All Abel Avellan articles
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodafone, SpaceMobile pick Luxembourg for European SatCo HQ
Group further embeds itself in Grand Duchy with local headquarters.
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Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: CEO Della Valle’s slow-cooker recipe
Latest from Vodafone and its global interests, including a deep dive into the group’s FY24–25 results. CEO Margherita Della Valle continues to talk a big game, but questions remain about the overall strategy; VodafoneThree emerges as new scaled UK mobile giant; Safaricom tees up in-market M&A; Vodacom rejigs executive structure; Vodafone Germany hits new lows…
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Financial & PerformanceSpaceMobile ‘scales’ satellite production, readies for commercial D2D launch
Vodafone, Verizon, and AT&T-backed satellite startup nears commercial services launch after lengthy delays, with ‘meaningful revenue’ imminent…
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone, SpaceMobile to create European SatCo JV
Pair unveil plans to launch co-owned satellite services joint venture, with Vodafone locked in as SpaceMobile’s European partner of choice.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone backs AST SpaceMobile with commercial tie-up
Vodafone put a ring on its relationship with SatCo startup AST SpaceMobile with an exclusive, long-term commercial agreement for offering direct-to-device services.
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Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: Group reset puts telco-as-a-service front and centre
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem as B2T unit launches to commercialise shared operations; M&A attempts blocked in South Africa and started in Romania; and a new Iliad move on Italian assets midway through antitrust hearings…
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Public AffairsSafaricom ‘calls for’ mandated MNO–SatCo partnerships as Starlink expands in Africa
Reports indicate Kenyan operator is pushing local Communications Authority to consider blocking solo foreign SatCo entrants and oblige them to form partnerships with licence-holding MNOs.
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Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: fibre routes to retail; TalkTalk’s latest rejig; Asia’s infra ownership overhaul
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including TalkTalk’s last-minute refinancing, investment boosts for the satellite sector, Japan’s moves towards greater infrastructure sharing, and plenty more…
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Network & InfrastructureUS majors first, Vodafone next as SpaceMobile readies for launch
AST SpaceMobile backers AT&T and Verizon will beta test space-based cellular broadband initially, with Vodafone and Rakuten next on the list for commercial services.
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Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: UK merger takes another twist; AI making ‘fundamental’ change
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem, including AI-led change affecting the entire industry; UK deal-making to appease merger detractors; spectrum wins in non-core markets; and more from satcomms, ESG startups, and South Africa’s High Court…
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Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: innovation fuelling investment, data centres bringing in cash
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including billions of dollars flood into data centres, race for satellite mobility drives innovation, ongoing UK efforts to make infrastructure-sharing a viable option; people moves, and plenty more…
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PeopleEx-Vodafone CTO Wibergh takes on networks role at AST SpaceMobile
Former Vodafone CTO Johan Wibergh partly compensates for childhood ambition to be an astronaut.
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Financial & PerformanceYet another AST SpaceMobile launch delay for MNO backers
Getting current-gen BlueBirds into low-Earth orbit for cellular broadband from space taking longer than expected, but funding in place after Vodafone, AT&T and Google supported latest call. Other industry backers include American Tower, Bell Canada, Rakuten, Samsung, Cisneros…
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PeopleVodafone Peoplewatch: Vinod Kumar’s new Dubai digs, fresh faces in shared services…
20+ high-profile moves in and around Vodafone, including: new private equity digs for Vinod Kumar; Group Technology exits; VodafoneZiggo top-team (and ‘value-creating’ exec at part-owner Liberty); plus more across the Group…
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Partnerships & AlliancesTelefónica joins SpaceMobile’s MNO crew
Partnership confirmed with closely watched New Sat startup ahead of late-2023 launch.
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Network & InfrastructureSpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 nears launch
Vodafone partner AST SpaceMobile sets date for LEO satellite launch.
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Partnerships & AlliancesSpaceMobile steps up commercialisation plans
Confirmation of multi-launch agreement demonstrates building momentum for space-based cellular connectivity solution, despite earlier prototype delays. Satellite operators jostling for launch spots as Russian rockets are frozen out in response to Ukraine invasion. Partner and investor Vodafone set to offer seamless SpaceMobile integration, with Group CTO framing the technology ...
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Partnerships & AlliancesSpaceMobile lines up 2022 trials with Vodacom
Chairman Abel Avellan says six-month interconnection and testing programme will follow launch of BlueWalker 3 prototype. Lift-off of giant spacecraft may see slight slippage. US startup adds more MNO partners to go-to-market ahead of 2023 debut.
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Strategy & ChangeSpaceMobile targets satellite status quo
AST SpaceMobile’s satellite tech represents break from past, says CEO. US space venture posts first results update since going public, as high-profile, iconoclastic startup edges closer to commercial get-go. Vodafone lends helping hand in satellite-to-cell compatibility tests. FCC opens gateway to domestic market.
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Suppliers & SCMAltiostar flagged as supplier for Vodafone partner AST SpaceMobile
Vodafone signals plan to integrate SpaceMobile service with Vodacom, Safaricom, and Vodafone offerings initially in DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, and Tanzania.