Bloomberg News is headlining a quote from Italian economic development minister Carlo Calenda saying that Telecom Italia (TI) should be split into two listed companies (Network Co and retail company), and that he is in talks to define the ‘perimeter of the network’. This report comes followinf news last week that Vivendi is set to […]
O2 UK is closing its smart home service after a disappointing response from customers. The Telefónica group MNO said in it had required “category-leading take-up” of the service in order to invest in it properly. O2 Smart Home allowed customers to control devices through a dedicated management app. The operator will refund all payments made […]
The US Supreme Court has refused an appeal by Dish Network which objected to plans by Florida to implement a ‘satellite tax’ on users of DTH services from Dish and DirecTV. The State law can now be implemented. Cable users already have to pay a 4.92 per cent tax on their subscriptions. However, the satellite […]
Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump’s chief strategist, didn’t have the best of days on January 9th. He lost his job as executive chairman of the controversial Breitbart News when its backers pulled their funding, reportedly extremely unhappy at his disparaging comments about the president and his family. Then, pay-radio operator SiriusXM dropped him from their […]
Multinational cable, fibre, telecommunications, content and media company Altice N.V. is to separate Altice USA Inc. from Altice N.V. (which will be renamed Altice Europe). The separation will enable each business to focus more on the distinct opportunities for value creation in their respective markets and ensure greater transparency for investors. Altice NV aims to […]
Matt Hancock has been promoted to UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s Cabinet as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, replacing Karen Bradley, who has moved to Northern Ireland Secretary. Hancock was appointed Minister of State for Digital in July 2016 in May’s first Cabinet following her election as Leader of the Conservative […]
Margot James, currently Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has been appointed Minister of State at the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to replace Matt Hancock, following his promotion from that role to Secretary of State in the Department as part of UK Prime Minister […]
The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) has announced the publication of new model rules for TV White Space (TVWS) technology. The new model rules will provide governments, policy makers and regulators with the tools necessary to enable the quick and efficient deployment of TVWS networks to help bridge the digital divide and support the Internet of […]
Music Business Worldwide (MBW) is reporting that music streaming service has added some 20 million paying subscribers since March last year. MBW says Spotify now counts 70 million subscribers. Equity analysts at investment bank Exane/BNPP say this is clearly good news for Spotify, but also helps Vivendi-backed Universal Music Group (UMG). “Spotify is the largest […]
Bermuda-incorporated (but operating from Hong Kong) APT Satellite, and backed by China Satellite Communications (CSCC), has issued new shares which will be traded on the Chinese mainland. Its shares were already listed on the Hong Kong exchange. CSCC is itself involved in its own expanded float and restructuring on the Shanghai exchange. APT is perhaps […]