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
UK: Designating Microsoft under the DMCCA
The CMA is the first of its peers to materially examine the competitive impact of Microsoft's dominance in business software by grouping its products together
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 conditions for spectrum renewal in Czechia
The CTU is offering 20-year licence extensions in exchange for operators tackling white spots and ensuring networks remain resilient during crisis situations
Q2 2026 European operator results: Regulatory and policy highlights
CEOs welcomed spectrum- and sovereignty-related developments, highlighting the ongoing execution of their respective strategies while downplaying the risks presented by satellite providers
Germany: Safety by design over blanket bans
An expert online safety panel stopped short of recommending a blanket social media ban, suggesting that children should not be held responsible for using services that were not designed safely enough
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: POLITICO’s AI & Tech Week 2026
Concerns over the AI Omnibus, Europe’s lack of digital sovereignty, and online safety dominated discussions ahead of the EC’s proposal for a Cloud and AI Development Act
BNetzA’s regulatory framework for copper retirement in Germany
Though the regulator is aligned with the Government’s prior recommendations, the EU’s Digital Networks Act may yet have implications for Deutsche Telekom’s eventual network shutdown
Switzerland: Accelerating mobile infrastructure deployment
OFCOM is set to be given broader responsibilities for approving mast upgrades, streamlining current lengthy planning processes
