DBTT Episode 11: BT/TalkTalk, French Network Tax, European DNA progress & BEREC developments, AI regulation, AI Voice

In this 11th episode of the podcast (recorded on October 8th), Ben & Dean discuss BT's sudden takeover of TalkTalk, developments in Brussels around the DNA Digital Networks Act and various reports from BEREC, and have a broader debate on a French plan for data-traffic tax and possible AI / GenAI regulation.  We also mention upcoming events such as Dean's AI Voice for Telcos workshop.

00:26 - Our take on the BT / TalkTalk acquisition and what it could mean for attitudes to competition in telecoms, service continuity and the awkwardness of wholesale / retail transactions.

4:34 - Benoit mentions a proposal in France to implement a tax on all data or Internet traffic flows. While mostly aimed at US content / cloud players, it's not clear that the socialist politicians involved (rather than regulators) have fully grasped the unintended consequences, including for French companies - or the wider implications if it covers private networks, CDNs etc.

10:58 - Benoit and Dean discuss recent events in Brussels, including the EU Parliament and Council scrutiny of the DNA and legislative process and thoughts on some key themes such as Copper Switch-Off, issues relating to Private Networks, Interconnect and the suggested "Conciliation" process, and much more.

We also talk about broader issues of European telecoms competitiveness, regulatory friction vs. simplification. definitional vagueness and sovereignty concerns.

23:50 - Thoughts on the recent BEREC meeting and its publications, including a "Reality Check" on European telecoms (which cites one of Benoit's reports extensively - link) and its upcoming workplan for 2027 / 2028 - which finally includes mentions of indoor wireless and hybrid cellular/Wi-Fi networks.

25:35 - What's coming up next? Dean mentions some deeper tech work he's been doing, including on AI Voice including the next Unthinkable Lab (link), a report on Photonics for STL Partners (link), a new initiative on Post-Digital Computing & Networks (link) and the wonderfully-named innovation of Gaussian Splatting (link), which could reduce future data traffic volumes for AR/VR. Dean is also speaking at the WBA's upcoming Wireless Global Congress (link), and is moderating a panel on Defence and Connectivity at Techritory in Riga (link). Benoit is going to be attending French regulator ARCEP's 30th Anniversary celebration.

27:56 - A quick last-minute mention of French and EU research into GenAI / LLMs and their impact on user behaviour, Internet search, and possible gatekeeper effects - and what changes with AI agents.

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