European Commission

Report: EU set to approve Telenet-BASE deal

The EU is set to give approval to Telenet’s buyout of Belgian mobile operator BASE Company from Dutch telco KPN, according to Reuters. The report claims that the European Commission will brief national competition authorities today and give the green light shortly after, ahead of an official March 17 deadline. Liberty Global-backed Belgian cable operator […]

Juncker: EU unlikely to trigger ‘rule of law’ over Polish media law

The EU is unlikely to take action against Poland over its new media law under the ‘rule of law’ mechanism that could ultimately lead to the country losing its EU voting rights, according to EU president Jean-Claude Juncker. Juncker, in the Netherlands to mark the inauguration of the Dutch presidency of the EU Council, told […]

Polish media law could trigger EU action, warns Oettinger

EU digital economy commissioner Gunther Oettinger has said that a controversial new Polish media law could trigger action under the EU’s rule of law mechanism, which allows the European Commission to apply pressure on member states to rescind measures that threaten European values. In an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Oettinger said that […]

IFTA raises concerns over EC copyright plans

The Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) has raised fears over the European Commission’s Digital Single Market plan to allow cross-border access to online content. The alliance claims that plans to allow consumers to access online content acquired in one country in other European states threaten companies’ power to produce and distribute content, echoing concerns […]

EC passes net neutrality rules, fails to close ‘loopholes’

The European Commission has given its final approval to net neutrality rules that it claims will “guarantee an open internet” and ban paid-prioritisation of web traffic. Announcing the legislation, the EC said that all internet traffic will be treated equally and that there will be “no paid prioritisation of access service” or internet ‘fast lanes’. However, Members […]

EC consults on extending copyright rules to internet TV services

The European Commission has launched a consultation on the EU Satellite and Cable Directive, looking at whether the rules on how satellite broadcasters and cable companies are fit for purpose in the digital age. The Commission is also seeking views on the possible impact of extending existing copyright rules to services provided over the internet, […]

Sky hoping for “sensible outcome” to EC geo-blocking probe

Sky is “open-minded” about the outcome of the European Commission’s investigation into geo-blocking requirements in its contracts with major Hollywood studios and is hopeful that “a sensible outcome” will prevail, according to chief financial officer Andrew Griffith. Griffith, answering a question from Morgan Stanley analyst Ben Swinburne after the company announced stellar full-year results at […]

EC lays down gauntlet to Hollywood majors and Sky on geo-blocking

The European Commission is investigating Sky and six Hollywood majors – Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures, Sony, Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros – for agreeing content rights deals on a geographically restricted basis in the EU. The EC has sent a statement of objections to the parties alleging that they have put in place contractual […]

EU net neutrality rules to allow for ‘higher quality’ internet TV services

The European Union rules on net neutrality are likely to allow service providers to establish fast lanes for applications including internet TV provided they do not impinge on other traffic, according to the latest agreement between the European Commission, European Parliament and the Council on the telecom single market package. “In the open Internet, all traffic […]

GSMA calls for ‘timely release’ and further review of UHF spectrum

Mobile industry body the GSMA, has called for a “timely release” of the 700 Mhz band for mobile use, and an accelerated review of the sub-700 Mhz UHF band. The GSMA, which represents mobile operators around the world, called on the European Commission to support requests for release of the 700MHz band for mobile use “preferably […]