UK
Quick answer. The FCA’s Safeguarding Supplementary Regime takes effect on 7 May 2026, requiring payment and e-money institutions to meet new daily reconciliation, reporting and audit obligations on relevant funds. FCA safeguarding reform is now weeks away from taking effect. The FCA published its Payments Regulatory Priorities report on 25 March 2026, confirming that keeping…
Quick answer. The Payments Forward Plan published by the Bank of England, FCA, PSR and HM Treasury is the UK’s first coordinated three-year roadmap for retail, wholesale and digital asset payments, and the clearest signal yet of the shape of future rulemaking. On 26 February 2026, the Payments Vision Delivery Committee published the Payments Forward…
Quick answer. The UK government confirmed on 18 March 2026 that it will not introduce a broad copyright exception for AI training. Instead, the existing copyright framework applies: AI developers must obtain licences to use copyrighted works for training, unless a specific existing exception (such as non-commercial research under section 29A CDPA 1988) applies. The…
Ofcom’s Plan of Work 2026/27 shapes telecoms investment, altnet consolidation and compliance. Analysis of what it means for operators and dealmakers.
The Nexfibre-Netomnia deal, the government Statement of Strategic Priorities and Ofcom Telecoms Access Review 2026-31 together set the framework for UK fibre infrastructure transactions. What advisors and investors need to know about deal structuring in a consolidating market.
The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 commenced on 5 February 2026, reforming automated decision-making, expanding ICO enforcement powers, and raising PECR fines to UK GDPR levels. Combined with record enforcement activity in 2025 and a new settlement procedure, the ICO is better equipped and more willing to act. What regulated businesses need to do now.
The EU agreed PSD3 and the Payment Services Regulation in November 2025, overhauling fraud liability, open banking and e-money rules. The UK is not bound by PSD3, but its own payments reform is heading in a similar direction. What firms operating across both regimes need to know.
Ofcom published its Telecoms Access Review 2026-31 on 17 March 2026.
Quick answer. The European Commission’s proposed Digital Networks Act would replace the 2018 Electronic Communications Code with a directly applicable Regulation, consolidating spectrum, access and infrastructure rules across the EU. The European Commission has published its proposal for a Digital Networks Act (DNA), the most substantial reform of EU telecoms regulation in over a decade….
Quick answer. Ofcom’s Connected Nations 2025 report confirms UK mobile data usage rose 18% year-on-year, 5G standalone networks cover 83% of the UK population from at least one operator, full-fibre broadband reaches 78% of UK premises, and over one million households have stopped using a landline. The report is the primary independent data source for…
Quick answer. The European Commission has proposed a Digital Omnibus Regulation amending the GDPR, ePrivacy Directive, NIS2 and the Data Act, and repealing or consolidating several overlapping measures. The Commission’s Staff Working Document estimates annual administrative cost savings to business of over EUR 1.3bn once implemented. UK controllers processing EU residents’ data should track the…
Quick answer. The telecoms regulators of the UK (Ofcom), US (FCC), Canada (ISED), Australia (Department of Home Affairs) and New Zealand (National Cyber Security Centre) agreed in November 2025 to deepen cooperation on network security. Workstreams include preventing exploitation of Global Titles, intelligence sharing on SMS blasters and AI-enabled fraud, and coordination on subsea cables…