The Philippine government has recently launched significant initiatives to enhance the construction and development of telecommunications and internet infrastructure across the nation. Specifically, by issuing the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) under Executive Order 32, the government seeks to simplify the often-criticised permitting process, which has been plagued by complexity and delays.
Consequently, the proactive approach is essential for facilitating the swift and efficient deployment of critical connectivity services, which are vital for economic growth and development. To bolster this effort, the government has formed a technical working group that includes key agencies such as the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Anti-Red Tape Authority, and the National Telecommunications Commission.
The group is tasked with crafting the necessary rules and regulations within a defined 60-day timeframe. By collaborating with various stakeholders, the government aims to ensure that the new guidelines are comprehensive and practical and effectively address the challenges currently faced in building telecommunications infrastructure.
In addition to these measures, the Philippine government recognises the importance of establishing a One-Stop Shop for Construction Permits in cities. That initiative, therefore, centralises the permitting process and provides applicants with a single point of contact for all their needs. As a result, this enhancement improves accessibility and supports local economies by facilitating smoother business operations.
Furthermore, the government in the Philippines is dedicated to promoting fair competition within the telecommunications sector by implementing regulations prohibiting anti-competitive practices and enforcing a zero-backlog policy for all permit applications. Ultimately, these measures are designed to ensure timely infrastructure development and equitable opportunities for all stakeholders involved.
The European Commission approved Emirates Telecommunications (e&) €2.15-billion acquisition of Czech PPF Telecoms’ assets after thoroughly investigating under its newly implemented Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR). This deal, covering operations in Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovakia, raised concerns among the EU regulators regarding potential market distortion due to foreign subsidies from the UAE government.
The Commission launched the first-ever investigation under the FSR, a regulatory tool aimed at preventing foreign state aid from undermining competition in the EU’s internal market. The probe revealed that e& had received foreign subsidies through grants, loans, and state guarantees but found no immediate negative impact on competition at the time of the acquisition.
Ultimately, the European Commission approved the deal after securing important commitments from e& to mitigate future risks. These concessions included relinquishing unlimited state guarantees, restricting the funding of PPF’s EU activities to emergencies requiring prior approval, and committing to notify the Commission of any future acquisitions within the EU, regardless of their size. These safeguards ensured the transaction would not disrupt the competitive landscape in the EU market while highlighting the Commission’s robust enforcement of the FSR in regulating foreign subsidies and maintaining a fair marketplace.
The US House has recently passed a bill aimed at streamlining federal permitting for semiconductor manufacturing projects, a move anticipated to benefit companies like Intel and TSMC. This legislation seeks to address concerns that lengthy environmental reviews could hinder the construction of domestic chip plants, an essential component of US manufacturing strategy, especially as chipmakers have pledged around $400 billion in investments following the 2022 Chips and Science Act.
Many projects are experiencing delays despite investments. Intel’s facilities in Arizona, initially scheduled to open in 2024, may now begin operations in early 2025. Additionally, a $20 billion project in Ohio has been pushed back beyond 2026 due to market challenges and subsidy holdups. The new bill introduces criteria to exempt some projects from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews, enabling construction to start before the year ends.
The legislation poses a challenge for the Biden administration, which seeks to enhance domestic manufacturing while achieving ambitious climate targets. As the government tackles this dilemma, the urgency to lessen dependence on Asian chip production, especially from Taiwan, continues to be a key priority.
In a crucial court case, Coinbase, the largest US cryptocurrency exchange, confronted the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Philadelphia. The exchange is calling on the SEC to create new regulations for digital assets stemming from a lawsuit over the agency’s failure to address a 2022 petition. The petition aimed to clarify when a digital asset is deemed a security and suggested a new regulatory framework specifically designed for the cryptocurrency sector.
The SEC rejected Coinbase’s request in December 2023, asserting that current regulations are adequate for the cryptocurrency sector. Coinbase’s attorney argued that the SEC’s refusal to clarify registration processes has hindered the exchange’s ability to operate within US laws. In contrast, an SEC lawyer maintained that the agency is not obligated to create new rules, suggesting that businesses like Coinbase must adapt to the existing regulatory framework.
This legal dispute highlights an ongoing tension between the cryptocurrency industry and the SEC, which asserts that many crypto tokens qualify as securities and fall under its jurisdiction. The crypto sector largely views itself as existing in a regulatory grey area, pushing for new legislation to provide more precise guidelines for managing digital assets. This ongoing struggle underscores the need for a cohesive framework that addresses the unique challenges of the rapidly evolving crypto market.
As the appeals court considers both sides, the outcome could have significant implications for how cryptocurrencies are regulated in the United States, potentially shaping the industry’s future.
A German court has ruled that Amazon is using Nokia’s patented video technologies without obtaining a proper licence, according to a statement from Nokia. The decision, made by the Munich Regional Court, found that Amazon’s streaming devices are illegally utilising Nokia’s patented video-related technologies, which the Finnish company holds rights to.
Nokia’s Chief Licensing Officer, Arvin Patel, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating that Amazon has been selling these devices without the necessary licences in place. The ruling highlights ongoing disputes between tech giants over intellectual property.
In response to Nokia’s legal actions, Amazon filed a lawsuit in July in a Delaware federal court, accusing the company from Finland of infringing on a dozen Amazon patents related to cloud-computing technology.
This legal battle is part of a broader pattern of disputes between major tech companies, as patent rights continue to play a critical role in the development of new technologies and services.
The European Commission is taking significant steps to ensure Apple aligns its practices with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). That initiative involves specifying the actions Apple must undertake to enhance interoperability with other products, marking a pivotal moment as it represents the first formal use of this DMA tool to engage with the tech giant.
The move reflects the Commission’s commitment to fostering a competitive digital market within the EU, particularly in light of ongoing discussions regarding Apple’s role in this landscape. To this end, the Commission has initiated two key proceedings focused on interoperability issues concerning Apple’s iOS operating system.
The first aims to simplify the connection process for non-Apple devices, such as smartwatches and headphones, enabling them to work seamlessly with iPhones and iPads. That includes enhancing features like Bluetooth pairing and notifications. The second proceeding examines how Apple interacts with developers seeking interoperability, aiming to establish a fair and efficient process that encourages innovation while addressing potential privacy and security concerns.
The European Commission has established a clear timeline for these proceedings, setting a six-month deadline for investigations into Apple’s compliance with the DMA. Should Apple fail to meet the specified requirements, the Commission may impose fines or restrictions on the company’s operations in certain regions or technology sectors. Moreover, it follows a previous mandate requiring Apple to address competition concerns related to access to near-field communication (NFC) technology for contactless payments, highlighting the company’s ongoing scrutiny.
European antitrust regulators will not take action against Microsoft’s acquisition of staff from AI startup Inflection, including its co-founders, following the withdrawal of requests from seven European Union countries. These countries dropped their requests for the European Commission to investigate, due to a recent court ruling that limits the regulator’s ability to examine mergers below the EU’s revenue threshold.
The court ruling has been viewed by some as a correction against regulatory overreach. The European Commission, in response, stated it would not pursue the case further. Despite this, the Commission acknowledged the Microsoft-Inflection deal as a merger due to its restructuring of Inflection’s business focus towards AI development.
The agreement between Microsoft and Inflection represents a significant market shift. Under the EU’s merger rules, it is considered a concentration, reflecting the ongoing transformations in the AI industry.
The Dutch competition regulator, the Netherlands Authority of Consumers and Markets (ACM), has called for more authority to investigate corporate deals independently. This comes after the European Union’s antitrust regulators decided not to take action against Microsoft’s acquisition of AI startup Inflection’s staff.
The EU’s decision to not investigate further comes after the initial 7 Member states who complained about Microsoft sweeping up of Inflection’s staff, decided to drop their complaints, leaving the Commission with no decision in this matter.
ACM expressed concerns over potential negative impacts of such deals on Dutch consumers and businesses but lacks the power to fully assess or prevent market dominance in these cases. The regulator’s chairman, Martijn Snoep, emphasised the need for new investigative powers to better assess acquisitions and their effects.
ACM is pushing for the ability to refer acquisitions with broader European implications to the European Commission, enabling better oversight of deals that might otherwise go unexamined.
The United States is pushing Vietnam to avoid using Chinese firm HMN Technologies in its plan to build 10 new undersea cables by 2030, amid concerns over national security and sabotage. Vietnam’s current cables, essential for global internet connectivity, have suffered repeated failures, prompting the government to prioritise new projects.
Washington is lobbying Hanoi to select more experienced and trusted suppliers for the cables, citing concerns about espionage and security threats linked to HMN Technologies, which the US views as associated with Chinese tech giant Huawei. The US has also raised concerns about possible sabotage of Vietnam’s current subsea cables.
Vietnamese authorities have remained open to working with Chinese firms, but United States officials have stressed that choosing HMN Tech could discourage American companies from investing in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s top telecoms company, Viettel, is already planning a cable with Singapore, bypassing disputed waters in the South China Sea.
The US and China are vying for influence in Vietnam as the Southeast Asian nation looks to expand its undersea cable infrastructure. Both countries are heavily invested in Vietnam, with subsea cables becoming a critical element in the broader US-China technology rivalry.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed two new bills into law aimed at protecting actors and performers from unauthorised use of their digital likenesses through AI. The following measures have been introduced in response to the increasing use of AI in the entertainment industry, which has raised concerns about the unauthorised replication of performer’s voices and images. The first bill mandates that contracts unambiguously specify the use of AI-generated digital replicas and requires professional representation for performers during negotiations.
The second bill restricts the commercial use of digital replicas of deceased performers. It prohibits their appearance in films, video games, and other media unless the performer’s estate gives explicit consent. These steps are crucial in safeguarding the rights of performers in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, where AI-generated content is becoming increasingly prevalent.
The legislative actions mentioned highlight widespread concerns about AI technology, not just in entertainment but across different industries. The increasing use of AI has raised worries about its potential to disrupt sectors, lead to job displacement, and even pose a threat to democratic processes. Although President Biden’s administration has advocated for federal AI regulations, Congress is split, which makes it challenging to enact comprehensive national-level legislation.
