Satellite

New UK foreign investment law to impact telecoms, digital and data transactions

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Summary By the end of 2021, many corporate transactions in the communications, data infrastructure, artificial intelligence, satellite and space technologies sectors (and some others) will be subject to mandatory notification to, and national security review by, the UK government. Implementation timetable The National Security and Investment Act 2021 (“Act“) became part of UK law on …

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UK confirms it will mostly implement new EU telecoms law (despite Brexit)

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On 22 July 2020, the UK government confirmed that it would largely implement the European Electronic Communications Code – the EU’s updated, harmonised regulatory framework for telecoms – into UK law by 21 December 2020. This confirms the approach from that first announced in July 2019, providing welcome certainty, despite a change in the leader …

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Ofcom consults on revision of (half of) UK’s general authorisation conditions

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As anticipated, Ofcom yesterday started a consultation on its plans to update the UK’s Conditions of General Entitlement i.e. the obligations placed on all telecoms operators in the UK that rely on the UK’s general authorisation.

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How serious is India about foreign investment as an engine for growth?

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I will be spending next week in Mumbai and Delhi (with @singarbitration), and in preparation have been contemplating the impact of the recent budget proposals on foreign investment, and in turn the implications for the Indian economy. Before going on any trip, I like to remind myself of some basic economic facts, so my trusty EIU ‘World …

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Mobile broadband at heart of Europe’s recently adopted Radio Spectrum Policy Programme as WRC 12 concludes in Geneva

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The wheels of European legislation have slowly turned, and last week Europe adopted a five-year radio spectrum policy programme, at Parliament’s second reading under the co-decision procedure. Readers will recall that last summer two key issues remained outstanding between the Council of Ministers and Parliament – the date by which the 800 MHz band should …

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Will reforms to Cambodia’s telecoms regulatory regime reduce investment risk?

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I have been experiencing an interesting shift in the way that I advise clients on risk as part of my move from Europe to Asia. Almost a week after the Indian Supreme Court revoked 122 mobile licences on the grounds that their award was “totally arbitrary and unconstitutional”, which led to share price drops for some foreign …

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Ofcom issue revised penalty guidelines

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Ofcom today issued revised guidelines on the penalties they may impose on those breaching rules policed by Ofcom. The new guidelines replace prior guidelines dating from 2003 and apply to a rag-bag of over 40 potential contraventions, although significantly not competition law. In a departure from Ofcom’s default ‘if in doubt write a long document’ …

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Ofcom start consultation on technical licence conditions for 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum auctions

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Ofcom today published a consultation on technical licence conditions for 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz UK spectrum auctions, due to take place in 2012. This follows their earlier general consultation on the auctions. Responses are due by 28 July. Ofcom is consulting in parallel on specific additional technical restrictions that may be needed for co-existence …

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EU Telecoms Ministers approve WRC-12 plan but disagree with Parliament on Radio Spectrum Policy Programme

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European processes can seem labyrinthine, even to insiders. Whilst normal EU legislative processes are just about understandable, decisions and processes relating to spectrum are even more impenetrable than other processes as the EU doesn’t have exclusive competency – instead it needs to works alongside other bodies including the ITU and CEPT. The EU’s Council of …

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European Commission tries to marshal stakeholders for World Radiocommunications Conference 2012

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The European Commission published on 6 April a Communication on policy objectives for the International Telecommunications Union World Radiocommunications Conference 2012 (WRC 12). WRC 12 is the next quadrennial meeting of governments and other stakeholders to coordinate international spectrum policy and to update the Radio Regulations. In marked contrast to many Commission documents, the Communication shows the Commission’s nervousness at Europe’s negotiating …

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