The event provided a good opportunity to hear from Europe’s access seekers and challengers on the recent connectivity white paper. Evolution not revolution was the overriding message
EU: Agreement on the Gigabit Infrastructure Act and adoption of the Gigabit Recommendation
Legislation to boost high-speed broadband rollout has been criticised by industry for being watered down and lacking ambition
Conference debrief: FT-ETNO Tech & Politics Forum 2023
The annual event in Brussels saw operators continue to push for in-market consolidation. Less was said of ‘fair share’ but Europe’s (lack of) leadership came under the microscope
Net neutrality in the UK: Welcomed clarity
Ofcom backs greater network management and service innovation by operators, and signals it could support calls for a more hands-off approach in future
WACC: Adjustments in Spain to reflect recent macroeconomic conditions
CNMC adjusts the risk-free rate for Telefónica and Cellnex, but signals a return to the EC’s approved methodology
EC Gigabit Recommendation: BEREC’s response
Alignment with the EECC is paramount, with the current version risking premature deregulation and a higher administrative burden for NRAs
Arcep’s second digital sustainability report
France continues to be at the forefront of regulatory efforts on sustainability, leveraging its expanded powers to assess environmental impacts across the internet value chain
Czech Republic: EC vetoes proposals to regulate wholesale mobile access
Despite the market no longer warranting ex ante regulation, the CTU had found the largest operators collectively dominant and sought to impose remedies
ETNO/POLITICO: ‘Telecoms drumbeat for the future of connectivity’
European regulators stressed that no decision on a ‘fair contribution’ had yet been made, with all options still on the table – except for changes to net neutrality rules
EC’s three-part plan to boost gigabit connectivity
As well as proposing updates to current legislation, the EC is consulting on the sector’s long-term outlook and how it should be funded, including whether there should be a dedicated EU-wide fund to support access to affordable broadband
