Belgian regulator BIPT published a benchmark of telecom tariffs in Belgium and its five neighboring countries: the UK, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany. Its objective was to determine to what extent the price level of telecom products for residential users on the Belgian market compares to the price level of similar products in the neighbouring countries. The analysis was performed on the basis of tariff plan information collected by BIPT in August 2019.
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Slovak regulator consults on QoS monitoring system
Slovak regulator RÚ consults until 31 January 2020 on a monitoring system for measurement of selected parameters of internet access service quality. The regulator plans to introduce the application MobilTest, provided by Specure, as a certified measurement tool for the monitoring of both fixed and mobile internet access service quality, in line with the EU regulation 2015/2120 on open internet access.
Hong Kong awards 5G licences in 3.5 GHz band
The regulator of Hong Kong OFCA has successfully auctioned off a total of 200 MHz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz to four mobile network operators for a total of HKD 1.006 billion (EUR 116 million).
German operators join forces to build 6,000 masts
Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Deutschland and Telefonica have signed a letter of intent to jointly build 6,000 masts to meet their coverage obligations from the 5G auction last summer. 1&1 Drillisch has been invited to participate on condition of an equal contribution. Each operator shall build the same number of the masts, which then can be shared for installing the operators’ own active network elements.
Ofcom gives up 5G coverage obligations in revised auction proposal
The UK regulator Ofcom has updated the draft conditions of the 5G spectrum auction planned in spring 2020. The main change consists in leaving out the coverage obligations as the four MNOs have committed themselves to reach a coverage of their 4G networks of at least 92% of the UK within next six years. This exceeds the coverage which Ofcom originally planned to impose as a licence obligation in the 5G auction.
German Supreme Administrative Court bans DT’s Stream-On service
In mid-July, the German Supreme Administrative Court decided that the zero-rated offering of Deutsche Telekom – Stream-On – violates net neutrality principles. The operator has to either alter the offer or withdraw it from the market.
Irish regulator awards smart grid licences in 400 MHz band
Irish regulator ComReg announced results of the auction for award of frequencies in the 400 MHz band. These are intended for Smart Grids. The award process resulted in one winning bidder ESB Networks DAC.
Austrian Post faces € 18m penalty for violation of personal data protection
Austrian Post faces a scandal with storage of personal data of millions of customers without their consent, reported Die Presse. The data protection authority found the national post operator guilty of a violation of the GDPR rules implemented in May 2018 and imposed a penalty of € 18m on the Post. The Post will appeal against the decision.
Vodafone Germany launches 5G network with 5G mobile router
Vodafone Germany has launched 5G network in the first 20 cities and municipalities, using 60 antennae on 25 base stations. In August, the operator plans to have 5G signal available on 50 base stations. Simultaneously with the launch of 5G network Vodafone markets the country’s first 5G mobile router GigaCube 5G and offers a new GigaCube 5G tariff series, including more data without a price increase.
