Apple CEO on EU, US antitrust legislation; Deutsche Telekom's tower unit sale

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TOP NEWS IN TMT

* Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook publicly called EU and U.S. legislation efforts against Big Tech companies a threat to Apple and its consumers. In particular, Cook addressed sideloading, where users are given the option to install apps from third-party app stores, a practice that Cook said could pose risks to user security. European regulators rolled out a finalized framework for the Digital Markets Act in March, containing measures to reduce the power of digital companies considered to hold too much market concentration.

* Deutsche Telekom AG is weighing bids for a majority or minority stake sale of its towers unit DFMG Deutsche Funkturm GmbH, which is reportedly valued at €18 billion, Reuters reported, citing sources. Bidders for the business reportedly include Vantage Towers AG and a consortium comprising KKR & Co. Inc. and Global Infrastructure Partners Inc.

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TECHNOLOGY

* Germany's United Robotics Group GmbH agreed to acquire SoftBank Robotics Group Corp.'s French unit SoftBank Robotics Europe SAS for undisclosed financial terms, Dow Jones Newswires reported. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter.

* Employees working in the Irish units of technology companies, including Apple and Alphabet Inc.'s Google LLC, have been asked to return to the office in the coming weeks for at least two to three days a week in the office, the Irish Independent (Dublin) reported, citing sources.

* The Dutch Data Protection Authority imposed a €565,000 fine on the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for long-term large-scale serious infringements of the General Data Protection Regulation in its visa-issuing process.

* U.K. cybersecurity company Darktrace PLC said its autonomous response technology prevented a sophisticated ransomware attack at French hospital group Dordogne GHT.

INTERNET & OTT

* Spotify Technology SA, the parent of Spotify AB, rebranded its live social-audio app Greenroom to Spotify Live. The new service will be available as a stand-alone app and as a livestream function in the main audio-streaming app.

* Ukraine accused a Russian hacking group named Sandworm of conducting a cyberattack on the country's electricity grid, The Daily Telegraph (London) reported, citing Ukraine's Computer Emergency Response Team.

* Netflix Inc. unveiled the details of nine scripted series and nine films that the streaming platform commissioned in Poland, TBI Vision reported.

* Twitter Inc. acquired Dublin-based mobile engagement platform Openback for an undisclosed sum, Twitter's head of consumer product, Jay Sullivan, said in a tweet. The Openback team will join Twitter and enable the microblogging site to enhance its app notifications.

* Comcast Corp.-owned Sky Ltd. plans to launch its own streaming box called Sky Stream, offering all Sky channels and apps over the internet, later this year, The Daily Telegraph (London) reported, citing a Sky spokesperson.

* Sky also launched a discounted broadband package for low-income customers amid pressure from U.K. regulator Ofcom to support customers facing financial challenges.

* Nordic Entertainment Group AB (publ)'s Viaplay partnered with independent Dutch film studio Pupkin Film BV to produce the true-crime drama "The Hunt for Jasper S." as a Viaplay original in the Netherlands.

* French streaming platform Salto signed a long-term distribution deal with Amazon.com Inc.'s Prime Video to allow Prime Video users to subscribe and access Salto directly from Prime Video channels, starting May.

* FIFA launched streaming video service FIFA+, a digital platform that will provide access to live soccer matches, interactive games, tournament information and others.

* The U.S. and European law enforcement agencies seized a website called RaidForums that was being used by hackers to buy and sell stolen personal data, Reuters reported.

MEDIA

* Guillaume Collard was appointed CEO of RTL Belgium SA, succeeding Philippe Delusinne.

* U.S. social network platform OpenWeb Technologies Ltd. acquired French digital advertising company ADYOULIKE SA for $100 million in cash and stock, Dow Jones Newswires reported, citing The Wall Street Journal.

* U.K. gaming technology company International Game Technology PLC signed a broad patent cross-licensing agreement with Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. for undisclosed financial terms.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

* The French competition authority conducted a raid on March 10 at four of Orange SA's sites, including its head office in Issy-les-Moulineaux, Capital reported. The probe was triggered by allegations of abuse of dominant position in the access to very high-speed network in France, among others.

* Serbia's Telekom Srbija a.d. plans to issue a €500 million Eurobond for infrastructure development and potential acquisitions, Reuters reported, citing CEO Vladimir Lučić.

FILM & TV

* BritBox UK, the joint streaming venture between ITV PLC and the British Broadcasting Corp., will launch new original comedy-drama "The Dry" on May 5.

* Germany’s ZDF Studios GmbH, previously known as ZDF Enterprises GmbH, named Markus Schaefer president and CEO, effective July 1.

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Anne Freier, Sylvia Edwards Davis, Koen Pijnappels and Gerard O'Dwyer contributed to this report.

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