With consolidation in the UK and France awaiting regulatory approval, this quarter’s results focused on merger reviews, while satellite was again framed as a complement, rather than a threat, to terrestrial networks
Ireland’s draft Digital Connectivity and Infrastructure Strategy
The Government’s proposal maintains a focus on ensuring resilient telecoms networks, while broadening priorities to reflect the increasing role of satellite, subsea cables and AI
Consolidation of the Swedish broadband market
The competition authority concluded that two deals involving major operators would not harm the existence or development of effective competition
BEREC’s reality check on European telecoms
Value for money for consumers remains a clear EU strength, while operators’ financial health does not warrant ripping up sector-specific or merger control regulation
UK: nexfibre/Netomnia merger inquiry
The CMA’s surprising counterfactual and narrow competitive assessment present uncertainty for future altnet consolidation
UK: Ofcom clears (most of) Openreach’s fibre discounts
Ofcom has determined that the headline commercial offer may not allow altnets to recover costs and drive take-up, hindering the development of sustainable competition
Ireland: Protecting against a wholesale margin squeeze
Through pricing principles and transparency obligations, ComReg aims to ensure Eircom cannot take unfair advantage of the recently deregulated WCA market
Germany: Pricing principles for open access networks
BNetzA’s non-binding guidelines aim to reduce negotiation costs for network builders and access seekers, while ensuring a sufficient margin between wholesale and retail fibre prices
The declining profitability of operators in Denmark
An annual update of industry investment and revenue trends offers country-level input to the wider debate on the financial health of European telecoms
The prospect of three-to-two consolidation in Malta
Melita failed with a similar merger in 2017, but is hopeful that a recognition of heightened customer and investment demands will lead to a different decision this time around
