Vodafone’s recent triumph, a successful trial achieving 5 Gbps using the upper 6 GHz band for mobile signal transmission, highlights the upcoming decision on spectral band division at ITU’s WRC23. Through this trial, performed on Madrid’s Vodafone campus, engineers established the 6 GHz band can provide coverage on par with existing 5G networks.
In a bold amalgamation move, Orange and MasMovil are set to combine their Spanish telecom operations in a €19 billion deal. European regulators, however, have expressed concerns, fearing a spike in consumer costs due to a potential market monopoly. To address these apprehensions, Orange and MasMovil are shedding some assets, with Romanian telecom Digi earmarked to acquire parts of the business, paving the way for a more competitive landscape. Californian tech enthusiasts, early adopters and IT professionals are keenly observing this development, which is seen as a yardstick for regulator sentiment towards large-scale telecom consolidation in Europe.
As the Competition and Markets Authority gears up for an official investigation about the planned merger between Vodafone and Three, concerns such as reduced consumer choices, price hikes, and changing market dynamics are cropping up. Simultaneously, anticipation builds over potential improvements and expansive opportunities the merger might usher in for the UK’s mobile network scene.
Telefónica has reportedly reached out to Vodafone, initiating dialogue for potential collaborations involving their Spanish broadband networks. The proposition offers a range of possibilities such as forming a strategic alliance, a wholesale agreement, or possibly integrating Vodafone’s clientele into Telefónica’s fiber network. This outreach is suspected to be a reaction to Vodafone’s recent strategic review and a potential sale of their Spanish unit.
The Competition and Markets Authority, UK’s competition watchdog, leans towards approving Broadcom’s monumental $61 billion takeover of VMware, after an in-depth Phase 2 investigation. The pivotal concern was whether it would discourage innovation due to reduced competition in the server market. However, the analysis suggests that competition in UK’s server hardware component supply won’t be notably hindered by the deal. This takes Broadcom a step closer to becoming one of the world’s largest server virtualisation software suppliers.
The premier Japan-EU Digital Partnership Council has unveiled a refreshingly ambitious approach towards bolstering global connectivity. Highlighting fundamental areas of mutual support, an intriguing plan of Arctic submarine network expansion piques interest. Meanwhile, an equally significant strategy promotes semiconductor industry growth, echoing an urgent call for autonomy in the global supply chain. These pacesetting initiatives promise not only to redefine EU-Japan ties, but also to spark essential digital security dialogues for the evolving tech landscape.
Huawei plans a comeback in the smartphone market with new 5G devices using domestic chip supplies. Concerns persist about the quality of these chips and Huawei’s absence from the Android Play Store. CityFibre challenges Openreach with a faster wholesale FTTH service, while Optus collaborates with SpaceX’s Starlink to expand mobile coverage in Australia’s remote areas. Ofcom investigates O2 Virgin Media over customer complaints, and the European Court of Justice rejects a ruling on the Three-O2 merger, adding to the uncertainty in the telecommunications regulatory landscape.
A fresh structure designed to secure EU data housed in the US has been implemented, but disputes persist surrounding the safety of EU data during transatlantic transfers. While the EU sees the potential of unwarranted surveillance by US security forces, the US finds it challenging to alleviate these suspicions. Despite concerns raised by privacy activists, notable tech powerhouses like Facebook are in favor of this framework, thinking it’ll protect essential goods and services. This leaves a potent question around the future of data protection lingering in the air.
Allegations were made last week against Vivacom, a Bulgarian telecommunications company owned by United Group, by A1 Group and PPF Group. The Bulgarian Commission on Protection of Competition (CPC) had granted Vivacom permission to acquire Networks-Bulgaria and several other smaller Bulgarian telecoms, sparking concerns within the industry.
Four prominent Swedish companies are under the scanner for illicit data transfer to the U.S., marking a stark violation of EU’s GDPR rulings. The heart of this issue lies in their use of Google Analytics, leading to these privacy breaches. Interestingly, not all implicated parties bore the same guilt, showing varying levels of data safety vigilance. More caution and respect for GPDR’s regulations is thus urged from all companies dealing with data transfers. Undeniably, an increasing global scrutiny on data protection laws, demands such vigilance.
