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.

To see how we can help you, get in touch for a personal demo.

Get a personal demo

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.

Download the data sheet

state aid & subsidies

Our State Aid & Subsidies service offers intelligence on EU rules designed to ensure that public support measures in telecoms and the digital economy do not unduly distort competition and private investment. The principal focus of the service lies in the application of state aid rules to subsidised broadband deployment and take-up measures.

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 these rules in relation tother developments, such as unfair advantages in spectrum auctions and big tech taxation
gain insights into key EU funding initiatives in telecoms and the digital economy, such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)
understand the implications of the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR)

Download the data sheet

Latest Antitrust & Mergers intelligence

Meta alleged abuse against press publishers in France (pending case)

12 July 26 Miklós Kozma

The French competition authority imposed interim measures on Meta, ordering the company to negotiate in good faith with press publishers and news agencies on remuneration for the use of their press publications on Meta’s online services. According to the authority, Meta likely abused its dominant position in the social networking market by imposing unfair conditions on publishers and news agencies during their negotiations, and by withholding certain information that would be necessary for “an informed discussion”.

Apple anticompetitive product distribution practices in France 2020

12 July 26 Miklós Kozma

The Court of Cassation confirmed the partial annulment of the French competition authority’s 2020 antitrust decision against Apple. The authority had fined Apple €1.10bn for various infringements of competition law in relation to the distribution of its electronic products other than iPhones, such as iPads and MacBooks. On appeal, the courts found that some of the infringements were not sufficiently proven and reduced the fine to €372m.

Past and pending antitrust cases against big tech companies

12 July 26 Janne Kalliala

This report provides an overview of antitrust cases brought against the largest online platform companies – Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft – by the European Commission and national competition authorities in Europe.

Latest State Aid & Subsidies intelligence

Stakeholders highlight key challenges ahead in EU AI Act implementation

01 July 26 Alessandra Vaes

On the occasion of its 40th anniversary conference in Brussels on 23 June 2026, Cullen International hosted a panel discussion on the EU AI Act, addressing topics such as the role of standards and secondary legislation to help implement this regulation.

JD.com/Ceconomy foreign subsidies (pending case)

31 May 26 Janne Kalliala

The European Commission launched an in-depth foreign subsidies investigation into the proposed acquisition of Germany-based consumer electronics retailer Ceconomy by China-based e-commerce group JD.com. The Commission has until 2 October 2026 to decide on the case.

Explainer: EU General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER)

22 March 26 Janne Kalliala

The GBER plays an important role in the EU state aid system by allowing member states to grant aid more swiftly, without prior notification to the Commission for approval, provided the measure meets specific conditions that limit distortions of competition. This report outlines the GBER’s provisions on broadband state aid and highlights proposed changes on which the Commission is consulting until 23 April 2026.

Get access to the full reports and find out what our service could do for you with a free trial.

Get a personal demo

upcoming events

See all events

06 > 08 October 26 Brussels, Belgium Mastering EU regulation and competition law in telecoms

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