BT Group – Page 11
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Partnerships & AlliancesOpenreach hits FTTP milestone in Cumbria
Connecting Cumbria programme completes Phase Two, nearing regional ‘superfast’ targets. Phase Three on the table to finish the job. Gigabit-capable coverage lags behind for rural premises.
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Suppliers & SCMOpenreach deploys EXFO technology for fibre rollout
Rollout speed gains stressed as key motivator for purchase.
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Strategy & ChangeBT turns to disruptive AI veteran in pursuit of Ambition 2030
Airtel CIO Harmeen Mehta bringing even greater AI advocacy and a ‘big tech’ frame of mind to BT’s new Digital division. Philip Jansen looking at bigger picture beyond fibre rollout as he sees Group’s future in delivering a UK platform for software-defined services.
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Innovation (R&D)BT explores edge to “level up” latency for UK gamers
As BT’s edge strategy evolves, gaming emerges as potential use-case. BT’s Neil McRae shares latest thinking about edge business cases. Consumer edge applications more advanced than enterprise services.
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M&ABT Cornwall quietly put into liquidation
Business blighted by falling-out between BT and its local public sector partners to be wound up. Another marker of troubled public-private partnership approach to council contracts confined to past.
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Network & InfrastructureOpenreach requests COVID vaccine relief
Direct talks between Openreach and government officials confirmed. COVID-19 surge halts operations. Openreach seeks to highlight public importance of connectivity.
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Innovation (R&D)BT’s Pelipod stashes smart-locker growth
2016 logistics acquisition reports strong top-line increase but remains loss-making. Investment continuing to focus on development of its IoT-enabled boxes. Report follows mid-2020 takeover by BT’s Procurement department.
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Partnerships & AlliancesBT to head trials at Reading’s Arrow Drone Zone
Group targeting commercialisation of drone flights using country’s “first commercial drone corridor”. Funding delivered through four-year government initiative, but securing safety assurances for BVLOS flights first port of call. Potential benefits to healthcare vertical highlighted.
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Public Affairseir’s fury over BT’s NI PSSN contract award reignited
BT hit with substantial fine for misinformation that may have affected the outcome of a £40m government contract. Irish operator “considering our options” on prized PSSN contract, although Ofcom found no deliberate breaches.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Technology: Open Digital Architecture gets tested
BT backing digital architecture commoditisation; data traffic records tumble.
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OperationsBT picks Belfast for legal relaunch
Multi-million-pound investment goes towards revamp of Group’s legal presence. Another BT function chooses to switch activities across Irish Sea.
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Partnerships & AlliancesUniversity of Warwick unveils first public 5G campus
BT delivers commercial 5G campus network across 720 acres. 5G testbed in the works. Regional business innovation again in the spotlight.
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Financial & PerformanceBT cash to take a hit on Brexit and Huexit stockpiling
An improved earnings forecast at BT is not expected to generate more cash as the operator buys up Huawei gear ahead of the 5G ban. Ericsson highlights its own efforts to ensure it can meet BT’s needs in uncertain times ahead.
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Suppliers & SCMBT partner Toshiba bullish on quantum security (eventually)
Japanese vendor takes long-term view on QKD market, anticipating a hefty 25% share and $3bn revenue by 2030.
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Suppliers & SCMBrexit and COVID: BT’s twin supply chain headaches
Group continuing to scrutinise status of 450 key partners, amid logistical and financial turmoil wrought by pandemic. Spread of critical partners under consideration to create greater resilience post-coronavirus and split from EU. Telcos, traditionally known for squeezing suppliers to the max, now focused on keeping them afloat.
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Strategy & ChangeOpenreach fine as is — Lowth
BT CFO maintains Openreach contribution to the Group is undervalued, but that greater clarity and continued messaging on the progress of the fibre rollout could change perceptions. With all physical network assets tied to the BT pension and Openreach now effectively a services business, any attempt to bring in ...
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M&AMBNL’s future up in air as Three ponders mast sale
Both MBNL and Cornerstone, UK MNOs’ two tower joint ventures, appear on the verge of an ownership revamp. Three exit could tie with moves by CK Hutchison to establish a separate TowerCo.
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Network & InfrastructureBT fires another warning shot over fibre roadblocks
Without the right “policy, legislative and fiscal enablers”, BT warns full-fibre nationwide coverage will not happen until 2033. Government target for universal coverage of “Gigabit-capable broadband” is 2025.
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PeopleFormer BT exec Hanif Lalani stripped of OBE
Lalani’s last BT role was CEO of BT Global Services. He was fined €1.5m by France’s stock market watchdog in 2012.
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Network & InfrastructureBT customer quantum trial underway using commercial product
BT highlights ability to plug QKD into OSA Filter Connect, a commercial WDM-based product provided by Openreach. Extensive commercial deployment of QKD in BT’s metro and core networks still at least five years away, however.