Proposed changes to UK law affecting telecoms operators
In today’s Queen’s speech (which sets out the UK Government’s legislative agenda), a number of proposals were made which will impact the UK telecoms sector:
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EU | Regulatory action | Telecoms | UK
A new universal service broadband obligation for the UK
In November 2015, the David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, announced the UK government’s intention to introduce a broadband universal service obligation to the UK. Subsequent announcements have clarified that his ‘ambition’ is that the minimum speed is set at 10 Mbps for consumers and small businesses.
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Ofcom to review and update General Conditions of Entitlement affecting all communications providers operating in the UK
If you read past the Openreach headlines in Ofcom’s Digital Communications Market review, you can find four paragraphs in chapter eight announcing a review of the UK’s General Conditions of Entitlement, which will affect anyone operating a telecoms network or providing telecoms services in the UK Since individual licences were (largely) abolished in the UK in 2003, providers of…
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Reforming Openreach’s governance: Ofcom’s proposals
In my last post, I summarised Ofcom’s initial conclusions from its review of the UK digital communications market. One of Ofcom’s conclusions was that the functional separation of BT’s Openreach division (which provides last mile access) from the rest of BT, and the associated regulation of the relationship between BT and Openreach (implemented by binding undertakings) was…
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Ofcom’s UK digital communications review: BT can keep Openreach (for now…)
On 25 February 2016 Ofcom published its initial conclusions from its strategic review of the UK’s digital communications market. Whilst much of the headline press coverage has focused on BT being able to retain Openreach, provided its governance is reformed, Ofcom’s review goes much wider than the regulation of Openreach and sets the strategic direction for UK…
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Singapore decides framework for allocation of 235 MHz of additional spectrum and encourages 4th MNO
On the 18 February 2016, Singapore’s Infocomm Development Agency (IDA) published its decision on the framework for the allocation of an additional 235 MHz of spectrum. This follows their earlier consultations. Key points are set out below: Two stage process to encourage market entry by new entrant (4th MNO) The IDA wants to encourage market entry…
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Governing development finance organisations: measuring development impact
Governance is important for both private and public sector organisations. For development finance organisations (such as IFC, CDC, Africa Development Bank and Asia Development Bank) which are publicly funded and invest in developing countries it is critical. A key part of governance is measuring the development impact that they have through setting goals and measuring the…
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ASEAN | China | EU | Government policy | Technology | US
Global IT tariffs eliminated? WTO wakes up?
“Mr. Praline: Look, matey, I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I’m looking at one right now. Owner: No no he’s not dead, he’s, he’s restin’! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, idn’it, ay? Beautiful plumage!” – Monty Python Based on a press release from the World Trade Organisation, and tweets from its Director-General…
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ISO 27018 – the international standard for protecting PII in the public cloud – Where are we now?
Since its release in August 2014, ISO 27018 is becoming well established as the “go to” standard to help cloud customers to comply with their privacy obligations when using public cloud services. Privacy regulators recognise and refer to the new standard. Cloud customers are using it in their RFP requirements and in their assessments of…
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Myanmar mobile banking and payment: where to start?
Myanmar is currently largely a cash economy. In this post we consider the types of mobile banking and payments solutions we predict will first gain traction in the Myanmar market: remittance services and banking the unbanked. Outside Myanmar, the way people bank and pay has been revolutionised: from the introduction of credit cards, telephone banking and…
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UK withdraws proposed updates to the Electronic Communications Code
On 22 January 2015, the UK Government withdrew its proposed changes to the Electronic Communications Code. As the changes were unexpected, more time for consultation is not entirely unwelcome. However, as the changes in large part were positive, I hope that this is only a delay and the proposals will be brought forward in due…
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UK proposes surprise changes to the Electronic Communications Code
In a surprise move, on 13 January the UK government announced plans to update the elderly (and, even to the House of Lords, rather incomprehensible) Electronic Communications Code which deals with the rights of telecoms operators to access public and private land. Whilst the proposed changes in large part adopt the recommendations of the Law Commission’s report…