Telecoms regulation

Should the EU embrace artificial intelligence, or fear it?

Advances in machine learning are progressing rapidly, and governments are struggling to keep up. The EU has emerged as the world’s regulator in this space, but some fear it's stifling European innovation.

Murder victim’s plight prompts EU order on emergency calls

A horrific rape and murder of a kidnapped teen in Lithuania prompted the European Court of Justice on Thursday (5 September) to order mobile phone operators to hand over data enabling the localisation of calls made to the international emergency number 112.

Ren Zhengfei: ‘Very likely’ Huawei products will be used in UK core 5G networks

Huawei 5G equipment will most probably be used in core aspects of the UK's future 5G network infrastructure, the founder of the Chinese telecommunications giant, Ren Zhengfei has said. His claim runs contrary to the previous stance held by the UK cabinet, which was to permit the company access only to 'non-core' aspects of the country's 5G networks.

Investment in ‘first class connectivity infrastructure’ a priority, Commission says

The cable industry's ambitions of ubiquitous gigabit connectivity have long been hindered by a number of obstacles, including patchy coverage and consumer trust issues. Carlota Reyners Fontana explains what the EU Commission is doing to improve the bloc's broadband gaps.

Commission ‘assessing complaints’ against Nokia connected car patents, as MEPs back WiFi plans

The European Commission has revealed that is it looking into antitrust complaints levelled against the Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia, for the company's alleged refusal to license mobile components that could be used in next-generation connected cars.

Commission rolls out 5G recommendations, has ‘specific concerns’ about Huawei

The European Commission has laid out plans for a coordinated EU approach towards the next generation of mobile broadband networks, 5G, following concerns about China aired by member states during last week's European Council summit.

Nokia in damage-control mode following Chinese data-leak probe

Nokia "mistakenly" sent customer data to China, the European telecoms giant has admitted, following the announcement of an investigation into the allegations by the Finnish data protection watchdog.

Gabriel on cybersecurity: ‘The world is watching us’

The EU's cybersecurity strategy is under the scrutiny of global actors, the EU's Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said on Tuesday (19 March). Her comments came at the European Court of Auditors criticised the 'fragmented' nature of cybersecurity policy across the continent.

Global ‘lack of basic common understanding’ on cybersecurity, Huawei boss says

Governments and businesses worldwide “lack a basic common understanding” of cybersecurity issues, Huawei’s rotating chairman Ken Hu said at the opening of the company’s cybersecurity centre in Brussels on Tuesday (5 March), as he stressed the telco giant's commitment to watertight security standards.

Not ‘one single cybersecurity issue’, Huawei says

A senior Huawei representative said on Monday (25 February) that there has never been one legitimate “cyber security issue” with the company. The statement came as EU Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said that 5G security is a "priority".

Mobile network operator’s body GSMA considers crisis meeting over Huawei

Mobile communications industry body GSMA has proposed its members discuss the possibility that Chinese network vendor Huawei is excluded from key markets, amid concerns such a development could set operators back by years.

Ansip uncovered: Commission Vice-President on disinformation, Huawei, copyright

EURACTIV's Digital Editor, Samuel Stolton, sat down with Vice-President of the European Commission, Andrus Ansip, to speak about his recent decision to stand as an MEP, disinformation, 'those' Huawei comments and the difficulties with the copyright directive.

Germany considers Huawei 5G ban amid global backlash against Chinese tech giant

The German government is considering excluding Huawei from the country's 5G market amid a global backlash against the Chinese telecoms company. The news comes a week after a senior Huawei executive was arrested on espionage charges in Poland.

Calling within Europe will be cheaper from May 2019

Telephone operators will no longer be able to charge more than 19 euro cents per minute for calls within Europe from 1 May 2019. The end of roaming charges has already boosted the phone usage of holiday-makers. EURACTIV France reports.

Net neutrality compliance in France better than elsewhere in Europe

An app allowing Internet users to monitor their internet service provider’s proper conduct was presented at the Internet Governance Forum in Paris on Monday (12 November). The initial statistics have shown that France has fared well. EURACTIV France reports.  

China’s Huawei opens up to German scrutiny ahead of 5G auctions

Chinese’s Huawei Technologies Co Ltd will open a new information security lab in Germany next month that will enable source code reviews, in a step aimed at winning regulators’ confidence before the country’s 5G mobile spectrum auction.

Deutsche Telekom CEO optimistic about EU okay for Tele2 Dutch deal

Deutsche Telekom is confident it will secure EU antitrust approval to buy Tele2’s Dutch business, the German company’s chief executive said, adding that the deal was necessary to help the companies compete with bigger rivals.

Pressure on Commission ahead of decision on connected car technology

Pressure is mounting on the European Commission ahead of a decision it is expected to announce this autumn that will affect how internet-connected cars are built in Europe.

Commission vs. Android: Killing the cow for a steak

Competition is what makes the world a better place, not intelligent design by God or by bureaucrats. Therefore, protecting competition is one of the key responsibilities of the European Commission. But in the case of Android, it is about to make a huge mistake, writes Žiga Turk.

EU connected cars plan sparks national backlash

A niche policy fight over the technical groundwork for internet-connected cars has pitted car companies against telecoms operators and also set off alarm bells in a handful of EU capitals.

MEP on connected car fight: Commission should focus on safety standards, not technology

The European Commission wants future connected vehicles to be able to run both on 5G and Wifi networks, claiming its upcoming legal proposal will remain "technology neutral". But a leading lawmaker warns this will in effect give preference to one technology over another.

Automakers and telecoms firms bicker over EU connected vehicle proposal

A battle between car manufacturers and telecoms operators is heating up as the European Commission prepares to announce legislation later this year that could determine whether automakers will need to rely on Wifi or wireless 5G technology to build internet-connected vehicles.

EU caps price of international phone calls in landmark telecoms overhaul

Lawmakers agreed to cap the price of phone calls and SMS messages between EU countries and sealed a deal to encourage investment in fast internet networks during a late-night meeting on Wednesday (6 June).