BT Regulatory & Compliance – Page 5
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Elsewhere in BT Group: BT Sourced launches
BT and friends enter electric vehicle endeavour; BT Sourced opens its doors.
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BT doubles down against overcharging allegations
Group intends to “vigorously defend” itself against a class action lodged with competition authorities that alleges historic overcharging for voiceonly customers.
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Elsewhere in BT Group: BT Sourced’s new home
Better Workplace marches on; BT Sourced finds a home.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Openreach; expanded FTTP rollout
Openreach expands FTTP rollout, and expands cablelaying contracts to support the plans.
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Elsewhere in BT Technology: Qlik’s cost-saving BT deal
Qlik trumpets cost-saving success in BT deal; “better trust models” needed to combat cyber risk; and G7 conference leads to UK–US R&D agreement.
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Elsewhere in BT Consumer: BAI goes underground
BAI takes fibre competition underground and BT unveils a new set-top box.
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Public Affairs
NI report criticises past public broadband projects
Audit Office report cannot verify that two broadband projects “achieved value for money”. High service take-up rates suggest not all public funding was needed. NI expected to claw back £14m of public funds from BT. Hopes for £165m Project Stratum to deliver better outcome for rural broadband.
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AGCM initiates probe into BT Italia divestment
Italy’s competition watchdog examining ins and outs of BT’s deal with TIM. Concern from competitors as TIM seeks to consolidate market position. BT to retain a presence in the country whatever the outcome.
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Elsewhere in BT Consumer: planning law change welcomed
Pricing revelations bring negative publicity; EE way down in customer satisfaction survey; UK government works to facilitate network expansion.
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Network & Infrastructure
EE spins up spectrum to further 5G ambitions
New licences put to use minutes after being issued, in partnership with Nokia. BT pays an additional £23m after initial low-ball auction, but Group still bagged “an excellent price”, says Consumer CEO Marc Allera. EE open to future spectrum trades as O2 and Vodafone sign their own deal.
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BT “disappointed” as government tweaks voucher scheme
Government kicks off first phase of £1.2bn Project Gigabit. £210m for rural voucher scheme, but fewer communities are eligible; £110m for connecting rural doctors’ surgeries, libraries, and schools. DCMS Delivery Plan suggests considerable uncertainty on most effective way to target government spending.
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Public Affairs
Ofcom gives BT fibre pricing freedom, but adds burdens
Openreach not to face caps or controls on national ultrafast pricing until 2031, as long as it is “fair and reasonable”. Locally-targeted pricing from Openreach prohibited as Ofcom seeks to protect emerging altnets. BT Consumer may lose some edge from 90 day notice period for new propositions from Openreach. ...
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Public Affairs
BT braces as Ofcom fibre ruling looms
Ofcom to set out its fibre vision this week, and while BT may get pricing freedom, it may not get the longer-term clarity it craves. Regulator’s steps to open up infrastructure competition may also disrupt the incumbent’s plans.
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Network & Infrastructure
Howard Watson eyes 2027 as open RAN opportunity
Huawei 5G kit replacement in line with 2027 deadline an opportunity for urban commercial open RAN deployment. BT expects to stick with dual key vendor policy, but hopes to see more choice. Huawei kit still being rolled out as BT juggles network plans with government demands.
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Elsewhere in BT Group: BT Sourced gets hiring
New procurement team hiring; revamp of Plymouth office by 2022; BT hoping to go greener through PPAs.
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Elsewhere in BT Consumer: EE waives roaming
EE waives EU roaming charges, broadband guarantees personalised, lockdown learning backed.
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BT disputes ‘loyalty penalty’ class action
BT hit with US-style ‘opt-out’ class action, led by a former Ofcom consumer protection executive, and financially backed by pioneering UK litigation investment fund Harbour. Previously-settled Ofcom review forms the basis of near-£600m claim that BT was acting in breach of competition law. Little precedent on likelihood of success, ...
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Public Affairs
eir’s fury over BT’s NI PSSN contract award reignited
BT hit with substantial fine for misinformation that may have affected the outcome of a £40m government contract. Irish operator “considering our options” on prized PSSN contract, although Ofcom found no deliberate breaches.
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M&A
BT retreats in Italy as court date looms
TIM snaffles SME and public sector accounts business, but BT maintaining a presence for large enterprises as well as multinationals. Taint of accounting scandal lingers, with former Global executives set for trial in 2021.
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Network & Infrastructure
Ofcom hints at ten-year “fair bet” timeframe for BT
Openreach to be unconstrained on full-fibre pricing until 2031 under proposed plans from the regulator. Jansen claims he would rather have a cap on returns, and more time. Fellow infrastructure builders happy with clarity, but Openreach customer TalkTalk unhappy with impact on wholesale. Regulatory clarity may kickstart discussions on ...