Openreach, the semi-autonomous network access arm of UK operator BT, has set out its "blueprint" for how it thinks the broadband industry should be regulated over the next few years. Among other demands, it would like to see regulator Ofcom force Virgin Media O2 and other Openreach rivals to do more on the pole- and duct-sharing front, opening up their networks in the same way that Openreach does – and for the same price. On the other hand, Openreach believes Ofcom should reject calls to "put more constraints on [Openreach's] ability to compete," claiming that they would "inevitably lead to consumers and businesses facing higher prices and weaker competition." Ofcom's forthcoming Telecoms Access Review (TAR) will reassess and re-set the broadband industry rules for another five years from April 1, 2026.

Nokia has helped Telecom Armenia to become the first operator in the Caucasus and Central Asia regions to deploy 25G PON commercial services. The 25G PON deployment, says Nokia, is targeted at B2B subscribers and will offer "real" 20Gbit/s symmetrical broadband speeds. It will also allow Telecom Armenia to reuse its existing fiber broadband gear. Telecom Armenia's network covers around 300,000 households across Armenia, offering broadband, mobile, landline and TV services.

ETNO, the trade association for European telcos, has rebranded as Connect Europe. In a statement, the organization said that the Connect Europe brand "emphasizes the Association's role as the main representative of Europe's connectivity ecosystem, as leaders in empowering the Continent's competitiveness." The name-change comes as Connect Europe's board proposes Alessandro Gropelli as its new director general (he is currently deputy director general for strategy and communications).

Also lining up a new director general is the GSMA – Vivek Badrinath will take the reins at the mobile industry lobby group in April 2025, succeeding Mats Granryd in the DG role. Badrinath's resume includes CEO stints at Vantage Towers and Vodafone.

Deutsche Telekom is supplying a 5G private network for a smart vineyard project in Germany's Moselle region, which sees a connected robot tending the vines on the famously steep slopes, helping wine producers cope with the shortage of skilled human labor. The 5G network uses industrial frequencies in the 3.7GHz to 3.8GHz range and works independently of Deutsche Telekom's public network.

The latest iPhone, due to be launched today with the usual Apple fanfare and, no doubt, sub-Steve Jobs executive hyperbole, is based on the V9 chip design supplied by UK-based Arm, according to a Reuters report citing the Financial Times. The two companies signed a long-term chip deal in September of last year, the report adds.

Ericsson has responded to the investigation into the "mobile browsers and cloud gaming" market by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority, saying that providers of mobile devices and their attendant operating systems should "not unduly restrict MNOs' pricing strategies or hinder their ability to offer premium services to app developers and users." Ericsson has in mind here the much-ballyhooed money-making potential of so-called network slicing for MNOs.