International News
Telecoms
a) Total telecom. Economy minister says number of operators will eventually reduce to three despite Vivendi opting for Numericable's SFR offer. [read more]
b) The Wall Street Journal. Even as U.S. and European officials negotiate a major free-trade agreement, a new form of protectionism has surfaced across the Atlantic. [read more]
c) Cullen International. Telecoms operators called for new Digital Agenda targets at an event organised jointly by ETNO, representing mainly incumbent operators, and Telecom Italia, in Brussels on April 30, 2014. [read more – subscription needed]
d) EurActiv. The incoming Italian presidency of the European Union is ready to support the European Parliament-backed overhaul of EU telecoms rules, despite widespread criticism of the plan from governments and leading operators. [read more]
e) Cullen International. The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) has ruled that the cross-border transmission of radio/TV broadcasting services via a conditional access system on satellite is an 'electronic communication service' (ECS) within the meaning of EU telecoms law. [read more – subscription needed]
f) Financial Times. German chancellor Angela Merkel has thrown her support behind calls to ease restrictions on consolidation in Europe telecoms sector as the bloc’s competition watchdog nears a decision over two key mergers. [read more]
g) Bloomberg. European regulators need to allow phone businesses within a country to merge to avoid them being choked by network costs, a top industry group said before rulings on whether to approve such deals in Germany and Ireland. [read more]
Spectrum
a) Policy Tracker. NTT has brought together six leading vendors to trial technology that could be part of the next generation of IMT. [read more – subscription needed]
b) Internet PolicyTracker. Driven by industry efforts to create network relay point standards to meet growing demands or short-range devices, Ofcom said it would… [read more – subscription needed]
c) PolicyTracker. Car manufacturers may be overlooking the fact that broadcast radio offers a more efficient use of spectrum than radio via cellular networks, says Michael Hill, managing director of UK not-for-profit radio streaming service Radioplayer. [read more – subscription needed]
Internet
a) Bloomberg. A European Union top court ruling that may require technology companies to delete personal information on request pits Europeans’ rights to privacy against the freedom to publish. [read more]
b) European Commission. The Commission publishes new guidance to help governments invest in broadband. The handbook is useful for any public authority investing in broadband or looking at co-funding projects with EU structural and investment funds (ESIF). [read more]
c) Cullen International. The European Parliament adopted on April 3, 2014 its first reading position on the proposed Telecoms Single Market (TSM) regulation. [read more – subscription needed]
Audiovisual
a) Advanced Television. Paying IPTV subscribers will overtake pay satellite TV ones in 2018, according to a new report from Digital TV Research. [read more]
Post
a) Post & Parcel. Poland’s Integer.pl Group has secured two agreements to install hundreds of its self-service parcel locker terminals at supermarkets in the UK and Italy. [read more]
b) Post & Parcel. John Spelich, the VP International e-commerce business development for Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, says Posts have the chance to win the e-commerce market — if they can meet the demands. [read more]
eCommerce
a) Cullen International. Online user trust has been at the centre of various EU events and decisions in the last weeks. [read more – subscription needed]
International Meetings
1. BE SMART ONLINE! PROJECT: A meeting regarding upcoming pilot-mapping on safer and better internet for children’s policies and actions was held in Brussels on the 7th May 2014. Our Senior Information Society Manager attended on behalf of MCA.
2. BE SMART ONLINE! PROJECT: A second meeting on the ‘BeSmartOnline’ contractual obligations with the European Commission was held in Doha, Qatar, from the 12th – 14th May 2014. Our Senior Information Society Manager and our Project Co-ordinator represented the MCA at this meeting.
3. IRG/BEREC CN: Our External Relations Manager attended the IRG/BEREC Contact Network meeting held in Lisbon,Portugal, on the 15th May 2014.
Publications
1. MOBILE DATA USAGE SURVEY 2014: This survey consisted of interviews carried out over the phone during February and March 2014 with the intent of obtaining information about the use of mobile data services by the general public. To view more information click here: http://www.mca.org.mt/surveys/mobile-data-usage-survey-2014
2. UPDATED REPORT ON CONSULTATION AND DECISION : The MCA has updated the decision “A Framework for Premium Rate Services in the ‘5’ Numbering Range”. To view more information click here: http://www.mca.org.mt/consultations/updated-report-consultation-and-decision-framework-premium-rate-services-5-numbering.
3. ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF RADIO FREQUENCIES TO THE AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE: The MCA received a request from the local radio amateur community to make available spectrum in the 70 MHz frequency band for amateur radio services. To view more information click here: http://www.mca.org.mt/notices-and-announcements/additional-allocation-radio-frequencies-amateur-radio-service-notice
4. TENDER FOR THE PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES TO THE MCA: This tender was cancelled on the 14th May 2014. To view more information click here: http://www.mca.org.mt/content/tender-provision-legal-services-mca.
5. TENDER FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ADVERTISING, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES: The Proposals submitted to the MCA were evaluated and the successful tenderer has been awarded. To view more information click here: http://www.mca.org.mt/content/tender-environmentally-friendly-advertising-public-relations-and-other-communications
Legal Update
1. VODAFONE VS. MCA: Continuation of proceedings of the appeal filed by Vodafone versus MCA regarding the contestation of MCA’s decision on BUCM establishing the termination rates to be charged between mobile telephony operators. Melita plc. and GO plc. intervened in the proceedings before the Administrative Review Tribunal. Together with the appeal contesting MCA’s decision, Vodafone filed another application asking for the suspension of MCA’s decision pending the final outcome of the appeal. The Tribunal with regard to the application for suspension, adjourned the final determination of the said application for suspension for the 2nd June 2014.
2. LAW AMENDMENTS: Publication in the Government Gazette of three legal notices. Legal Notice 135 and Legal Notice 136 brought into force the various amendments to Caps. 254, 399 and 418 as provided for in Act VIII of 2014. Legal Notice 154 of 2014 relates to amendments to the Postal Services (General) Regulation [SL. 254.01].
3. JUDICIAL PROTEST: Received a judicial protest further to the issue of a call of expression of interests calling for partners in a project entitled “Networked: ICT Competencies for Better Employability and Workforce Adaptability”.