The latest telecom news includes announcements on Phones 4U cartel case, Viettel, VNPT and MobiFone in Vietnam, among others.
UK Court Rejects Phones 4U Cartel Case Against Major Telecom Operators
Phones 4U, a defunct mobile retailer, failed to revive its cartel claim against Vodafone, EE, and O2. It alleged the three telecom companies coordinated to terminate contracts, forcing Phones 4U out of business. After a nine‑week trial, the UK High Court dismissed the claim. The court examined whether the companies exchanged sensitive information and maintained distance from it, finding the claim failed on two required legal elements. Phones 4U also accused Telefonica of destroying evidence, but the court declined to draw an adverse inference. The ruling offered detailed guidance on what constitutes a “concerted practice” under competition law and the responsibilities of companies to distance themselves from such conduct, according to Global Competition Review.
Vietnam Accelerates 5G Rollout with 11,000 New Base Stations and Major Network Expansion Plans
Vietnam’s telecom operators — Viettel, VNPT, and MobiFone — have deployed around 11,000 5G base stations, covering 26 percent of the population. This represents about 7.7 percent of the current 4G network. Viettel plans to install 20,000 more 5G stations by 2025 and aims to reach 10 million users. VNPT is expanding coverage in provinces and public areas. MobiFone will add 10,000 stations to reach all communes. These expansions are supported by government subsidies and policies promoting national 5G deployment. Data speeds are expected to more than double compared to 4G. Operators are integrating 5G with AI and APIs to support new services and business models, Telecom Review Asia reports.
Cameroon Fines Orange and MTN $4.6 Million for Service Failures Amid Network Upgrades
Cameroon’s telecom regulator, the Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB), fined Orange Cameroon and MTN Cameroon a total of USD 4.6 million for failing to meet service quality and coverage standards. Inspections in April and May 2024 found both operators did not meet contractual obligations, resulting in fines of USD 2.5 million for Orange and USD 1.8 million for MTN. Orange was also fined USD 357,600 for issues related to pricing and value-added services. Operators are investing in infrastructure upgrades, including expanding fiber-optic networks and improving power supply at technical sites. The government promotes cooperation between operators and regulators to use shared resources more effectively and implement real-time network monitoring.
TelecomLead.com News Desk