Assembly — Regulation Updates

BT

Event debrief: Connected Britain 2024, Day 1

Amid ranging assessments of the future of the altnet market, panellists also made numerous asks of the new Government, from AI to infrastructure

Spectrum: Annual licence fees to be reviewed in the UK

While Ofcom will only review the amount charged rather than the regime itself, the EU is considering broader changes to spectrum management practices

UK: Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 extend network sharing agreement

Together with a balancing of spectrum across industry, the announcement boosts the chances of a Three/Vodafone merger

Event debrief: ISPA ISP Business Summit 2024

Consolidation and the ‘right number’ of fibre networks dominated discussions, with the ultimate survival of some altnets the elephant in the room

Three/Vodafone in the UK: The merging parties’ case to the CMA

Responding to the CMA’s critical Phase 1 assessment, the parties emphasise that the deal will be pro-competitive, enhancing network performance and benefiting consumers

Three/Vodafone in the UK: The rivals’ views on the proposed merger

The pressure is on for the merging parties to evidence the benefits of the deal and outline a meaningful set of commitments

Event debrief: Connected North 2024

Adoption, consolidation and regulation dominated discussions at this year’s event, with tensions already running high heading into the Telecoms Access Review

Event debrief: ISPA’s Parliament & Internet conference 2024

Both industry and policymakers appear pleased with progress on rollout, but there is work to do connecting rural areas and driving adoption

UK: Simplifying broadband switching

Ofcom is hopeful about the launch of One Touch Switch in September, and urges industry to do everything possible to meet it

Event debrief: Priorities for broadband and mobile connectivity in the UK

Ofcom received praise for supporting network investment, but further interventions will be needed to connect remote areas lacking commercial incentives