M2M

Machine to machine communications and ‘the Internet of Things'

Machine to machine communications (M2M), 'the Internet of things' otherwise referred to as 'connected living' is a concept that refers to what is considered to be a new stage in the evolution of telecommunications and the Internet.

The IoT holds the promise of significant progress in addressing global and societal challenges and in improving daily life, but it also introduces a great challenge in assessing the right trade-off between the potential economic and societal benefits and the control that we want to retain over an environment where machines will gather, exchange, processes and store information automatically.

17 May 2013

Telecoms

EU accelerates proposals for a single telecoms market

The EU Digital Commissioner, Neelie Kroes, has indicated that the EU plans to accelerate its proposals for a single market for European telecoms. A draft proposal is set to be released in October of this year, however the Commission has now stated it will release an earlier blue-print of the proposals in June to allow parties to suggest amendments in advance, in order to speed up the approval process.

23 April 2013

The Law Commission's recommendations to revise the Electronic Communications Code

The current Code has been criticised by courts as out of date and unclear.

08 March 2013

Community infrastructure levy- key points

Community infrastructure levy may significantly impact on development costs.

08 March 2013

Technology

MPs and Peers publish highly critical report of the Draft Communications Data Bill

The Joint Committee, made up of MPs and peers, has published its report on the Draft Communications Data Bill, a bill which proposes to extend the obligations of communications service providers ("CSPs") to provide law enforcement agencies with greater information in relation to individuals' communication activities.  The committee criticised the bill as being "too sweeping", calling for a redraft, along with a new round of consultation, in order to better address the balance between providing data that will help to tackle serious crime, whilst protecting the privacy of law-abiding citizens.

19 December 2012

Telecommunications

The European Commission: a strategy for spectrum sharing

The European Commission recently published a Communication on spectrum sharing urging a close working partnership between the Commission and Member States to develop a harmonised system for identifying, developing and monitoring shared access to radio spectrum in light of the exponential growth in wireless data traffic, as Ginny O'Flinn, a Senior Associate at Olswang LLP, goes on to explain.

30 October 2012

Annual Review

Annual Review - Not Just Talk

Payments via mobile phone have the potential to revolutionise the retail industry, transform customer service and boost the reach of location-based advertising. But the success or failure of the concept rests in the hands of the consumer.

Olswang's Annual Review looks at m-payment and other trends in the Technology, Media, Telecoms and Real Estate sectors across Europe and Asia.

15 October 2012

telecoms

EU guidelines on State aid for broadband networks

On 1 June 2012 the European Commission launched a consultation on revised "EU Guidelines for the application of state aid rules in relation to the rapid deployment of broadband networks'. The changes to the Guidelines seek to simplify the previous 2009 Guidelines on public funding for broadband networks as well as accommodate technological advances made since then. The consultation deadline is 3 September 2012 and the revised Guidelines are set to be published in December 2012.

31 July 2012

Pensions

Pensions Evolution: The Corporate Pensions Timebomb

Over the past few years, the ballooning deficit of defined benefit corporate pensions schemes - largely created by increasing life expectancy - has been compounded by the economic and financial crises which have resulted in the value of pension schemes' assets going down - changes to legislation and the regulatory landscape have also affected the size of deficits and the funding implications for companies.

20 June 2012

Singapore

Letters from…Singapore – Networking Types and the Chequered Flag

Given our position as the only TMT focused law firm in South East Asia, when the opportunity came to attend the Asia Pacific Pay-TV Operators Summit (APOS) at the end of April, we didn't hesitate to RSVP.

31 May 2012

Singapore

Letters from…Singapore - 30,000 feet and climbing

Looking back at our official opening party, the highlight was certainly feeling that the premise on which we opened the office – that there was demand for an international law firm focussed on the technology, media and telecoms sectors – had proved correct.

02 April 2012

Mobile

Intelligent Payments: 4 big trends for the future

The growth of mobile payments will disrupt the traditional payments value chain as “intelligent payments” move into the real world, providing retailers with greater information regarding their customer base and allowing lower cost electronic transactions.

16 February 2012