Orange’s merger with Masmovil being investigated by EU
Orange and Masmovil cannot yet guarantee their merger. The two companies need to address a list of competition concerns before European authorities can consider allowing the deal to go through.
Orange's $19 billion (€17.5 billion) bid to combine its Spanish operations with Masmovil Ibercom is ... Read more
‘EU members split over network fee levy on Big Tech’ – Reuters
While a two thirds majority are opposed to the idea, the EC continues to try to reach a consensus.
This week Reuters reported that a majority of EU countries have rejected a push by Europe's big telecoms operators to force major tech companies like Google to help fund the rollout of 5G and broad... Read more
Meta dismisses network fees as solution for EU telecoms’ billion dollar gap
Meta platforms elucidate its disagreement with EU telecom operators’ campaign to make tech giants pay more for network costs. Operators say that the expansion of the metaverse would put pressure on infrastructural capacity. Meta dismisses this argument as “nonsense.”
Operators say Amazon, ... Read more
Belgium EDPnet acquired by Proximus
Proximus has acquired the Belgian telecom operator and internet provider EDPnet. EDPnet will continue to operate on the Belgian market under its own name.
The Belgian Corporate Court validated the takeover bid, which means that EDPnet's business and assets are now permanently owned by Proximus. ... Read more
TIM CEO says EU telecoms sector faces daunting market headwinds
The head of Telecom Italia says the European telcos are facing a "perfect storm" of challenges.
Telecom Italia (TIM) CEO Pietro Labriola raised eyebrows this week while delivering his keynote address at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. "We are facing a perfect storm,” said the chi... Read more
GSMA introduces API toolkit for applications
Telecom industry association GSMA presented the Open Gateway toolkit during MWC 2023. The toolkit allows developers on open standards to more easily build and deploy applications to multiple operator telecom networks.
As the underlying open technology, the API toolkit uses CAMARA, an open-source... Read more
WIP26 malware attacks telecom operators
The WIP26 malware uses public cloud environments to launch attacks against telecom operators. The malware tries to appear as legitimate.
These findings come out of research by SentinelOne. The WIP26 malware targets spying activities. Telecom operators in the Middle East are particularly affected... Read more
Netherlands warns of European ‘internet tax’ for Big Tech
The Netherlands opposes the introduction of a European 'internet tax' for tech giants. This says Minister of Economic Affairs Micky Adriaansens in conversation with Reuters. According to her, this would unnecessarily drive up costs for consumers and violate net neutrality.
With her remark, the m... Read more
Spain urges EU regulators to update telecom rules
Spain's economy minister has spoken in favour of consolidating the telecom market as regulators investigate the proposed merger between two of the country's large carriers, Orange SA and Masmovil Ibercom SA.
“Competition policy has to adapt to the changes that are taking place in the market", ... Read more
Telcos push EU to make big tech pay for network costs
Reuters reports that European telecom operators are pressuring the European Union to implement new laws that make big tech pay for network costs. According to the report, telcos want to the European Union to adopt laws similar to those currently in place in Australia.
In the past months, Europe... Read more