Eurobites: ETNO, GSMA fear telco taxation creep

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: malware plays havoc in Africa; Google stunned by miniscule Russian fine; new names in Cuckoo's nest.

Paul Rainford, Assistant Editor, Europe

August 19, 2021

2 Min Read
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Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: malware plays havoc in Africa; Google stunned by miniscule Russian fine; new names in Cuckoo's nest.

  • The European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO) and the GSMA have come together to voice their concerns over proposals from the OECD that seek to clamp down on "tax planning strategies" used by multinationals, telcos and other tech companies among them, to avoid paying their fair share of tax in countries where they are clearly generating huge profits. In a statement, ETNO and GSMA say that while they welcome the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework agreement, they are concerned that the proposals fail to "recognize the essential contribution of the telecommunications sector to the world's economies and its key features with respect to investment, tax and regulatory regimes." They also claim that the Inclusive Framework has "shifted from its original purpose of levying taxes on digital services in jurisdictions where the customer resides to a broad application that potentially subjects large multinationals within the telecommunications industry, who already pay their fair share of taxes, to double taxation." In the telecom industry's defense, they point out that multinational telcos already shell out for spectrum, are subject to extensive regulation and invest heavily in local infrastructure. (See EU to press ahead with digital levy plan.)

    • The process of "digital transformation" and the advent of widespread remote working in Africa has made the continent more alluring to those lovable purveyors of malware, new research from cybersecurity company Kaspersky reveals. During the first half of 2021, malware attacks rose by 5% in the region, with South Africa – at 32 million attacks – bearing the brunt. Nigeria – ironically, perhaps, given that it is often perceived as one of the major sources of cyber-nuisance – saw the largest percentage increase in attacks, up 23%.

    • Well, it looks like it's all over for Google. It's had a good run, but now we'll have to go back to Ask Jeeves to find the phone number of our nearest plumber. Because Russia, you see, has imposed a fine of 6 million roubles (US$80,881) on the search giant for, as Reuters reports, failing to delete content that Russia deems illegal. All things must pass, as a Beatle once said.

    • Cuckoo, "the UK's most loved national broadband provider" it says here, has announced a number of high-level appointments. Sarah Ahern joins as head of strategy and operations (from delivery app company Just Eat), Daniel Mali (previously at Monzo) is named as operations lead, and the appropriately monikered Ben Bentley (previously at Schroders Personal Wealth) becomes finance lead.

      — Paul Rainford, Assistant Editor, Europe, Light Reading

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About the Author

Paul Rainford

Assistant Editor, Europe, Light Reading

Paul is based on the Isle of Wight, a rocky outcrop off the English coast that is home only to a colony of technology journalists and several thousand puffins.

He has worked as a writer and copy editor since the age of William Caxton, covering the design industry, D-list celebs, tourism and much, much more.

During the noughties Paul took time out from his page proofs and marker pens to run a small hotel with his other half in the wilds of Exmoor. There he developed a range of skills including carrying cooked breakfasts, lying to unwanted guests and stopping leaks with old towels.

Now back, slightly befuddled, in the world of online journalism, Paul is thoroughly engaged with the modern world, regularly firing up his VHS video recorder and accidentally sending text messages to strangers using a chipped Nokia feature phone.

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