Effortel, a Belgian mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), has been chosen by Russia's VTB Bank to develop and manage its mobile service offering, VTB Mobile. The platform, says Effortel, facilitates targeted marketing and cross-promotion of both VTB's banking and mobile products, and also supports a customer loyalty program.

European Union member states have published a report into the challenges presented by the rollout of 5G networks, which together, they believe, form a "new security paradigm." Among the risks identified are those born of reliance on a single supplier, and the likelihood of non-EU states or state-backed actors presenting a growing threat to the security of mobile networks. The next step is for a "toolbox" of mitigating measures to be agreed upon by the NIS Cooperation Group, which is composed of representatives of EU member states and other interested parties.

European telecom industry groups ETNO, GSMA and Cable Europe have issued a joint statement asking EU lawmakers to take a more flexible, "risk-based" approach to e-privacy legislation, saying that: "Rules for processing communication metadata need to be more future-proof and not focus disproportionately on consent … This is crucial for Europe to compete on the global economic stage, and at the same time allow it to export European fundamental principles." Or, to put it another way: Guys, all this GDPR stuff is frankly cramping our style. (See Top 4 GDPR Misconceptions.)

UK regional operator KCOM has completed the rollout of its Lightstream FTTP network in Hull, making it the first full-fiber city in the UK, according to KCOM. Around 200,000 homes and businesses in the city and its environs will have access to gigabit broadband. The Lightstream rollout began in 2012 and has cost £85 million (US$104 million).

UK-based Colt Technology Services has upgraded its universal customer premises equipment (uCPE) offering, which the company says brings the benefits of network functions virtualization (NFV) to enterprises. Colt's cCPE makes use of ADVA's Ensemble Connector as its virtualization platform and offers a range of virtual network functions.

— Paul Rainford, Assistant Editor, Europe, Light Reading