This would cause a lot of disruption in the European telecom market, including mobile operators and broadband access: the European Commission has proposed giving national telecom regulators major new powers to split business and network arms of dominant operators, including the network and retail arms of dominant operators. It would also allow Brussels to override national regulators’ decisions and create an EU telecoms watchdog, reports Reuters.

Former monopolies in Germany and Spain look set to resist, and the plan must be agreed by EU governments and parliaments to become law. EC says the measures are needed to increase competition in sectors such as broadband and to create a single EU telecoms market.

Tons more here in EC’s special section.