Regulators will play a vital role in enabling D2D, but many are playing catch up. Authorisation regimes will need to prioritise licensing as well as spectrum and interference management if these new services are to finally help close the digital divide.
With fibre investment and coverage since the last review surpassing expectations, Ofcom is now keen to effect the second half of a 10-year framework, keeping Openreach honest while enabling scaled fibre network competition to materialise and ultimately be sustainable in the long-run.
This year Ofcom begins its enforcement of the Online Safety Act – legislation that is unique in both its depth and flexibility. These two characteristics will also make the success of the framework ultimately dependent on the capability and capacity of the regulator charged with its implementation.
Regulation for AI has typically not addressed the copyright issues that arise from the training and development of models. Greater legislative clarity and balance is needed to offer stronger protections than currently available for creators while still supporting the growth of AI.
With Brendan Carr set to take over the reins at the FCC, the regulator is expected to roll back red tape and prioritise global spectrum leadership. While we expect sweeping changes in consumer protection and net neutrality, Carr’s influence on broadband funding and tech regulation will be more limited.
In the last eight months, regulators in Europe have launched action against Meta in four different policy areas. We argue this approach is the result of the predictable and continued reality of regulating perverse incentives in the digital economy.
As well as regulating AI, policymakers themselves are using it as part of their day-to-day work from document review to spectrum management. So far most have been slow to do so and remain cautious. International guidelines for the use of AI in the public sector could change that.
Age assurance engages the familiar trade-off in online safety regulation between protecting children and guarding privacy rights. As appetite grows for restrictions on access to digital services, we examine existing methods, regulatory approaches, and wider debate.
Given the growing influence of big tech firms in subsea cable investment , governments are intent on regulating underwater infrastructure for a modern world. In the second of a series of reports, we outline the existing subsea cable regulatory toolbox and suggest points of focus for new policy interventions.
UK mobile operators continue to invest and deliver good consumer outcomes, but face persistent challenges around monetisation and increased political pressure. Here we share views on what the Government should consider including in the new SSP.
The EC is considering rolling back regulation on the sector, particularly ex-ante rules that often apply to former incumbent operators. We consider whether this deregulatory push is part of a wider global trend.
The subsea cable sector has undergone a significant transformation with growing investments from big tech firms. In the first of a series of reports, we detail the changes in cable ownership and manufacturing and consider concerns with cable resilience in this context.
Against a challenging financial backdrop, regulation, adoption and consolidation will together shape the development of the UK’s fibre market
The criminalisation of SIM farms represents one in a range of regulatory interventions aimed at stemming the growing tide of malicious messaging around the world
The EC has imposed the first fines under the DMA, showing its readiness to enforce its new digital rulebook regardless of political criticism
The Bundeskartellamt provisionally finds that Vantage Towers could have done more to support new entrant 1&1 and may have instead favoured its parent company Vodafone
The regulator is the first in the world to ban the practice, issuing an immediate ban to respond to the disproportionate harm that UK global licenses have facilitated globally
Although a second landmark antitrust case has been brought against Google, it is unclear how significant any remedies will be under the big tech-backed US administration
The responses to the FCC’s call for input on deregulation amount to an ambitious and even unprecedented plan for rewriting almost all aspects of the telecoms rulebook
The regulator expects Orange to maintain regular contact with those who have refused migration to its fibre network, especially as its copper retirement proceeds
The EC has laid out its plan to make Europe an AI continent, focusing on cloud computing, data accessibility, economy-wide adoption, skills and regulatory simplification
As the EC prepares its Digital Networks Act, Europe’s challengers reminded policymakers not to throw away a framework that has worked well for consumers and businesses
By differentiating it from the ‘fair share’ debate, Vodafone appears to have captured the curiosity of regulators who see the proposal as a mature way of trying to solve the problem
The EC is looking to establish a strong evidence base on the dynamic effects of mergers ahead of the much-anticipated review of its guidelines
Also in the Briefing: Telefónica's Digital Public Policy Playbook
Also in the Briefing: POLITICO/Google event on ‘Navigating the Cloud’, and scams policy in Australia
Also in the briefing: The fairness agenda, and the energy demands of digital infrastructure
Also in the briefing: Life after inflation-linked mid-contract price rises, and adding sustainability to the regulatory mandate
Also in the briefing: Responses to the EC’s connectivity White Paper
In the briefing: Tech and telecoms in the UK general election, and EU election debrief
Also in the briefing: European price rises in context, and competition and AI
Age-Based Restrictions benchmark updated to reflect changes to child safety laws and regulation in Greece, New Zealand and the US
Ex-ante Designations benchmark updated to include the Japanese MIC’s designation of Google, Yahoo, Meta, TikTok and X under the IDPHA
Fines Issued by DPAs benchmark updated to include the €530m fine imposed on TikTok for infringing the GDPR
Low-Band Awards benchmark updated to include the results of the 700/800MHz auction in Poland
Implementation of the EU NIS2 Directive benchmark updated to reflect new transpositions in Finland, Greece, Romania and Slovakia
Sustainability Targets benchmark updated to include the Digital Connectivity Forum’s initiative on limiting supply chain emissions in the UK
2G/3G Switch-off benchmark updated to reflect Rogers’ introduction of a legacy network usage charge in Canada
Competition and Markets benchmark updated to reflect the CMA’s decision to close its merger inquiry into Microsoft and OpenAI
Updated to include Arcep’s deregulation of the wholesale central access market in France
USO benchmark updated to include Telefónica’s reappointment as the universal service provider in Spain for 2025 and 2026
Legislative Frameworks benchmark updated to reflect the FCC’s adoption of rules to protect net neutrality in the US
Featured Tracker Updates
Protection Against Nuisance Calls and Texts benchmark expanded to include information on SMS sender ID registries and other SMS scams interventions
Digital Tax Initiatives benchmark expanded to include Brazil, Colombia and New Zealand
2G/3G Switch-off benchmark expanded to detail progress with mobile operators’ legacy network retirements
Consumer Protection Tracker expanded to include a new benchmark of age-based restrictions for smartphones and social media