Asia-Pacific – Page 16
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PremiumVi overhauls national backbone
New 300G/400G network being launched, with assistance from Ciena.
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OperationsVi selling majority stake to Indian government in bid to stay afloat
The state is set to receive a 35.8% stake in Vodafone Idea. Share prices drop around 20% in the wake of the news. Stake will be exchanged for easing of the struggling JV’s considerable debt. Government “do not want to run company”, insists Vi CEO
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OperationsBT’s Mehta keen on ‘massive’ Indian expansion
Chief Digital and Innovation Officer wants to make “full use” of digital skills in the country. Outlines “very, very different” challenges compared to UK marketplace. Wider digital transformation “almost like creating a new BT”.
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Partnerships & AlliancesCelcom teams up with Telefónica Tech to bolster Malaysian cybersecurity
Pair launch two cyber threat solutions to mark new partnership. Move represents Telefónica Tech’s third Malaysian tie-up in recent years.
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PeopleBerroeta shuffles leadership team again
Technology roles brought together under ex-MTN CTIO Chiarelli. Cooney to lead unified Consumer domain. Leadership now bedded in after 18 months of integration.
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Network & InfrastructureTPG cites 5G momentum in Aussie auction snub
Australian operator TPG Telecom did not pick up any blocks in the 900MHz auction, with CEO Berroeta claiming its portfolio is strong enough already. TPG’s 5G network live on 700MHz, with 26GHz trials underway. Rivals Optus and Telstra share the spoils in TPG’s absence.
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Financial & PerformanceVodafone close to settling €2.4bn tax dispute with India
Group offers New Delhi a deal after retrospective tax legislation scrapped. Dispute harks back to Vodafone acquisition of Hutchison Essar in 2007. Indian stand-off has long cast a shadow over Group finances, despite recent legal victories.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Associates & JVs: TPG’s billion-dollar strategy
TPG unveils billion-dollar strategy; Telecom Egypt to retain Vodafone stake.
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PremiumVi goes 5G network slicing with Nokia
Trial in Gandhinagar purportedly enables high-resolution VR content. TRAI sets deadlines for consultation process with “stakeholders” on auction rules for delayed 5G spectrum auction.
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PremiumBrand-heavy TPG looks for smart data handling with AWS
Shaik flags “knowledge lake” as providing deeper understanding of consumer and enterprise behaviour. Aimed at breaking down data siloes across multi-brand portfolio following TPG–VHA merger. Analytics of external datasets, available on the market, increasingly important.
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PremiumTPG takes hit as Teoh offloads shares
Controversial founder sells 20% of his total stake — the maximum he was able to sell. Move sees TPG valuation drop by AU$ 1bn.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: Vodafone TV to end in NZ
Developments from around Vodafone’s soft-power network: New Zealand’s Vodafone TV to be retired in 2022; MTS subsidiary acquires facial recognition specialist VisionLabs.
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PremiumIndia 5G auction delayed as Vi showcases prospects
5G-friendly spectrum auction pushed back amid pricing and structure consultations. Vi CEO Takkar outlines ambition to be Digital India frontrunner as government lays out digitalisation ambition. Several pilot projects showcased with partners including Athonet, L&T, and local startups. Ericsson picks up P1; Nokia trailing.
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PremiumTPG trumpets 5G SA milestone
5G network covers more than 85% of population in ten locations thanks to standalone core. Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung playing complementary roles. 5G site delivery accelerated owing to ‘factory assembly’ strategy.
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M&AReliance denies interest in acquiring BT stake
BT share price jumps on report that Indian conglomerate eyeing a move for UK incumbent. Reliance quick to dismiss the article as “completely speculative and baseless”, but City still excited.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Consumer: Plusnet issues persist
More cricket on the schedule; Smart Benefits portfolio bolstered; and Plusnet email issues persist.
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PremiumVodafone New Zealand said to initiate tower spinout
Former Vodafone OpCo’s parents reported to have hired advisors to guide them through separation and monetisation. Move comes with regional tower market heating up. Both Spark and Vodafone NZ moot interest in infra-sharing.
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PremiumDT heads down under for fibre mate
Australia’s IFM named as Gigabit investment partner following long period of speculation. Move adds to TDE CEO Gopalan’s box of tricks as he seeks to pragmatically accelerate the Group’s slow-building fibre deployment. Startup JV embedded with various protective measures for DT, such as balance sheet deconsolidation, and long-term/standalone strategic ...
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Venturing & InvestmentsVi can live long and prosper, insists CEO
Takkar welcomes government four-year moratorium on AGR dues and spectrum fees. Confident that relief package paves way for private investment. Vodafone rules out (again) cash injection into JV. Floor pricing issue still to be resolved.