The UK telecoms regulator’s new market decision largely continues the ten-year strategy set in 2021. The review covers four fixed wholesale markets, with remedies differentiated by market, product and geographic area. Ofcom signals that, while regulation of physical infrastructure is likely to remain beyond 2031, other markets could face a more relaxed regime if sustainable competition emerges.

Following the structural separation of the fixed access network and the qualification of FiberCop as a wholesale-only operator, the Italian telecoms regulator lightens the regulatory burden on the Italian incumbent in markets for wholesale local access (market 1/2020) and terminating segments of leased lines (market 2/2020).

The European Commission raised no comment on ARCEP’s assessment of the symmetric regulatory framework for fibre access networks. ARCEP said the framework enabled rapid fibre roll-out, significant investment and sustainable competition in the retail market.

According to BEREC several structural indicators pointed to a credible risk of market foreclosure in the medium term. Romania was the first country in the European Union to deregulate this wholesale market in 2015.

New and simplified telecoms equipment certification rules in Argentina introduced third party certification agencies, removed renewal requirements, included product-family approvals, and established the regime applying to certification bodies and testing labs.

The Dutch Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal delivered its judgment confirming the legality of the government decision requiring Odido (former T-Mobile) to remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from critical parts of its mobile network.