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
The Swiss approach to digital sovereignty
Switzerland has outlined its interpretation of digital sovereignty, positioning itself closer to China’s state-centric definition than Germany’s relatively more citizen-oriented approach
Germany’s implementation of the EU’s NIS2 Directive
While transpositions in many Member States remain stalled, Germany’s is underway, gold-plating a new law to restrict high-risk components from critical sectors
Q3 2025 results: Regulatory and policy highlights
European operators used Q3 earnings to stress the need for regulatory reform and in-market consolidation. Regulators were urged to adopt pro-investment, pro-consolidation frameworks to boost competitiveness.
Accelerating copper retirement in Germany
With pressure for progress apparent at the EU level, the German Government is advocating BNetzA picks up the pace in setting a framework for the country’s transition to fibre
BNetzA settles MVNO access dispute
More than two years on from the original complaint, the regulator has set terms for the shared use of mobile operators’ networks in Germany
Germany: BNetzA ends monitoring of fibre overbuild
Having found no clear examples of anti-competitive behaviour by Deutsche Telekom, altnets will need to give the regulator sufficient reason to consider any future investigations
