EC to harmonise radio frequencies for development of 5G

13 February, 2019
At the European level, on 24 January 2019 the European Commission announced the adoption of an amendment to Decision 2008/411/EC that will harmonise the radio spectrum in the 3.4-3.8 GHz. As the 3.6 GHz band has been identified as the… Read more

Digital TMT and Sourcing Predictions 2019

24 January, 2019
  2018 was a landmark year for digital TMT and sourcing. Against the backdrop of the UK's impending departure from the EU, there were a wealth of highlights as regulation moved further towards greater harmonisation at the European level; the… Read more

Reform of Telecommunications Framework

19 December, 2018
In May 2015, as part of its Digital Single Market Strategy, the European Commission published proposals to reform the EU telecommunications regulatory framework. Following a series of consultations in 2015, the Commission published further proposals to reform the EU legislation… Read more

Collaborate and Diversify: Connectivity in the Digital Age

18 November, 2018
Transformation in the global telecoms ecosystem is gathering momentum. It is driven by evolving technologies, growing customer appetite for hyperconnectivity and a new breed of competitor. In their quest for a place within this fast moving landscape, traditional telecoms companies… Read more

Budget 2018: Investing in a rapidly evolving digital landscape

30 October, 2018
Advances in technology and changing business models are transforming the global economy across all industry sectors. The measures announced by the Chancellor in Monday's Budget Speech showcase how the UK Government is seeking to embrace innovation and new and emerging… Read more

Digitalisation: reshaping the industry landscape

13 April, 2018
Challenges and Opportunities for the Communications Industry The Fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us. The increasing availability of technologies such as 5G wireless, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, robotics, cloud, big data analytics and the Internet of Things is dramatically transforming… Read more

Managing cyber security risks in the telecommunications sector

20 March, 2018
Cyber security remains in the public eye with multiple incidents and vulnerabilities reported affecting telecoms companies. Telecoms companies need to continue to focus on the risks and consider updating their pro-active defence and cyber security response plans to reflect the… Read more

House of Commons briefing on mobile roaming and Brexit

2 July, 2017
In July 2017, the House of Commons Library published a briefing paper on the impact of Brexit on the recent abolition of mobile roaming charges (the "Briefing Paper"). The European Commission's 2015 regulation on roaming and net neutrality (the so-called… Read more

First reading of Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill

2 July, 2017
The Telecommunications Infrastructure (relief from Non-Domestic rates) Bill 2017-2019 ("the Bill") passed its second reading debate in the House of Commons without any division on Monday 10 July 2017. MPs will next consider the Bill in a Committee of the… Read more

First Digital Economy Act Commencement Regulations Published

1 July, 2017
The first commencement instrument under the Digital Economy Act 2017 (the "Act") has now been published. The Act anticipates staggered commencement dates with many of the provisions being commenced and the detail provided by secondary legislation. The recent Digital Economy… Read more

End of retail roaming charges in the EU

21 June, 2017
15 June 2017 marked the end of retail roaming charges across the EEA. The European Commission's 2015 regulation on roaming and net neutrality (the "Roaming Regulation") set out a new retail pricing regime for regulating roaming services with the objective… Read more

Three fined by Ofcom for failure of emergency communications

21 June, 2017
On 16 June 2017 Ofcom issued mobile network operator Three with a £1,890,000 fine, following an investigation into breach of one of Ofcom's General Conditions of Entitlement that communications providers have to comply with in the UK (General Condition  3.1(c)). The rule is designed to ensure… Read more

MVNOs: Negotiating an optimum wholesale agreement

15 May, 2017
In March this year UK MVNO Sky launched its consumer mobile handset offering dubbed 'Swap'. This followed hot on the heels of Sky launching its MVNO in partnership with Telefónica UK (O2) in December 2016 as a SIM only proposition… Read more

Consultation on Ofcom’s enforcement guidelines

28 March, 2017
On 21 January 2017, Ofcom launched a consultation to revise the enforcement guidelines which set out how it investigates compliance with, and enforcement of, regulatory requirements relating to: (i) electronic communication networks and services; (ii) consumer protection law; (iii) competition… Read more

UK government publishes 5G strategy

28 March, 2017
On 8 March 2017, in a speech forming part of the Spring Budget 2017, Philip Hammond, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, confirmed that the UK government will invest over £1 billion in the country's digital infrastructure, targeted at supporting roll-out… Read more

Openreach to legally separate from BT

28 March, 2017
The largest reform in Openreach's history has been confirmed, after BT agreed to Ofcom's requirements for Openreach to become a legally separate company within the BT Group. ... Read more