Applying competition law to wholesale mobile access is becoming increasingly difficult owing to rapid change and development in the mobile industry, a leading European Commission official said yesterday. Faaez Samadi in Lisbon.

The successes and failures of recent mergers in the communications industries demonstrate the difficulties faced around the world when choosing whether or not to clear a deal, according to a panel of lawyers and regulators. Faaez Samadi in Lisbon.

Manuel Sebastião, head of Portugal’s Competition Authority, today said authorities need enhanced assessment methods to keep up with fast-moving communications markets. Faaez Samadi in Lisbon.

Days after Dutch telecoms company KPN cancelled its acquisition of a fibre network operator, the Netherlands' Competition Authority (NMa) has opened an in-depth investigation of KPN’s acquisition of four other providers of broadband services.

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation of the mobile payment and advertising joint venture between Vodafone, Telefónica, Orange and T-Mobile.

Dutch telecoms company KPN has called off its proposed acquisition of cable operator Caiway after the Netherlands' Competition Authority (NMa) threatened to block it over competition concerns.

The European Commission has sent requests for information to five of Europe’s largest telecoms companies to examine whether talks over standard-setting implied collusion, despite claims by the companies that DG Comp was informed of the talks.

Australia’s flagship National Broadband Network (NBN) cleared a significant hurdle yesterday as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) approved undertakings from telecoms provider Telstra designed to address competition concerns stemming from its role in the enterprise.

Brazil’s Secretariat of Economic Law (SDE) has opened an investigation of telecoms company Oi over allegations it abused its dominance and used discriminatory practices against rival internet service providers.

The US Department of Justice and the European Commission cleared Google’s purchase of Motorola Mobility on Monday, giving the online search leader a trove of patents and the ability to manufacture its own mobile handsets.

A recent string of deals and proposed joint ventures by US telecoms heavyweight Verizon Wireless may draw mixed reactions from antitrust enforcers and other regulators tasked with monitoring the industry.

Mexico’s Federal Competition Commission (CFC) has blocked the merger of mobile phone company Grupo Iusacell and media company Televisa.

France Télécom and private equity company Apax have lined up their antitrust counsel after Apax’s acquisition of Orange Switzerland was approved by France Télécom’s board of directors yesterday.

Belgium’s Competition Council has announced today it will allow telecoms incumbent Belgacom to purchase mobile phone shop The Phone House with conditions.

The US Department of Justice’s antitrust division (DoJ) has requested a court to postpone or dismiss its lawsuit against the merger between AT&T and T-Mobile, in a move that could scupper the US$39 billion deal.