The European Commission’s Decision 2000/520/EC of 26 July 2000 (the “Decision”) holds that personal data transferred from the EU to the US under the EU/US Safe Harbour scheme is adequately protected. On 23 September 2015, the Advocate General (the “AG”) advised the European Court of Justice (the “ECJ”) to decide for the invalidity of the…
DetailsFollowing a complaint from the search engine Yandex, Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has decided that Google abused its dominant market position in relation to its Android operating system. The FAS has found that Google gave unfair prominence to its own apps on Android. The full reasons for the decision and formal instructions to Google…
DetailsThe European Commission is about to launch a public consultation on Online Platforms. The consultation is part of the Commission’s strategy to implement the Digital Single Market for Europe, unveiled on 6 May 2015. The Commission’s strategy comprises 16 initiatives and is aimed at creating the right conditions and a level playing field for digital…
DetailsCommercial analysis: With the recent announcement of a string of high-profile mergers and acquisitions in the telecoms sector, Daniel Preiskel, partner, and Natalia Porto, associate, at Preiskel & Co LLP, take a look at the effects and challenges of consolidations in the industry. What is driving the spate of mergers in the telecoms sector? European…
DetailsThe Culture, Media and Sport Committee has launched in inquiry into the coverage, delivery and performance of superfast broadband in the UK. The inquiry also covers progress being made in extending and improving mobile coverage and services. Written submissions are welcome and may be sent to this link. The same Committee recently interviewed Sharon White…
DetailsOn 9 July, the European Commission sent MasterCard a Statement of Objections in relation to (i) cross-border acquiring restrictions impeding cross-border payment acquisition, and (ii) inter-regional fees charged when cards from outside the EU are used within the EU. The case fits into a wider pattern of EU competition law enforcement, and indeed competition enforcement…
DetailsOfcom has announced the second phase of its strategic review of digital communications. The review was launched in March to examine competition, investment, innovation and the availability of all digital communications services. Ofcom expects to receive some guidance on future regulatory approaches for the next 10 years, including to address challenges such as the future…
DetailsToday Commissioner Vestager has been questioned by the Committee on Economic Affairs on the current position of the EU Commission on competition matters. She has outlined what her priorities were and then has been questioned by a few people on specific topics. Commissioner Vestager’s priorities are the following: DSM Google (android & advertising) Amazon (distribution agreements…
DetailsYesterday (15 July) the Mexican Telecoms Regulator (IFT) published the MVNO licence guidelines for public consultation. http://www.ift.org.mx/industria/consultas-publicas/consulta-publica-del-anteproyecto-de-lineamientos-para-la-comercializacion-de-servicios-moviles-por The market in Mexico for MVNOs could be very attractive as part of the Red Compartida initiative of the Ministry of Communications and forthcoming auction process for a wholesale wireless broadband operator on 700MHz. As part of the…
DetailsOfcom today fined EE (trading as 4GEE, Orange and T-Mobile) £1m for failing to comply with Ofcom’s rules on handling customer complaints. The investigation is part of the communications regulator own-initiative monitoring and enforcement programme on complaints handling pursuant to General Condition 14 . Ofcom’s investigation over EE found that, over the period investigated – from…
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