Insights
Analysis of telecoms, data, payments and technology regulation and transactions
Clear, practical commentary on legal and regulatory developments affecting telecoms operators, digital infrastructure providers, technology companies, financial institutions, fintechs and investors.
Our blogging history
We have been publishing insights since 2010, when Rob first built the website on WordPress. From the outset, the aim was the same: careful research, precise language and analysis that explains not just the legal issue, but its practical and commercial effect.
That remains our approach today. Artificial intelligence now helps with parts of the research and drafting process, and it has supported the development of this website. But technology does not replace judgement, experience or specialist expertise. Our insights are shaped by real advisory work across regulation, compliance and transactions.
Through this Insights section, Bratby Law aims to provide clear analysis that helps organisations make informed decisions in complex and fast-moving areas of law and regulation. For advice on a specific issue, regulatory strategy or a transaction, please get in touch.
Recent articles
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EU | Telecoms Regulation | UK
Digital Networks Act copper switch-off: the EU mandate and the UK route
In short: Digital Networks Act copper switch-off provisions would oblige every EU Member State to mandate copper retirement by binding legal act, in all switch-off areas by 31 December 2035. The first lists of qualifying areas are due by 30 June 2029, which is the operative date. The UK has no equivalent statute and is…
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Bank of England AI Consortium: the June 2026 minutes and UK AI rules already in force
In short: the Bank of England AI Consortium published minutes of its fourth quarterly meeting on 5 August 2026, covering the meeting held on 3 June 2026. Four workshops reported on explainability, AI-accelerated contagion, concentration risk and AI edge cases. Under its terms of reference the Consortium has no decision-making capacity, so nothing in the…
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CMA Microsoft investigation: subscription enforcement before the DMCCA regime commences
In short: In the CMA Microsoft investigation, opened on 27 July 2026, the CMA is examining whether Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers received clear information before plans that added Copilot renewed at higher prices. The CMA is applying consumer protection law already in force; the government anticipates that the DMCCA subscription contracts regime will…
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Specific Direction 17: what the Confirmation of Payee consultation proposes
Specific Direction 17 expires on 1 November 2026. The PSR’s CP26/2 consultation proposes to remove the expiry date and seeks views on directing voluntary CoP providers as a new Group 3.
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AI Office enforcement: the AI Act’s new powers over platform AI
In short: AI Office enforcement covers a company only where it built the AI system on its own general-purpose AI model, or where the system operates inside a platform designated under the Digital Services Act. Every other business remains subject to national regulation. The difference matters, because the AI Office can enter and seal premises…
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Data Protection | EU | UK
GPAI enforcement: a year of duties, and now the power to fine
In short: GPAI enforcement began on 2 August 2026. If you build a product on someone else’s AI model, the duties in Articles 53 to 55 of the EU AI Act apply to that supplier and not to you. They still matter, because they entitle you to information from your supplier, and because very substantial…
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Card scheme and processing fees: the PSR compliance clock has started
The PSR gave Specific Directions 22 and 23 to Mastercard and Visa on 30 July 2026. Pricing governance obligations start on 30 November 2026 and the information requirements on 30 July 2027.
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Payments Regulation | EU | UK
Payment services perimeter: the money remittance question Betaal Garant leaves open
The Court of Justice in Betaal Garant (C-51/25) decided the credit transfer question and nothing else. Money remittance, defined more widely in regulation 2(1) of the PSRs 2017, is where a UK analysis now has to go.
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Radio selection services: designating Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant without a market power test
In short: Radio selection services are voice-activated services that let a user pick a UK radio station and play it by spoken command. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) proposed on 15 July 2026 to designate Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri under section 362BB of the Communications Act 2003. The consultation…
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Openreach commercial offers: what Ofcom proposes, and the three tests it applied
In short: Ofcom has consulted on the six Openreach commercial offers notified on 1 June 2026. It proposes to allow five and to direct Openreach to withdraw one, the Incremental New to Openreach Customer Offer. Three tests applied, producing seventeen assessments and a single adverse finding: that one offer’s charges are not fair and reasonable….
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Payments Regulation | EU | UK
The critical third parties regime: the UK model compared with DORA
In short: The critical third parties regime brought Amazon Web Services EMEA SARL, Google Cloud EMEA Limited, Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited and Oracle Corporation UK Limited under FCA, PRA and Bank of England oversight on 13 July 2026, under SI 2026/777 and Chapter 3C of FSMA 2000. The UK regime binds providers with rules and…
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CMA unfair contract terms guidance: what CMA37 means for online terms
In short: The CMA unfair contract terms guidance (CMA37) was reissued on 22 July 2026, the first substantive revision since 2015. Part 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 is unchanged and applies to consumer contracts generally, alongside any sector rules. Since 6 April 2025 the CMA can fine a trader up to £300,000 or…
Telecoms, data protection and payments regulation lawyers
Bratby Law advises on telecoms regulation, data protection, payments regulation, transactions and digital regulation across the communications, financial services and technology sectors.
How we work
Bratby Law works with clients in three ways: as direct legal advisers on specific matters, as specialist co-counsel supporting other legal teams, and as fractional general counsel on a longer-term retained basis. Each model delivers partner-level input without delegation.
Why Choose Bratby Law?
Sector expertise
Bratby Law advises exclusively across the telecoms, data and payments sectors. That concentration means deeper knowledge of the regulatory environment, faster analysis, and advice that reflects how regulators actually behave: not how the textbook says they should.
Senior delivery
Every instruction is handled by Rob Bratby personally. With 30 years’ experience spanning a secondment to Oftel, senior in-house roles at UK telecoms operators, and partnership at international law firms, you receive the analysis directly: not through a junior team. The firm uses AI tools to extend research capacity and accelerate document review, so senior judgment is applied to more of your matter, not less.
Current appointments
Rob Bratby currently holds fractional General Counsel appointments at TOTSCo, TelXL, Core and the UK Payments Initiative. These ongoing roles keep his advice grounded in how regulated businesses run day to day.
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