(AOF) – BT Group has indicated that the British government will launch an investigation into the national security implications of the rise of Patrick Drahi in the capital of the British operator. BT Group has clarified that it will cooperate fully with this review.
Altice UK last December increased its stake in the British operator from 12.1% to 18%, thus becoming its largest shareholder. On this occasion, the British government reacted. “We are monitoring the situation closely,” a spokesperson said. “The government is committed to leveling the country through digital infrastructure, and will not hesitate to act if necessary to protect our critical national telecommunications infrastructure.”
The initial investment by Altice UK, created specifically to carry out this acquisition, was made with the aim of supporting BT in the development of its fiber optic network. The incumbent operator in the United Kingdom has indeed embarked on a vast plan of 15 billion pounds which should enable it to connect 25 million homes to fiber, against 20 million previously targeted. He also said he was considering financing the additional 5 million through a joint venture with external partners.
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Telecom operators: pressure on the streaming giants
– According to Arcep, the telecoms regulator, more than half of Internet traffic in France comes from four players: Netflix, Google (with YouTube), Akamai (which distributes Disney content in particular) and Facebook. Some telecom operators seek to derive revenue from it, whereas they must constantly invest in the networks. Added to this are environmental consequences in a context where all operators have made commitments to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 or 2040. However, the prospect of a code of good conduct, which would cap the resolution of videos on smartphones, appears more realistic than the economic track because attempts at financial contributions have failed in the past.