competition

Competition in the communications sector is complex and fast-changing. This presents both risks and opportunities to providers, as well as challenges for public authorities.

Our competition intelligence services help organisations understand the changing face of competition. We help them grasp the commercial and policy implications of new developments, and make decisions with efficiency and confidence.

Offered on a subscription basis, the service includes alerts, reports, and a database of case summaries written in English. You can also contact our competition law experts at any time for answers to specific questions.

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antitrust & mergers

Our Antitrust & Mergers service makes it simple to follow key trends in competition law and its enforcement. Covering the telecoms, media and postal sectors, as well as the digital economy, our intelligence helps leaders:

Stay informed on developments in abuse of dominance cases, covering infringements such as excessive pricing, predatory pricing, margin squeeze, self-preferencing, and tying and bundling.
Access data on the actions taken across the EU to address potentially anti-competitive agreements, such as network co-investment and sharing, and online sales restrictions in distribution agreements.
Track merger control cases to understand the wider implications of market consolidation for competition in Europe.

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state aid & subsidies coming soon!

Our State Aid & Subsidies service offers intelligence on subsidised telecoms projects across Europe. This includes a database of case summaries, as well as reports on EU state aid rules and how they apply to different projects.

Subscribe to our State Aid & Subsidies intelligence service to:

Understand the allowances and limits of public funding for broadband under EU state aid rules.
Follow the enforcement of state aid rules against tax benefits granted to large digital companies, such as Amazon and Apple.

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Latest Antitrust & Mergers intelligence

Microsoft/Activision Blizzard merger UK (pending case)

03 October 22 Marta Kajda

Following an initial phase I merger review, the UK competition authority concluded that Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of video game developer and publisher Activision Blizzard might lead to a substantial lessening of competition in the markets for gaming consoles, multi-game subscription services and cloud gaming services.

Microsoft/Activision Blizzard merger EU (pending case)

03 October 22 Marta Kajda

Microsoft, a leading provider of console gaming, notified to the European Commission its proposed US$69bn (€64.81bn) acquisition of video game developer and publisher Activision Blizzard. The Commission’s provisional phase I deadline to decide on the case is 8 November 2022.

Etisalat/Vodafone investment 2022

02 October 22 Miklós Kozma

The German competition authority unconditionally cleared the acquisition of material competitive influence over UK-based global telecoms group Vodafone by Etisalat, the incumbent telecoms operator of the United Arab Emirates. Etisalat became Vodafone’s largest shareholder in May 2022 when it acquired a 9.8% stake in the company for US$4.40bn (€4.13bn).

Latest State Aid & Subsidies intelligence

Explainer: EU digital policy goals behind broadband state aid

29 July 22 Janne Kalliala

When assessing the compatibility of broadband subsidies with EU state aid rules, the European Commission recognises that they contribute to the achievement of the EU’s evolving digital policy objectives.

Deployment of passive 4G or 5G mobile infrastructure in Spain 2021

10 June 22 Janne Kalliala

Update: Eligible undertakings may submit bids until 29 July 2022 for subsidised projects to deploy passive mobile infrastructure in sparsely populated areas of Spain where current or credibly planned mobile networks do not support at least 10/3 Mbps down-/upload speeds. This call for tender covers the entire €150m state aid scheme which the European Commission approved in December 2021. The scheme is financed with the funds that Spain receives from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Deployment of gigabit-capable ultrafast broadband networks in Austria 2022

21 March 22 Janne Kalliala

The European Commission approved under EU state aid rules the €2bn Broadband Austria 2030 scheme. The scheme, which is partly financed with the funds that Austria receives from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility, will support the deployment of passive fixed network infrastructure for retail broadband services of at least 100 Mbps (symmetric), later upgradable to 1 Gbps (symmetric).

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upcoming events

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22 > 08 December 22 Online EU proposals to regulate online platforms - DMA & DSA

get in touch

For more information about our Competition services, please contact:

Janne Kalliala phone: +39 348 69 18 879 janne.kalliala@cullen-international.com