European network operators are coping well with significant traffic increases during COVID-19, regulators reported to the European Commission Monday. The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the EC said March 19 that more internet traffic hasn't led to general network congestion, but the need for data is growing, and they committed to ensuring an open internet and to enforcing rules again blocking, slow-downs or traffic prioritization. They set up a reporting mechanism to ensure regular monitoring. BEREC's first report showed operators "have been able to cope well with this additional traffic load," and some local or temporary problems with internet access weren't considered out of the ordinary. Telcos "are working around the clock" to ensure networks stay up and service continuity, said the European Telecommunications Network Operators Association. "Members observe networks working well across Europe, with no significant disruption despite strong increases and changing patterns in data traffic."

Inconsistencies abound in the List 4A Section 301 tariff exclusions that the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative granted to Chinese smartwatch imports classified under the 8517.62.00.90 product code. The exclusions are retroactive to Sept. 1 when the tariffs took effect and expire after one year, said a USTR notice Thursday. The exemptions apply to devices “suitable for wearing on the wrist” with “time-display functions” and the ability to link to a “network." USTR granted exclusions to the Apple Watch and a range of Fitbit smartwatches and fitness trackers, but also to Tile for a Bluetooth tracking device that has no wrist-worn or time-display component. The Tile device links to a smartphone app for finding misplaced items like keys or glasses. Sonos also landed exemptions for the wireless mesh network speakers and audio components it imports from China under the same 8517.62.00.90 classification as smartwatches. But exclusion requests for wireless speakers from Bose, Sound United and others remain in a Stage 2 administrative review at USTR, as do smartwatches from Fossil. A wide range of additional 8517.62.00.90 goods also remain in a Stage 2 hold, including Apple AirPods and JLab Bluetooth headphones. USTR didn’t comment Friday.

The Commerce Department extended comments on future temporary general license extensions under export administration regulations by about a month to April 22, says Thursday's Federal Register. The feedback will determine “continuing need” and scope for future extensions for the temporary general license for Huawei, the department said Wednesday. Thursday, Reuters reported senior administration officials agreed to new measures to further restrict foreign exports of chips to Huawei. It's unclear if President Donald Trump will OK the change. The White House and Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security didn't comment.

Global governments need to define semiconductors as an “essential” industry that must be “allowed to continue operations” during COVID-19 lockdowns, blogged Semiconductor Industry Association President John Neuffer Wednesday. Semiconductors “underpin vital sectors of the economy, including health care and medical devices, telecommunications, energy, finance, transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing,” he said. They run information technology systems “that enable remote work and access to essential services across every domain,” he said. “Ensuring the continuity of semiconductor and related supply chains is necessary to support the even greater range of services that will be digitized in the coming weeks and months.”

Smartphone production could fall 30% during 2020's first half from coronavirus disruptions, said ABI Research Tuesday. “Ripples from China will be felt globally,” said David McQueen, calling mass disruption to production lines and stalling of supply chains due to labor shortages and inactive logistics “disastrous.” With China the world’s manufacturing center for most smartphones -- and a top market -- the sector has been hardest hit by delayed shipments and a “weakened development of next-generation products,” he said. A move to lower price tiers was expected to boost 5G smartphone adoption this year, but the pandemic will push out development and shipments of affordable models, McQueen said. Though the outbreak is expected to come under control by the end of Q2, it will take time for consumer confidence to return, said the analyst.

The ITU launched a policy and regulatory best practices sharing platform to help regulators, policymakers and industry safeguard telecom services during the pandemic, it said Monday. The Global Network Resiliency Platform is to assist nations "struggling to find appropriate solutions to ensure their networks' resiliency," the ITU said.

The global mobile device market had “mass disruption” to its production and supply chains due to labor shortages and inactive logistics resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic that hit China last month, reported ABI Research. The U.S. imported 214.6 million smartphones last year, 74.6% from China, said Census Bureau data we accessed through the International Trade Commission. China was 75.8% of the 14.4 million smartphones imported to the U.S. in January. Import data from February and March are expected to show a COVID-19 impact on reduced Chinese cargo. Supply chain partners such as Qualcomm, Broadcom, Qorvo and Skyworks faced shrinking smartphone demand; first half production could drop by as much as 30%, ABI forecast Wednesday. The 5G rollout will feel adverse effects from the disruptions, which will suppress near-term growth of the next-generation handsets, said the report. A move to lower price tiers was expected to be a key driver for boosting 5G smartphone shipments this year, but now it’s expected that shipment volume for 5G smartphones will be “much lower than previously expected, slowed by a stagnant supply chain and crippled demand,” it said. The market is expected to face disruptions and delays. Global business smartphone units will ship 12% fewer smartphones to enterprises in 2020, Strategy Analytics predicted.

Governments want "clear and enforceable safeguards" for the .org community in any contractually binding public interest commitments Ethos Capital makes in the Public Interest Registry deal, ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee said Tuesday. Officials at last week's remotely held ICANN meeting (see 2003090027) encouraged directors to keep engaging with the community and to ensure the views of stakeholders are "properly taken into account." GAC members welcomed ICANN reassurances that "all options remain open." They praised progress made in developing a policy for generic top-level domain registration data that complies with the EU general data protection regulation but urged ICANN to come up with a standard form for access to nonpublic information by parties with a legitimate interest, saying that "remains a high priority for the GAC."

ICANN scheduled its June 13-16 ICANN74 Policy Forum in The Hague, the organization announced Friday.

Coronavirus disruptions are expected to cause a $20 billion revenue hit for the global smart home category, reported Omdia Friday. The market is pegged at $101.1 billion for 2020 compared with a previous projection of $120.6 billion, said the research firm. Smart home device shipments are estimated at 603.5 million units vs. 693.5 million previously forecast. The smart home market “tends to be more resilient” during economic challenges vs. less diversified categories, said analyst Blake Kozak, but it, too, will undergo a correction this year. Asia will have the biggest slowdown, equating to $7.8 billion and 66.2 million fewer shipments than originally forecast, it said. Production should ramp up as the Asia region recovers from the pandemic, but depleted inventories could add strain to potentially lower demand. In the U.S., Omdia cut the smart home revenue outlook 10.6%, though device growth is forecast to remain stronger than in other countries. But it cautioned U.S. growth projections could be reduced further if stock markets don’t rebound or if the virus spreads, affecting U.S. supply chains. In areas of the U.S. with high rates of contagion, the number of professional smart home installations could be reduced, it said, and the capability to either ship and deliver products or to install devices could be "drastically diminished."