Europe’s telecom industry is alert as the European Union investigates competitive fairness amid KKR’s acquisition of Telecom Italia’s fixed-line network. Questions arise about the impact on market competition and the deal’s opposition by Vivendi, the largest stakeholder in Telecom Italia.
Vodafone Carrier Services, the wholesale arm of Vodafone Business, has introduced Scam Signal, an API aimed at countering impersonation scams, particularly within the realm of Authorised Pushed Payment (APP) fraud.
This new API, Scam Signal, has demonstrated promising results, boasting a 30% improvement in scam detection during a successful pilot with a UK bank over three months.
Lycamobile, a multinational MVNO hailing from London, is raising serious accusations against T-Mobile, their US network partner since 2012. They cite considerable hurdles in acquiring basic services like eSIM and access to T-Mobile’s 5G standalone architecture. Lycamobile’s stance escalates further; by urging regulatory bodies to halt T-Mobile’s looming acquisitions, they imply an uneven playing field. Meanwhile, T-Mobile, combating allegations of litigation as a diversion, asks that Lycamobile’s claims be dismissed.
Vodafone has achieved a significant milestone in the UK’s Shared Rural Network (SRN) initiative, announcing the activation of its 200th site. This accomplishment marks a notable improvement from the 57 sites operational a year ago, underlining the urgency faced by the country’s major mobile network operators (MNOs) to meet rural coverage obligations.
PJT Partners sets out to scrutinize UK telecom operator, KCOM’s business strategy, a move that could trigger significant changes like a sale or merger. This arises from previous disclosures regarding the potential interest of CityFibre and Virgin Media O2 in purchasing the uniquely positioned company that operates independently of BT’s Openreach network.
Evidence reveals rising customer dissatisfaction with automated systems in UK businesses, according to a study by Cavell. Chatbots and similar technologies appear to fail in meeting customer service expectations, with 44% of respondents noting a quality slip in service over the past three years. Many UK adults still prefer human assistance in resolving issues, revealing a persistent demand for more personalised, efficient support mechanisms.
Comcast, the US cable giant, is expanding its prepaid Now brand with new fixed and mobile offerings in response to the impending closure of the Affordable Connectivity Programme (ACP). This initiative aims to attract consumers affected by the conclusion of the federal assistance program.
Letta’s recent report underlines the fragmentation faced by the European telecoms sector, with its 27 separate national markets serving a mere average of five million customers. Highlighting the necessity for unification and increased scale for cost-effective innovation, the report aims to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness, fueling new advancements like edge computing and IoT.
In a recent development, the Japanese government has passed a significant amendment to longstanding telecom regulations, marking a pivotal moment for NTT, the country’s telecom giant. The amendment, announced by NTT on Wednesday, encompasses several key changes, including the liberation from R&D information sharing obligations and the allowance for non-Japanese directors on its board.
Telecommunications heavy hitter T-Mobile finds itself under scrutiny as fixed wireless service providers in Maine, New York, and Maryland report disruptions attributed to T-Mobile’s 5G operations. Bloosurf has appealed to the FCC, seeking a refrain on T-Mobile’s 5G functions where they intersect with its own services, stirring up a complex debate hinging on a 1977 FCC decision regarding interference.
