July 2024
A roundup of research published in the last month
The funding and resourcing of NRAs
As national regulatory authorities take on new statutory duties across a range of policy areas, their staffing and budgets have diverged. We compare the resourcing and funding of various European NRAs, and consider their capacity to meet their new duties.
Comparing the regulation of digital markets
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act has received Royal Assent, establishing the UK's new regulatory regime for large online platforms. We consider the Act's four-year road to adoption and how it compares to other efforts to rein in big tech.
Responses to the EC’s connectivity White Paper
We analyse stakeholder responses to the EC's digital infrastructure White Paper across key areas such as consolidation, the future of ex-ante regulation, spectrum policy, the industry's relationship with big tech and objectives for sustainability.
Declining returns on investment
Findings from the PTS in Sweden contradict some of those drawn by the EC, challenging the idea that the US telecoms market is a much more profitable place to invest.
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.
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.
Germany: Long-awaited restrictions on Huawei and ZTE
Mobile operators have agreed to phase out the firms from their 5G networks, with almost 20 other countries already having imposed restrictions on equipment vendors.
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.
EU: State of the Digital Decade (second report)
The EC has issued a wake-up call to Member States, with many not currently making sufficient progress to meet key 2030 connectivity targets.
Portugal: Vodafone/Nowo merger blocked
Despite being inline 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.
EC: Protecting competition in a changing world
DG COMP research shows that mobile prices in the EU are consistently lower than in the US, but that consolidation tends to increase prices and may not deliver greater investment.
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.
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.
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.
Event debrief: EC Workshop on Competition in Virtual Worlds and Generative AI
Even as panellists defended the importance of partnerships to competition in AI markets, the EC hinted at a deepening scrutiny of deals involving large tech firms.
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.
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.
EC issues first DMA findings to Apple
The preliminary findings and the new investigation into Apple’s controversial developer policies reflect a broad but in-depth inquiry into the duopolistic app store market.
BEREC’s Draft Report on the IP Interconnection ecosystem
BEREC’s latest analysis draws many of the same conclusions as in 2017, pointing to an evolving market that functions broadly well without regulation.
Mobile Telecoms Tracker
Updated to include the deregulation of wholesale mobile call termination in Belgium.
Privacy and Data Protection Tracker
Updated to include the fine imposed by the PIPC on AliExpress in South Korea for breaching rules on overseas data transfers.
Broadband and USO Tracker
Updated to include the EC’s approval of the German Government’s increase in funding to support the rollout of gigabit broadband.
Consumer Protection Tracker
Updated to include Ofcom’s ban on inflation-linked mid-contract price increases in the UK.
AI Tracker
Updated to reflect the launch of a merger inquiry into Microsoft and Inflection AI in the UK.
Platforms and Big Tech Tracker
Updated to include the EC’s preliminary findings against X under the Digital Services Act.
Cybersecurity Tracker
Updated to include restrictions on the use of Huawei and ZTE equipment in 5G networks in Germany.
Spectrum Tracker
Updated to include the results of spectrum auctions in India and the Netherlands.
ByteDance confirmed as digital gatekeeper
Grace Nelson appeared on BBC News Business Today to discuss whether the European Commission was right to designate ByteDance as a gatekeeper under the DMA.