompts the regulator to levy one of the highest fines on record
Germany: New entrant faces fine for missing 5G rollout target
The fledgling operator 1&1 has been beset by deployment challenges. Access to low-band spectrum could be vital to meeting its longer-term coverage obligations
Czech Republic: EC vetoes proposals to regulate wholesale mobile access
Despite the market no longer warranting ex ante regulation, the CTU had found the largest operators collectively dominant and sought to impose remedies
Spain: Orange/MasMovil JV heads for Phase II review
The impacts on competition, potential for higher prices and the EC’s preference for cross-border mergers all present a significant regulatory hurdle
Orange/VOO deal sparks telecoms restructuring in Belgium
A network access commitment secured the EC’s approval in Phase II, but further in-market consolidation now depends on the national competition authority
The FCC’s satellite-to-smartphone regulation
Off the back of several new partnerships, the framework aims to facilitate further collaboration between satellite providers and mobile operators
Competition authority dismisses claims of price collusion in Croatia
While the evidence didn’t show anti-competitive practices, price increases for telecoms services have proved contentious, particularly if poorly communicated
A wave of mobile market restructuring in Asia
While Europe pushes the idea of cross-border mergers, telcos will hope regulators follow Asia’s lead in approving in-market consolidation
