Here are the 10 latest national developments in European telecoms regulation:
 

1. Czech mobile operators O2, T-Mobile, and Vodafone signed a network-sharing agreement to bring 5G to 600 underserved locations, in line with new 900 and 1800 MHz licence obligations. By 2030, each operator must cover 500 areas (200 individually and 300 jointly), supporting the EU digital decade connectivity targets.
2. The French regulator consulted on the use of the 3.8–4.2 GHz band for local 5G networks, with plans to offer 10-year licences on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. In Germany, the regulator issued guidance on the regulatory obligations of number-independent interpersonal communications services, covering all services with active users in the country.
4. In Hungary, Magyar Telekom plans to transfer by 31 October 2025 its passive mobile infrastructure, including towers and rooftop structures at nearly 2,800 sites, to a wholly owned subsidiary, Magyar Telekom Mobile Infra.
5. The Italian telecoms regulator designated FiberCop, the structurally separated infrastructure provider, as a wholesale-only operator pursuant to article 80 of the European Electronic Communications Code.
6. Italy passed its first space economy law, introducing licensing and registration for space activities, oversight by the Italian Space Agency, spectrum efficiency measures, dedicated funding, support for new entrants and start-ups, and alignment with international rules.
7. Slovakia concluded its largest-ever spectrum auction on 9 July 2025, awarding all 510 MHz of available spectrum across five bands (800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1500 MHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz) to the four established mobile operators for €506m.
8. The Slovenian regulator is updating its 2022 decisions on the wholesale local and central access markets, introducing copper decommissioning rules aligned with the Commission gigabit recommendation and raising wholesale prices for non-NGA services (below 30 Mbps) by over 50%.
9. The Spanish regulator approved increased prices for access to Telefónica’s civil engineering infrastructure, despite the European Commission’s concerns about the valuation methodology used.
10. In the UK, Virgin Media O2 acquired 78.8 MHz of spectrum across four bands (1500 MHz, 2.1 GHz, 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz) from VodafoneThree for £343m (€404.03m).

Cullen International’s European Telecoms Updates highlight recent policy developments affecting the regulation of radio spectrum, wholesale networks and consumer protection in certain markets in the region.

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