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Communications Markets
James Robinson, Senior Analyst
BT, TalkTalk, and a Supplier of Last Resort

BT’s rescue of TalkTalk from administration has not been without controversy. As the Government weighs up the pros and cons of the deal, it has (rightly) provided its strongest signal yet that it is open to exploring a safety net in the event of future operator failures.

BT, TalkTalk, and a Supplier of Last Resort

Net Neutrality

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Playing in the regulatory sandbox

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Playing in the regulatory sandbox

Regulatory sandboxes are becoming essential tools for policymakers to balance oversight of, and innovation in, new technologies. We explore key examples and global best practices in the use of sandboxes across tech and telecoms in privacy, spectrum, satellite and AI.

The impact of AI on end users in telecoms markets

The impact of AI on end users in telecoms markets

AI is being rapidly adopted across the customer journey, presenting both opportunities and risks. As regulators increasingly engage with the potential impacts of the technology, they must strike an effective balance between mitigating harms and promoting responsible innovation.

The FCC under the Trump Administration

The FCC under the Trump Administration

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.

Fair share: Can it coexist with net neutrality?

Despite finding support for fair share, operators are yet to convincingly outline how their proposals can be implemented without undermining the open internet. Showing how that can be achieved in practice is a prerequisite to advancing the debate

The state of net neutrality

The net neutrality debate has been reignited. Developments in the EU, South Korea, UK, and US could lead to changes in how it, and zero rating in particular, is regulated. In the absence of consumer harm, regulators should maintain a flexible approach

What Brexit means for UK telecoms

Both sides are looking to maintain regulatory alignment with things like data protection set to continue, although Ofcom should be able to regulate with more flexibly. While the roaming regulation no longer applies, there may be sufficient incentives for it to continue

Telecoms and Big Tech under a Biden administration

The Biden administration is expected to bring significant change for telecoms and Big Tech. Overhauling broadband policy to foster competition and reduce the gap between urban and rural areas, restoring net neutrality rules, and continued restrictions on Chinese equipment vendors all seem likely

The industry’s response to COVID-19 so far

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way people interact with each other all over the world. Given the essential need for connectivity, regulators and policymakers have been swift to change their priorities and focus on ensuring network resilience and support for consumers. In this note we share some of the measures regulators and policymakers have been taking, along with those of the operators, and identify some of the challenges that lie ahead.