What ANCOM and IBPT’s roaming alerts reveal about the real market for travel connectivity

This summer, two regulators — Romania’s ANCOM and Belgium’s BIPT — published near-identical warnings about roaming charges outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Read separately, they look like routine consumer-protection notices. Read together, they say something more interesting about where the travel connectivity market is actually heading.

The problem regulators keep rediscovering

ANCOM’s numbers are worth sitting with: up to €2.62 per minute for calls and €4.76 per megabyte outside the EEA, with some operators billing a full data package the moment a single megabyte is used — even if usage stops seconds later. IBPT flags the same pattern from the Belgian side, naming the UK, Andorra, and Turkey as destinations where “Roam Like at Home” simply doesn’t apply. Neither regulator is describing an edge case. They’re describing what happens to an ordinary traveler on an ordinary summer trip.

RLAH progress hasn’t closed the gap

Roam Like at Home has genuinely worked inside the EEA, and its extension to Ukraine and Moldova on 1 January 2026 is a real step forward for Eastern European corridors. But the exclusion list hasn’t shrunk where it matters most for volume: the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Bosnia, Albania… These aren’t fringe destinations — they’re some of the highest-traffic outbound routes for European travelers, which means the regulatory blind spot and the travel market overlap almost perfectly.

Why this matters beyond the occasional traveler ?

Travel eSIM marketing has largely targeted frequent flyers and digital nomads — people who already think about connectivity before they board. But the regulatory pattern here describes a much wider exposure: residents of border regions, once-a-year holidaymakers heading to Turkey or the UK, business travellers who’ve never touched an eSIM setting in their life. That’s not a niche. That’s most of the outbound European travel market, and it’s currently underserved by anyone selling connectivity as an afterthought.

What this means for operators and eSIM providers

From a go-to-market angle, the opportunity isn’t just reaching people who already know they need an eSIM. It’s building trust with a much larger segment that doesn’t yet default to eSIM as the obvious fix for a well-documented, regulator-confirmed pricing gap. Operators and MVNOs that still treat travel eSIM as commodity data will miss this. The ones building around clear pricing and honest fair-use terms — rather than the “unlimited, terms apply” model much of the category still leans on — have real room to build category leadership, not just market share.

Lessons for the industry

• Regulatory warnings are a signal, not a substitute for marketing — but they validate the problem at a market-wide scale.
• The addressable market for travel eSIM is wider than “frequent travelers”: border residents, once-a-year holidaymakers, and business travelers who never touch their own APN settings all sit inside it.
• Transparent pricing and fair-use policy are becoming real differentiators, not footnotes — especially as comparison content around “hidden roaming fees” gains search traction.
• The UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Monaco and the Balkan region remain the highest-risk zone for bill shock and, not coincidentally, the highest-opportunity zone for eSIM adoption.

I’ve spent the last few years helping operators and MVNOs think through go-to-market and carrier relations across Benelux and France. This is exactly the kind of regulatory signal that should shape a roadmap, not just a blog post — it tells you where the addressable market actually sits, not where the category has historically marketed itself.

If you’re building or refining a travel eSIM offer and want a second opinion on positioning or market entry, happy to compare notes.

The post Two Regulators, One Warning: Why Travel eSIM Isn’t a Niche Product Anymore appeared first on AskGreg.

What alternative operators can do — and what the big ones rarely do

Across Europe, consumer protection obligations are multiplying. Tariff transparency, simplified cancellation, complaint handling deadlines, end-of-contract notifications — each new directive or national regulatory decision adds another line to the compliance checklist.

The typical reaction in most organisations: hand it to legal, implement the minimum required, move on.

That is a mistake. And for alternative operators, it is a missed opportunity — twice over.

What Regulators Mandated Without Realising It

Look at what the regulation actually requires.

In Belgium, the BIPT clarified in early 2026 the application of Articles 108, 109 and 110 of the Electronic Communications Code: operators must proactively recommend the most advantageous tariff to their customers, at least once a year, based on their actual consumption profile — including at contract renewals.

In other words: the regulator has made mandatory what a good retention programme should have been doing all along.

Analyse customer consumption. Identify the most suitable offer. Reach out at the right moment. Document the process.

That is exactly the sequence of a well-designed loyalty programme. Except most operators treat it as an administrative formality rather than a commercial touchpoint.

The Raw Material Everyone Is Sitting On

Here is where it gets interesting — and where I’ll be direct.

CDR data and billing records are, in my view, one of the most underexploited raw materials in telecoms. Operators generate this data continuously. It tells you exactly how a customer uses their service, when usage patterns shift, whether they are consistently over or under their plan, and when the conditions for churn — or upsell — are forming.

Most operators use this data for billing. Full stop.

The tariff transparency obligation essentially forces operators to do what they should have done with this data from day one: run a structured analysis, compare it against the available tariff portfolio, and act on the result.

The data is already there. The regulatory framework now requires you to use it. The only question is whether you use it minimally — to comply — or intelligently — to retain.

Every Obligation Is a Disguised Customer Moment

Tariff transparency is not the only example.

Simplified cancellation — a requirement in several European markets — is a moment of truth. Treat it as a form to fill in, and you lose the customer in silence. Treat it as a conversation opportunity, and you can recover a portion of churn with a relevant offer, at the right moment, without friction.

Complaint handling — imposed timelines, required traceability — is documented as one of the most powerful loyalty levers in the industry. A customer whose complaint is handled quickly and well is often more loyal than one who never had a problem at all.

End-of-contract communications — mandatory in many jurisdictions — are direct customer touchpoints, at the precise moment when the decision to stay or leave is being made. Few operators design them as anything other than a legal notification.

In every case, regulation has defined the moment. It has not defined what you do with it.

Why Large Operators Don’t Capitalise

The reason is structural. In large groups, compliance and customer retention operate in separate silos. Legal handles the obligations. Commercial handles retention. The two rarely connect.

The result: obligations are met, but the opportunity is left on the table.

Alternative operators — MVNOs, challenger fixed operators, VoIP providers — have a structural agility that incumbents do not. Fewer silos. Shorter decision cycles. And crucially, the ability to build a process end-to-end, without organisational legacy to work around.

But there is something else. A smaller operator can go further: by automating these regulatory touchpoints intelligently, they can establish a more direct, more personalised relationship with each customer than any large operator realistically can. Not a mass communication. A relevant, data-driven conversation — triggered by actual usage, at the right moment, through the right channel.

That is differentiation that does not require a bigger budget. It requires a smarter operating model.

What This Means in Practice

Turning a regulatory obligation into a retention lever is not a marketing project. It is an operational one.

It requires consolidated, actionable consumption data — starting with your CDRs. A structured and documented tariff comparison logic. Customer communication workflows triggered at the right moments. And a traceability layer that is audit-ready, but designed well enough to be commercially useful at the same time.

None of this is trivial. But operators who get it right earn two benefits for the price of one: compliance, and a retention programme their competitors have not built.

The Bottom Line

Consumer protection obligations are not a constraint to absorb. They are customer touchpoints that regulation has made mandatory — and that most operators still manage as paperwork.

For alternative operators, the window is clear: design these moments as retention processes, not compliance checkboxes. Use your billing data as the raw material it actually is. And build the kind of direct, personalised customer relationship that larger operators — by design — cannot easily replicate.

Customer retention is hidden in your regulatory obligations. You just have to decide to find it.

If you are working on structuring your consumer obligations — and want to turn them into an operational advantage rather than a compliance cost — I am available to discuss.

Sources & references

• BIPT/IBPT — Clarification of Articles 108, 109 and 110 of the Electronic Communications Code (January 2026)
• BEREC — Consumer empowerment and pricing transparency guidelines
• European Electronic Communications Code (Directive 2018/1972)

The post Customer Retention Is Hidden in Your Regulatory Obligations appeared first on AskGreg.

MVNO’s World Amsterdam brought together operators, experts and industry stakeholders for three days of presentations, testimonials and informal discussions. Beyond the formal sessions, it is often in the side conversations — between panels, over lunch or at the end of the day — that the most honest perspectives emerge.

One theme came through consistently across all of these exchanges: the MVNO market is not declining. It is evolving, and the distinction matters.

The operators that are struggling tend to share a common profile. They entered the market with a generalist approach, competing primarily on price against established mobile network operators. That model is under pressure, and most people in Amsterdam acknowledged it openly.

What the expert presentations and operator testimonials also confirmed, however, is that a different category of MVNO continues to grow. These are operators that started from a specific place — a well-defined niche, a particular community or sector, or a clearly identified end-user need that existing operators were not addressing adequately.

The business logic is straightforward. When an MVNO is built around a genuine user need or a specific segment, the value proposition becomes defensible. Price is no longer the primary differentiator.

Operators like Tchamba Telecom in Belgium illustrate the point — regional focus, clear community, sustainable proposition.

This is not a new idea. But hearing it reinforced through concrete examples — from operators who have navigated market entry, partner negotiations and regulatory requirements — gives it practical weight.

For anyone considering an MVNO project in Europe, the strategic question is therefore less about whether the market has room, and more about whether the proposition is grounded in a real and specific need.

That is precisely the kind of question I work through with clients — from initial market assessment and operator agreement structuring through to regulatory positioning in Belgium, Luxembourg, France, the UK and beyond.

If you are exploring an MVNO project and would like to discuss the approach, I am happy to connect.

Book a call — askgreg.eu

#MVNOsWorld #MVNO #Telecom #MobileStrategy #AskGreg #Tchamba

The post MVNO’s World Amsterdam 2026: There Is Still a Future for MVNOs appeared first on AskGreg.

Telecom compliance is no longer confined to administrative reporting or legal documentation. Across Europe, regulators are stepping up enforcement and demanding that operators demonstrate operational readiness, responsiveness and governance.

Recent decisions by regulators in Belgium, Luxembourg and the UK confirm this trend: telecoms compliance is becoming a core operational discipline rather than a back-office exercise.

In Belgium, for example, the BIPT recently fined Colt Technology for failing to provide the requested information within the required timeframe under Belgian telecoms regulations. Similarly, the ILR issued fines in Luxembourg in 2025 against three operators for failing to provide the required regulatory information within the expected timeframes. Meanwhile, in the UK, Ofcom’s recent enforcement actions continue to demonstrate a broader regulatory shift towards stricter operational accountability. Whether relating to reporting obligations, operational resilience, customer protection, or market integrity, regulators are increasingly expecting operators to maintain robust governance frameworks and cooperate efficiently with the relevant authorities.

Compliance is becoming more complex

Compliance obligations continue to expand for telecom operators, especially MVNOs, VoIP providers, international carriers and new market entrants :

• Number portability processes and databases
• Lawful intercept readiness
• Data retention obligations
• Regulatory reporting
• Customer identification requirements
• Security obligations under NIS2 frameworks
• Coordination with public authorities and regulators
• Wholesale and interconnection obligations
• Operational documentation and audit readiness

Each requirement often involves multiple stakeholders, including regulators, incumbent operators, portability platforms, carriers, technical providers, legal teams and internal operations departments. Delays in one process, or an inability to provide accurate information within regulatory deadlines, can quickly lead to operational issues, delay market launches and expose operators to sanctions and reputational risks.

From Reactive Compliance to Strategic Compliance

A common pattern behind recent regulatory actions is the difference between reactive and proactive compliance. Operators that only address their obligations once issues arise often face higher operational pressure, greater remediation costs and unnecessary escalation with regulators. By contrast, operators that integrate compliance into their operational and go-to-market strategy are generally better positioned to:

• Accelerate market entry
• reduce regulatory friction
• improve operational coordination
• strengthen carrier and regulator relationships
• anticipate regulatory evolution
• Reduce pressure on management teams

Compliance is therefore evolving from a support function into a strategic operational capability

The value of fractional carrier relations and regulatory expertise

Many operators, particularly MVNOs, international groups and growing telecoms providers, do not require an entire internal regulatory department. However, they do require experienced guidance to bridge technical, operational, commercial and regulatory discussions. This is where a fractional carrier relations and regulatory advisory model can add real value.

At AskGreg, I support interconnection and carrier relations projects and help operators navigate increasingly complex compliance environments in a pragmatic and efficient manner. This includes:

• supporting interactions with regulators
• representing operators during meetings with authorities
• coordinating portability and operational obligations
• facilitating lawful intercept readiness discussions
• assisting with compliance processes and documentation.
• Bridging management, technical teams, carriers and regulators

The objective is simple: to transform compliance from a source of operational friction into a structured, manageable process that supports business continuity and growth.

In the telecoms industry, compliance is about more than just avoiding fines. It is increasingly about operational credibility, trust and the ability to operate efficiently within a highly interconnected ecosystem.

The post Compliance in Telecom: From Regulatory Obligation to Operational Resilience appeared first on AskGreg.

There’s a very real B2B use case for travel eSIM—especially for SMEs. Not the global enterprises with managed mobility platforms, negotiated roaming deals, and dedicated IT/security teams.

The most common scenario is much simpler:

You are a mid-sized German company sending a technical team to Switzerland for one week to handle an installation or urgent maintenance. The team needs to connect immediately to internal tools (tickets, documentation, remote diagnostics), collaboration apps, and authentication from day one, not “once Wi-Fi works.” Travel eSIM closes that gap with predictable, company-controlled connectivity, while reducing dependency on insecure public networks.

The SME reality: travel happens, but mobility is rarely “managed”

Most SMEs don’t have a telecom manager. They don’t want a big project. And honestly, they shouldn’t need one just to keep people connected for business trips. So people improvise:

• mobile data stays off abroad to avoid bill shock,
• public Wi-Fi becomes the default (airports, cafés, hotel lobbies),
• someone ends up hunting for a SIM at the wrong moment,
• invoices and reimbursements become messy,
• and when something goes wrong, there’s no clear plan

A travel eSIM doesn’t magically solve everything, but it removes a lot of friction—with very little overhead.

Why it works in B2B ?

Think of travel eSIM as a lightweight mobility layer: quick to deploy, easy to standardise, and realistic for SMEs.

For the employee

• Connectivity on arrival: maps, messaging (including to the family), and the customer’s address work immediately.
• Less stress: no “I’ll connect later” moments when you’re in transit or on a job site.
• Predictable usage: a defined pack for a defined trip : simple!
• Better security by default: fewer reasons to jump on random Wi-Fi networks.

For the company

• Duty of care: the employee is reachable and can reach help—always. That’s not a nice-to-have; that’s responsibility.
• Lower cyber exposure: public Wi-Fi is convenient, but it’s also one of the easiest ways to create risk, especially for SMEs that don’t have layers of controls.
• Operational continuity: the team can access tickets, documentation, and remote tools without workarounds.
• Cost control: you choose the pack and the rules. No roaming roulette.
• Cleaner governance: fewer reimbursements, fewer exceptions, fewer “surprises” at month end.

The safety aspect (the part people underestimate)

If there’s one angle SMEs should take seriously, it’s this: travel connectivity is a safety tool.

Safety, here, has three faces:

1. Personal safety: the employee can navigate, call, message, share location, and get assistance without hunting for a network.
2. Business safety: headquarters can coordinate changes, delays, incidents, and last-minute customer requests in real time.
3. Digital safety: fewer risky networks, fewer improvisations, fewer “quick fixes” that later become problems.

How to deploy it without over-engineering

Keep it simple:

• Define 3–4 trip profiles (EU short trip, non-EU short trip, multi-country week, frequent traveller).
• Assign a default pack per profile.
• Decide once who approves and who pays (many SMEs simply make it company-paid for business travel).
• Share a one-page checklist: when to activate, what to do if data is consumed, who to call.

Closing thought

SMEs just want a secure, predictable way to keep teams connected when they travel. Travel eSIM isn’t only about comfort. In an SME context, it’s often the simplest upgrade you can make to improve safety, continuity, and control—without turning it into a telecom project.

If you’d like to exchange views on these trends and what they could mean for your business, feel free to contact me.

The post Travel eSIM for SMEs: Not a Leisure Gadget—A Practical B2B Safety Tool appeared first on AskGreg.

The last communication from BIPT – IBPT is an important moment for customer protection and tariff transparency in Belgium. Link to Press Release

With its decision of 28 January 2026, the Regulator clarifies how Articles 108, 109 and 110 of the Electronic Communications Act must actually be applied. In doing so, it brings more order and structure to provisions that existed in the Law but were not always implemented in a consistent way.

Belgium now stands out in Europe. It is currently the only EU country requiring operators to proactively inform customers every year about their most advantageous tariff plan. Other Member States have transparency obligations, but not with this level of recurring, structured requirement.

So what does this mean in practice?
Any operator offering more than one standardised tariff plan must:
Inform each customer at least once per year about the best tariff plan
Base this tariff recommendation analysis using 3 months of usage data
Apply the same logic at contract renewal
Be able to explain and justify the calculation methodology if audited
Be fully compliant within 9 months

This concerns large and small operators alike
And it also applies to B2B customers served through standardised offers

Two things really matter here :
1⃣ Methodology. It’s not enough to say a tariff is “better”. Operators must define how they calculate that, apply it consistently and be able to document it.
2⃣ Timing. Nine months may sound comfortable, but when data flows, internal processes and possibly IT systems are involved, the clock moves fast.

The legal framework is now clearer. Expectations are more structured. The countdown has started.

If you’d like to exchange views on what this means in practice, feel free to contact AskGreg

The post Customer protection and tariff transparency in Belgium – Latest decision from the Telecom Regulator appeared first on AskGreg.

The Benelux region is a paradox in Europe’s mobile landscape. On paper, it has everything MVNOs need: high purchasing power, digitally mature consumers, and strong demand for data-driven services. Yet, compared to other European markets, the MVNO footprint remains limited. The easy explanation—”the market is too small”—doesn’t hold up. Benelux is not too small; it is too mature. Distribution is efficient, bundles are entrenched, and competition is driven by execution as much as by price. In this context, an MVNO that looks like every other MVNO has little chance of lasting. But those that solve a specific problem—with controlled distribution and operator-grade execution—can still carve out a defensible position.

Why Benelux “Produces” Fewer MVNOs ?

Convergence and wholesale economics set the rules. Benelux markets have long been shaped by converged offers (fixed internet + mobile + TV). Customers don’t just buy a mobile plan, they buy a broader relationship with an operator (service, device journeys, a single bill, and cross-product benefits). In Belgium, for example, the MVNO market grew by just 1% in 2025 largely due to intense competition from the 3 established MNOs and the rise of DIGI as a new network operator. While DIGI’s entry initially stimulated competition and wholesale access, its transition to a full MNO means its current positive effect on the MVNO ecosystem may fade as it builds its own infrastructure. This underscores a critical point: MVNOs must secure long-term wholesale agreements and avoid over-reliance on any single host network.

Wholesale economics also don’t forgive generic low-cost plays. Profitability depends on securing sustainable wholesale terms, controlling acquisition costs, and industrializing onboarding, support, and billing. Add fraud prevention, SIM cards journeys, and device support, and the bar becomes operator-grade. Distribution is another underestimated bottleneck. In efficient markets, the question isn’t “Can we launch?” but “Can we distribute at a reasonable cost?” Without a structurally advantaged channel, MVNOs often become dependent on paid marketing, weakening their LTV/CAC equation.

Where MVNO Opportunities Are Still Credible ?

1) Affinity or community MVNOs can still succeed—but only with strict economic discipline : The community must cut customer acquisition costs (CAC). The offer must also meet a real need while keeping support and operations efficient. In Belgium, Undo—a new, low-cost, digital-first MVNO—proves that even in a stagnant market, niche positioning(pricing, community focus, or simplicity) can attract underserved customers. Its success depends on controlling costs and avoiding too much paid marketing

2) Cross-border and multilingual segments: Benelux is structurally cross-border, with high mobility for work, studies, and business. A focused MVNO can win by simplifying eSIM activation, offering multilingual support and designing journeys for commuters and internationally active SMEs. In Luxembourg, for example, a MVNO targeting cross-border workers with seamless multi-country coverage could fill a gap.

3) B2B/SME “operations-first” propositions: Many SMEs value clean billing, simple administration portals, multi-site management, and responsive support more than the cheapest plan. Retention and lifetime value can be significantly higher if operations are strong.

The Executive Framework = Niche + Distribution + Execution

The opportunity isn’t to be “one more operator.” It’s to become a service proposition using mobile connectivity as a component.

If there’s one lesson to remember from Benelux, it’s this: You don’t win with a tariff plan; you win with a niche, a channel, and execution. The Dutch market’s 2025 growth driven by Lebara and 50+Mobiel proves that even in a mature, converged environment, opportunities exist for MVNOs that solve a specific problem. In Belgium, Undo’s launch demonstrates that innovation in distribution or pricing can create space for new players, even in a market that grew by just 1% in 2025.

The future belongs to MVNOs that solve a real problem not just sell minutes and data. In Benelux, the question isn’t whether the market is too small; it’s whether your proposition is smart enough.

If you’d like to exchange views on these trends and what they could mean for your business, feel free to contact Askgreg

The post Benelux: Why So Few MVNOs… and Where the Real Niches Still Are appeared first on AskGreg.

Over the last two years at Askgreg, we have watched travel eSIM move from a “clever solution for frequent travellers” to a mainstream purchase behaviour. The mechanics are no longer the hard part: provisioning is fast, onboarding is improving, and consumers are increasingly eSIM-ready. The strategic question has shifted.

In our view, the travel eSIM market is not primarily facing a demand problem. It is facing a repeat usage problem.

The category was built around a simple promise: “instant connectivity for one trip.” That naturally creates transactional behaviour. People buy once, solve the immediate pain (connectivity on arrival), and then move on with their lives. Many will only travel again months later and at that point, they restart the shopping process. Price comparison is easy, switching costs are low, and the market is crowded with offers that look similar on the surface.

What is changing in travel eSIM ?

Three evolutions matter from a business perspective.

First, the addressable base is expanding. As eSIM-compatible devices become the norm, the friction of adoption continues to drop. That makes travel eSIM less of a niche product and more of a default option for a growing portion of travellers.

Second, competition is shifting toward retention. If everyone can sell a bundle for “Country X / 10GB / 30 days,” then differentiation moves away from the initial purchase and toward what happens after. Repeat usage becomes the engine that stabilises unit economics.

Third, distribution is becoming more strategic than performance marketing. As the advertising market gets more expensive and more saturated, the best acquisition is increasingly the one anchored in trust: travel agents, travel designers, tour operators, corporate travel channels, airports, and travel retail ecosystems.

Why travel eSIM churn is structurally high?

A one-trip product will always churn. That is not a failure unless your operating model depends on turning every customer into a new paid acquisition cycle.

If you rely mainly on paid marketing, your margins will compress over time: you are effectively paying a “tax” each time the customer travels. The executive implication is clear: the businesses that last will be those that turn travel eSIM into a relationship, not a one-off transaction.

The repeat-usage playbook

From an AskGreg viewpoint, five levers consistently outperform “more offers” or “more ads”:

1) Build a travel wallet, not a catalogue.

Make reuse the default: saved devices, stored packs, one-click activation for the next trip. This is less about features than about behaviour design. You want the customer’s account to become the place where travel connectivity “lives.”

2) Segment by travel frequency—and price accordingly.

Occasional travellers want confidence and simplicity. Frequent travellers want predictability and speed. Business travellers want invoices, expense-friendly workflows, and sometimes team management. One pricing strategy cannot optimise all three.

3) Design around travel patterns, not just countries.

High-value travellers often move across multiple countries (road trips, multi-city routes, island hopping). Bundles that match patterns create relevance and reduce re-shopping.

4) Put distribution partnerships at the centre.

If a traveller buys eSIM when the trip is booked, you have a natural “repeat moment” on the next booking. That is how you reduce CAC and increase recurrence without forcing loyalty.

5) Treat support and transparency as product features.

Compatibility guidance, clean installation steps, and fast support are not cost centres. In travel, one poor “arrival moment” can destroy trust permanently.

Executive takeaway

Travel eSIM is evolving from a transaction market to a retention market. The winners will not be those with the largest list of destinations. They will be those who build repeat usage through account continuity, frequency segmentation, distribution-led growth, and operator-grade customer experience.

If you’d like to exchange views on these trends and what they could mean for your business, feel free to contact Askgreg

Sources & reference points (selected) GSMA Intelligence on travel eSIM and consumer eSIM adoption Counterpoint Research on travel eSIM growth and repeat usage dynamics

The post Travel eSIM: How to Turn a One-Off Purchase into Repeat Usage? appeared first on AskGreg.

Why Vonage Was Fined ?

Ofcom’s investigation concluded that Vonage lacked adequate change management, testing, and oversight processes within its VoIP network. These weaknesses left business customers unable to dial emergency numbers for nearly two weeks.

Analysis: The Vonage case highlights the risks of reactive compliance. Ofcom provides early signals through consultations and draft regulations, yet Vonage acted only after a failure occurred. That approach left customers vulnerable, regulators dissatisfied, and the company exposed to sanctions.

Belgium: Proximus and Nationwide Failures

In April 2019, Belgium’s incumbent operator Proximus suffered a nationwide outage that disrupted access to emergency services 100, 101, and 112. The regulator BIPT investigated the incident, published a report, and in 2023 launched a public consultation on introducing a redundancy system for emergency calls. This shows regulators are moving from sanctioning after failures to designing structural safeguards to ensure resilience nationwide.

Australia: Optus, Fines and Renewed Concern

In Australia, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigated Optus after its nationwide outage in November 2023 disrupted access to Triple Zero (000). The outage was directly linked to the deaths of several people who were unable to reach emergency services.

Following its inquiry, ACMA fined Optus A$12 million for breaching emergency call rules — one of the largest telecom penalties in Australia.

More recently, in September 2025, ACMA announced it was deeply concerned after reports of another disruption to Triple Zero. The regulator launched a new official inquiry, warning: “Australians must be able to contact emergency services whenever they need help.”

Lessons for Operators

Across the UK, Belgium, and Australia, the message is consistent:

1. Anticipate early — consultations and draft rules are advance warnings.
2. Engineer redundancy — resilience must be built into networks, not bolted on later.
3. Test and monitor rigorously — ongoing testing and change management prevent catastrophic failures.
4. Communicate transparently — during outages, timely updates sustain public trust.

Turning Compliance into Leadership

Emergency call obligations are not regulatory checkboxes — they are lifelines. The Vonage fine, the Proximus outage, and the Optus penalty demonstrate that regulators across continents are tightening standards and demanding accountability.

Operators who anticipate regulation, invest in resilience, and engage proactively will position themselves as leaders in trust and reliability. Those who wait until enforcement arrives risk financial, reputational, and — in the worst cases — human costs.

At @AskGreg, I help operators across Europe navigate regulation, secure interconnections, and build agile go-to-market strategies that protect both business momentum and public safety.

The post Emergency Calls and Telecom Regulation: Lessons from the Vonage Case appeared first on AskGreg.

In July 2025, the Turkish telecom authority BTK (Bilgi Teknolojileri ve İletişim Kurumu) officially ordered the restriction of access to the websites and apps of several major international eSIM providers — including Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily, and others.

As reported in Turkish Minute, this means travelers can no longer activate or recharge their eSIMs from within Turkey unless it was set up before entering the country.

AskGreg Recommendation

• For travelers: Download, install, and activate your eSIM before takeoff. Once you land, you may find access to your provider is blocked — unless you’re equipped with a VPN.
• For eSIM providers: Update your customer onboarding and messaging. A clear pre-travel activation reminder can save your users frustration and reduce support costs.

 A Broader Trend to Watch

Turkey might just be the beginning. As eSIM usage expands, other countries may implement similar restrictions, citing data sovereignty, digital regulation, or telecom licensing concerns. Pre-activation is no longer just smart — it’s becoming essential.

Let’s Talk

At AskGreg, we help telco players stay ahead of regulatory changes — and turn them into strategic advantages. If you’re building or scaling a travel eSIM service, let’s connect.

 Contact AskGreg to see how we can help future-proof your product roadmap.

The post Why You Should Always Activate Your Travel eSIM Before You Fly appeared first on AskGreg.