BT Deals – Page 10
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M&A
Defences up as Drahi increases BT stake
Patrick Drahi’s Altice UK stops short of a takeover bid, but increases holding to 18%. UK government issues warning that it “will not hesitate” to protect national interests amid concerns of foreign investment in critical infrastructure incumbent. Takeover not Drahi’s ‘intention’, but caveats are in place.
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M&A
Will Drahi come knocking on BT’s door?
Six months on from French billionaire’s surprise raid on BT, Altice UK now free to up its stake or mount a takeover bid. Jansen called in for meeting with UK government minister to get the lowdown on Drahi’s intentions.
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Suppliers & SCM
Openreach urges Vauxhall to build British ‘green’ fleet
Clive Selley, Openreach CEO, “in talks” with Vauxhall owner Stellantis to increase production of electric vehicles at its UK plant. Vauxhall supplies Openreach’s 28,000-strong commercial van fleet, which will be ‘green’ by 2030. 1,000 EVs currently on the road in Openreach livery.
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M&A
BT Sport mulls Discovery JV as DAZN buyout stalls
Discovery in talks with BT over sports broadcasting partnership. Deal would offer strong alternative to DAZN’s £600m buyout attempt.
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Enterprise (B2B)
Dublin up: BT Ireland relocates B2B support
Move of service desk ops furthers expansion of BT’s workforce in Dublin. Transfer forms latest step in long-running customer experience transformation programme. Deep-Insight advising BT Ireland on customer-centric strategies.
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT renews Middle Eastern partnerships
Long-running R&D tie-up gets extended, with BT’s engagement with Etisalat and Khalifa University stretching a further five years. BT Applied Research MD Tim Whitley among those involved.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Enterprise: Shuter boasts RNLI collab
BT recognised for managed services improvements; Shuter boasts of RNLI partnership.
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT’s McRae fights corner for Nordic giants, as peers swing for Eur-O-RAN
BT Chief Architect highlights value of local major NEPs, as European peers promote greater supply chain diversification. Remarks follow McRae support for Ericsson foray into open RAN orchestration. BT committed to open RAN as part of opportunity to ‘network-ify’ applications and functions in new markets. Analysys Mason-backed report highlights ...
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Premium
BT inches toward 100% coverage with OneWeb tie-up
State-backed satellite operator OneWeb snags distribution agreement with BT to launch satellite trials in 2022. Pair share 2028 target for 100% connectivity coverage.
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT Group appoints pensions advisory partner
XPS Pensions Group will support BT’s established in-house team.
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Network & Infrastructure
EE says “delays elsewhere” have impacted ESN delivery
Mobile operator “committed to ESN contractual obligations” as Home Office announces revised timetable for the UK’s LTE-based emergency services network. Unveils ESN Coverage Extender prototype from Parallel Wireless as part of ongoing preparations for nationwide shutdown of Airwave.
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Premium
BT engages virtual twin(s) on infrastructure resiliency
Group one of three national infrastructure owners to pledge resources to project using simulation tech to overcome impact of climate change on UK’s built environment. Tranche of UK universities and research institutes involved too. Yet another example of BT dipping toes into ‘digital twin’ realm.
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Premium
Oracle wins new role in BT’s 5G network
US supplier to play role in 4G to 5G migration. Huawei woes could have played a role in Oracle’s selection.
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Premium
BT pushes on quantum security with Lumenisity, Toshiba
QKD hook-up with Lumenisity’s hollow core fibre pitched as world first. Senior BT researchers optimistic about multiple use-cases for Lumenisity’s NANF HCF, but commercial timeframes unclear. Collaboration with Toshiba to build “quantum-secure” metro network in and around London.
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Premium
BT helps Ericsson shrink massive MIMO radios
Operator and supplier team up on product development. Lighter weight and easier to handle means faster urban 5G deployment.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Enterprise: Wholesale’s Plan and Wireless Logic deals
Wholesale signs MVNO deals with Plan and Wireless Logic; next generation of Street Hubs unveiled with ultrafast Wi-Fi built-in.
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Premium
BT enables Azure data farm at Rolls-Royce testbed
BT infrastructure installed at Rolls-Royce’s Testbed 80 site, linking sensors to analytics tools provided by Microsoft’s Azure.
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Strategy & Change
Digital duo plan to be catalysts of change for BT
Incomers Harmeen Mehta and Rob Shuter are tag-teaming to bring their external perspectives to BT’s digital transformation plans. Enterprise unit set to become a route to market for emerging services, with a “fail fast” mindset. BT described as receptive to need for change, but Mehta calling for people to ...
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Strategy & Change
BT eyes telco tie-ups following buying reboot
Newly inaugurated BT Sourced unit may branch out as a commercial player, selling services to other telcos and big companies. Function’s leadership open to partnerships in and outside industry, including DT and Orange’s BuyIn JV.
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Premium
BT Pension Scheme completes Hermes exit
Federated Hermes actions call option to acquire BTPS’s residual shareholding in fund manager. BT on track with pension deficit recovery plan.