Three UK brags that its 5G network now covers 54% of the population, making it, the operator claims (citing figures produced by Ookla), the UK's "biggest and fastest 5G network." The technology is available in more than 400 locations across more than 3,000 sites. Three recently announced that it plans to switch off its 3G network by the end of 2024, a move which, it says, will allow it to focus on improving its existing 4G services while rolling out 5G.

Telecom Italia (TIM) is hoping for a preliminary agreement this week with state-backed lender CDP Equity on a long-mooted plan to merge TIM's network assets with those of Open Fiber, according to a Reuters report citing two anonymous sources. The news is the latest twist in an ongoing saga involving bids from investment companies, plans for revamping TIM and political desire to create a single fiber network "champion" in Italy. (See TIM starts formal Open Fiber merger talks with CDP and Telecom Italia plans to do the splits.)

Meanwhile, Sparkle, TIM's international services arm, has expanded its European reach by opening a new point-of-presence (PoP) in Warsaw, its first in Poland. Local and regional players – including network providers, ISPs, OTTs, content and application providers – will be able to access low-latency Internet connectivity through Sparkle's Tier 1 IP Transit service Seabone, which offers speeds of up to 400 Gbit/s.

Over the weekend BT put a new 5G-based outside broadcast system through its paces, covering a rugby match in London between Saracens and Northampton Saints using cameras that were connected via a standalone private 5G network installed at the stadium. The output from these cameras formed part of the live BT Sport channel's coverage of the match – a UK first, claims the company.

Video-streaming behemoth Netflix has agreed to settle a tax evasion dispute with Italy, coughing up €55.8 million (US$59.1 million) to cover what was deemed owed for the period from October 2015 to 2019. As Reuters reports, prosecutors opened the investigation three years ago, claiming the existence of Netflix's digital infrastructure in Italy meant it needed to pay taxes there.

Iskratel has introduced energy-efficiency labelling on its broadband equipment, similar to that used by white goods manufacturers on their domestic appliances within the European Union. The labels state the product's power consumption and the level of compliance with the EU Code of Conduct on Energy Consumption of Broadband Equipment and, says Iskratel, enabling operators to make informed decisions when trying to choose products that reduce their environmental impact.

UK cable operator Virgin Media is hooking up London's O2 arena to its gigabit network in an attempt to make it, in Virgin's words, the "best connected venue in the UK." Virgin is also threatening to open an "experiential studio space" at the venue, where it will showcase its products and services. Virgin and O2 merged last June. (See Virgin Media and O2 merger cleared for take-off.)

— Paul Rainford, Assistant Editor, Europe, Light Reading