Identification of the appropriate counterfactual is an intriguing question that leaves the parties with some immediate work to do
The rise of satellite in New Zealand
As fibre and 5G investment cycles peak, satellite is reshaping the competitive landscape in rural areas – but is yet to close the digital divide entirely
Norway: Telenor/GlobalConnect secures conditional approval
Structural commitments will minimise the potential consumer impact of a deal between the former incumbent and a smaller, competing fibre network
France: The planned carve-up of SFR
Three separate merger notifications to two different competition authorities provides for an atypical, and complex, review process
Arcep reports on the state of the French telecoms market
Alongside overseeing network shutdowns and spectrum renewals, Arcep is preparing for new responsibilities in regulating developments in cloud, AI and data markets
Q1 2026 European operator results: Regulatory and policy highlights
European operators struck a notably more optimistic tone on regulation and consolidation in Q1 2026, with several executives welcoming the EC’s draft merger guidelines as a potential turning point for the sector
Event debrief: ISPA ISP Summit 2026
The proposed nexfibre/Netomnia transaction took centre stage, as panellists debated network overlaps, the deal’s potential impact on competition and whether it warrants an in-depth review
The conditions for copper retirement in the UK
Ofcom consults on removing Openreach’s copper charge controls where 90% of premises in an exchange area have access to fibre
ComCom revisits fibre regulation in New Zealand
Targeted proposals aim to preserve regulatory certainty to promote further network investment without putting consumer or economic benefits at risk
Event debrief: The Digital Networks Act at the European Parliament
The strong attendance and distinguished speakers reflected the expectations on policymakers to deliver an effective review of the EU’s regulatory framework for telecoms
