The MCA’s proposal for expiring bands aims to help operators navigate technological shifts while pre-empting forthcoming EU regulation
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
MWC26: Regulation & Policy Roundup from Day 1
Usual gripes about Europe’s low ARPUs and over-regulation contrasted with operators’ optimism regarding opportunities presented by sovereignty and satellite
Event debrief: Back in the game? Europe’s race for digital leadership
The EC likened publication of its DNA proposals to unbottling a fine wine, although some in the telecoms industry do not appear convinced by the taste
South Korea: Future-facing spectrum reallocation
MSIT policy aims to facilitate 3G, and eventually 4G, network retirement while using rollout-linked discounting to boost 5GSA coverage
Ofcom’s 2026/27 Plan of Work: More of the same
Ofcom’s planned projects largely signal a continuation of the regulator’s focus on online safety, spectrum for satellite services, improving mobile connectivity and network resilience
ACMA’s five-year spectrum outlook
The regulator is set to make critical decisions on expiring licences and the upper 6GHz band, while supporting the introduction of a novel mobile USO
Event debrief: Capacity Europe 2025
With important reforms looming in Europe, the regulatory model in France was singled out as having successfully enabled fibre investment and competition
Event debrief: Digital Networks Act: Rewriting the DNA of Europe’s Open Internet?
A broadly partisan crowd rejected both deregulating and expanding current regulation, while criticising “terrible” network traffic analogies
Event debrief: FT/Connect Europe Forum
While requests for deregulation and in-market mobile consolidation were nothing new, there was a clear sense that increasing the speed of action has now been made an equivalent priority
