The UK system of government and regulation can sometimes be confusing, with the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee of the House of Commons this week announcing an inquiry into the use of spectrum in the UK and issuing a call for written evidence. The Select Committee is neither the national regulatory authority with responsibility …
The CAT today rejected BT’s arguments that Ofcom has a narrow jurisdiction to accept and resolve disputes referred to it by Communications Providers pursuant to Section 185 of the Communications Act 2003. The CAT joined two cases (one relating to ‘ladder pricing’ and one to charges for ethernet services above DSAC) in both of which BT …
Readers with long memories will remember Nortel’s glory days of the 1990s, when it expanded rapidly by supplying equipment on the back of significant investment in competitive telecoms networks unleashed by the first wave of telecoms market liberalisation. It was badly hit by the dot.com crash, but managed to struggle through the noughties before filing for creditor protection …
Net neutrality. A topic that stirs strong emotion and strident commentary that sometimes bears little resemblance to the underlying issues. The European Commission today published a remarkably thoughtful, balanced and considered Communication on the open internet and net neutrality in Europe. It concludes that the current rules on transparency, switching and quality of service that …
The UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (and although not in the title, telecoms) today published its response to the consultation on implementation of the revised EU electronic communications framework in the UK. In contrast to the original introduction of the current EU Framework in 2003 which necessitated tearing up the Telecommunications Act 1984 …
I have spent the last day and a half in court (British Telecommunications Plc (Termination charges: 080 calls, NCCN 1007) v Office of Communications and British Telecommunications Plc v Office of Communications (Ethernet Extension Services)) helping an intervening client argue, inter alia, that a fundamental disagreement was the same as a dispute. Sometimes these things do seem to end …
Last week Ofcom started a consultation on revising the UK’s General Conditions of Entitlement and Universal Service Conditions. The consultation closes on 7 April, and will be followed by a statement, with implementation on or before 25 May 2011. The changes are part of the UK’s implementation of the revised European Framework for electronic communications. …
Any twitter followers (to follow go to: @rbratby) may have seen my live tweet commentary from the AnalysysMason city briefing last night. I thought the four speakers were well-informed and authoritative, and their presentations thought-provoking. The first presentation summarised the results of some cost modelling they had undertaken relating to mobile networks, by reference to a number …
Have you ever used an international calling card? If you have, perhaps it was at a time when you didn’t have a fixed address, or were feeling the pinch? You probably saw the adverts that promised you cheap international calling and thought that they would be a great way to stay in touch with friends …
With my first post done, I thought it best to try and provide a little substantive content. Two years ago, I spent some time interviewing various CEOs, strategy and regulatory directors in various international communications companies to get their thoughts on the big issues that were coming up. With the end of the year approaching …