European telecoms push back against EU plans for laxer fixed network regulations

FRANKFURT: An alliance of smaller European telecoms companies has spoken out against EU plans for laxer regulation in the fixed network business, according to an open letter published on Thursday.

The signatories, which included Vodafone, Iliad and 1&1, warned that a relaxation of the regulations for the respective market leaders in their countries that they compete with would lead to a “re-monopolisation”.

The European Commission’s proposals were a “step backwards,” contradicted EU competition principles and would stifle the expansion of fibre optic broadband, the letter said.