CMA Approves Vodafone-Three UK Merger, With Potential Impact on Prices and 5G

Gov.uk

The UK’s telecoms industry faces a major shift as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) approved Vodafone’s £16.5bn merger with CK Hutchison’s Three UK, creating the largest mobile operator in the country with 29 million customers. To proceed, the companies must commit to £11bn in network upgrades, a three-year cap on some tariffs, and competitive wholesale services. This approval marks a shift in the CMA’s approach, favoring investment commitments over asset sales.

While consumer group Which? voiced concerns about potential price hikes and quality drops, rivals like Virgin Media O2 supported the deal, which includes a network-sharing agreement. The merged company, with Vodafone owning 51% and Hutchison 49%, aims to deliver the UK’s largest and fastest 5G network. The deal may also signal a shift in telecoms consolidation in Europe, following past regulatory pushback.

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T-Mobile Hits $286B Market Cap, Boosting M&A Potential

Light Reading

T-Mobile recently reached a market capitalization of $286 billion, surpassing previous records held by AT&T and Comcast, analyst Cheta Sharman note on LinkedIn.

This marks a dramatic turnaround from its $3 billion market cap in 2011, following a failed merger with AT&T. Under CEOs John Legere and Mike Sievert, T-Mobile’s share price has tripled, fueled by the 2020 Sprint merger. T-Mobile’s strong market cap enhances its financial power for future mergers and acquisitions (M&A). It has already acquired Mint Mobile and is pursuing UScellular. Analysts suggest T-Mobile could explore further M&A opportunities, including a potential merger with Charter Communications, given its estimated $36 billion for investments. The approval allows SpaceX to use its second-generation satellites for low-latency service. The FCC granted partial approval, noting the need for ongoing monitoring of SpaceX’s operations, while delaying decisions on certain aspects of SpaceX’s broader application, such as power output and additional satellite deployment.

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Telecom Cloud Market to Grow $63.68B by 2028, Driven by Mobility, Says Study

PR Newswire

The global telecom cloud market is expected to grow by USD 63.68 billion from 2024 to 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.7%, according to Technavio. Growth is driven by rising enterprise mobility and the need for improved efficiency, alongside increasing telecom dependence post-COVID-19. However, stringent regulatory compliance remains a challenge. Key players in the market include Alphabet, Amazon, AT&T, BT Group, Cisco, Dell, Deutsche Telekom, Huawei.

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FCC Proposes Cybersecurity Certifications for Telecoms After Hacking Attack

FCC

U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing that communications providers submit annual certifications confirming they have plans to protect against cyberattacks. This comes in response to the “Salt Typhoon” hacking group, linked to Beijing, which has targeted U.S. telecoms to steal call data. The FCC Stressed the need for a modern framework to secure networks. The proposal follows growing concerns about the attack, which reportedly stole significant U.S. telecom metadata. If approved, it would take effect immediately.

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Australia to Roll Out Rules Blocking Scam Texts with New ID Register

Australian Govt

Australia’s Albanese Government is set to introduce new rules requiring telecommunications providers to block or flag scam texts. A mandatory SMS Sender ID Register, managed by ACMA, will target unregistered senders impersonating trusted entities like banks and government agencies.

Launching in late 2025, the register will enforce verification standards for telecoms. This initiative is part of a broader effort to hold banks and social media platforms accountable for user safety, with Meta already rolling out new verification measures in February. SMS remains the most common method for scams.

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Study: 79% of Parents Struggling to Understand Teens’ Smartphone Use, School Ban Proposed

Newsroom

A recent study by telco EE found that 79% of parents are concerned about their teens’ smartphone use, with many unclear on online risks. While 96% of teens have smartphones, 62% of parents don’t fully understand digital concepts like footprints. Concerns include inappropriate content (40%) and excessive screen time (38%). EE has launched resources to help parents teach safe phone use, and the issue has reached Parliament, where MP Josh McAllister proposed a school smartphone ban—though the government remains skeptical, citing existing headteacher powers.

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Trump Appoints Musk’s Ally David Sacks as AI and Crypto ‘Tsar

Reuters

The U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed venture capitalist David Sacks as the White House’s AI and cryptocurrency “tsar.”

A former PayPal executive and ally of Elon Musk, Sacks has been a vocal Trump supporter. Trump praised his expertise in AI and crypto, aiming to create clearer regulations for the industries. The appointment aligns with Trump’s focus on tech deregulation, with many investors hoping for a more favorable crypto stance than under Biden. Sacks, also a backer of Musk’s ventures, will retain his role at Craft Ventures, as the “tsar” position is advisory.

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Delaware Judge Rejects Musk’s $56B Pay Deal, Tesla Plans Appeal

Assets

In a significant development this week, a Delaware judge rejected Elon Musk’s 2018 pay deal, despite shareholder approval in June. Judge Kathaleen McCormick ruled that Tesla’s board was overly influenced by Musk when granting the $56 billion package, now worth $101.5 billion. The ruling means the shareholder vote can’t ratify the deal, and Tesla is expected to appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court. If a new deal is proposed, it could be more costly for the company, but the rejection would reduce dilution for other shareholders.

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Altman Dismisses Concerns Over Musk’s Political Influence, Calls Relationship ‘Sad

NYTimes

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman dismissed concerns that Elon Musk might use his political influence to harm rivals, calling such actions “profoundly un-American.” Speaking at the New York Times DealBook Summit, Altman expressed confidence that Musk wouldn’t engage in such behavior. Despite their tense relationship, Altman acknowledged Musk’s contributions, calling the situation “tremendously sad” and noting that he had once considered Musk a hero. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI, has had legal disputes with the company over its shift from nonprofit to for-profit, while his xAI venture competes with OpenAI.

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Intel Eyes Marvell’s Matt Murphy for CEO Amid Leadership Shakeup

Bloomberg

Intel is considering external CEO candidates, including Marvell’s Matt Murphy, after Pat Gelsinger’s sudden exit, Bloomberg reported. Interim co-CEOs David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus are overseeing the company, with a focus on conservative capital spending and a “no capital left behind” approach. At the UBS conference, Intel reaffirmed its strategy, including its commitment to becoming a leading foundry and leveraging its $7.9 billion U.S. Chips Act grant. Meanwhile, Marvell’s stock rose nearly 11% after strong Q3 earnings, with Murphy, a top Intel contender, remaining focused on Marvell.

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