The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) stated in a mid-term report released today that the acquisition of Substantial Group by nexfibre is likely to lead to a significant weakening of competition in the wholesale market. The regulatory authority has launched a consultation on its findings, which will conclude on October 23rd. Substantial Group owns Netomnia, a wholesale fiber optic provider that claims to serve over 3 million locations. nexfibre is a joint venture between VMO2's parent company Liberty Global and Telef ó nica as well as Infravia.
In an email statement, nexfibre shareholders stated that, among other things, this interim report 'does not reflect the commercial and competitive realities of the UK fiber optic market. It fails to prioritize the fiber optic investments needed in the UK, nor does it focus on creating a scaled, sustainable competitor that can challenge Openreach.' (See also: nexfibre CEO defends £200 million Netomnia deal, counterattacking CityFibre's attacks; and: Preventing the Netomnia deal will harm UK fiber optic investments – VMO2 CEO.)
A strong critic of this proposed transaction is the British fiber optic wholesaler CityFibre. According to a report by CMA, CityFibre also submitted a bid, and the report states that if nexfibre does not emerge as the buyer, this alternative network operator is most likely to succeed.
In an email statement sent to the media, CityFibre stated: " CMA believes that this proposed transaction will significantly reduce competition and may harm the benefits that British consumers are entitled to: faster internet speeds, greater innovation, and lower prices. After confirming this harm, it is crucial for CMA to take action next to prevent this transaction." (See also: Eurobites: CityFibre criticizes the Netomnia-nexfibre transaction again.)
Austrian operator A1 has launched Super SIM, claiming that it is aimed at enterprises and organizations with high connectivity needs, such as critical infrastructure operators or government agencies. This service will use network slicing to prioritize the processing of certain traffic for customers and can further enhance the capabilities of VPN and APN solutions.
The French operator SFR, owned by Altice, is expanding its network security services for medium-sized enterprises. The services provided by SmartSOC Expert will rely on its recently established security operations center in Paris (SOC). These services include 24/7 monitoring and protection of Microsoft products, as well as analysis of potential cyber attack vectors.
Sateliot, headquartered in Spain, launched 5 satellites to enhance its 5G non-ground network (NTN) for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This launch brings the company's total number of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) to 11. (See also: Eurobites: Telef or nica collaborates with Sateliot in 5G IoT; and: Eurobites: Sateliot seeks 100 million euros in Series C financing to advance its space 5G initiatives.)
Belgium King Baudoin Foundation released a report on digital inclusion, finding that in 2025, 39% of the Belgian population aged 16 to 74 faced digital vulnerability, either due to an inability to access the internet or a lack of digital skills. In the 75 to 89 age group, this proportion rose to 81%. The organization noted that in recent years, the nature of digital inequality has changed, and issues related to digital literacy—such as how to surf the internet safely or the ability to identify content generated by AI—are playing an increasingly important role. The organization also found that 42% of respondents had used AI in the past three months, and pointed out that there are significant differences in usage rates among different age groups.
