All BT Group articles – Page 55
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Enterprise (B2B)
BT positions for post-‘cloud-first’ enterprise era
In collaboration with Dell/VMware, BT flags ability to securely “repatriate” apps back into private servers as enterprises retreat from ‘cloud-first’ strategies.
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT signs renewables pact with Total
Electricity supplier to power portion of operator’s UK real estate from mid-2022. ‘Going green’ of particular importance to both parties.
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Consumer (B2C)
BT reshuffles customer comms partner pack
Strategic marketing consultancy Go Inspire displaces Williams Lea for below-the-line marketing contract. CCgroup and The Academy added to BT Consumer agency portfolio in brand awareness push.
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Premium
EE gets a bargain as operators low-ball 5G auction
Ofcom raises a total of £1.4bn in principal auction stage — several hundred million pounds less than expectations. Regulator has now opened the first phase of the negotiation period that should enable operators to build a contiguous block in the 3.4GHz–3.8GHz band. Lower spend on licences (so far) should ...
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People
Cheshire puts hat in the ring for BT chair job
Current BT non-exec seeking to buck the trend and encourage Group to look internally for du Plessis replacement. Cheshire brings considerable experience and strong political links, but may lack the skills needed for future battles.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Group: rural rent causing problems
DT feels BT’s pain; EE among the MNOs to take flak for making the most of rural rent reductions.
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Operations
New East London BT HQ preps for sale
One Braham, soon to be BT’s main office, is reportedly being readied for a £500m sale. BT due to move at the end of the year after leaving 81 Newgate Street.
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People
BT Regulatory Affairs lead Cathryn Ross sets sail
Regulatory Affairs Director and Executive Committee member Ross’s departure announced a week after Ofcom market review job-done. Set to take newly-created Strategy & Regulatory Affairs role at Thames Water.
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Suppliers & SCM
BT Sourced to target supply chain sustainability
Chief Procurement Officer Cyril Pourrat flagged the importance of ESG compliance throughout the supply chain. New procurement company BT Sourced set to enable transparency via digital tools: AI, big data, and machine learning on the cards.
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Strategy & Change
Openreach cites No 10 lack of clarity as key early COVID test
Initial uncertain status of Openreach workforce deemed biggest challenge when ensuring UK connectivity and worker safety through lockdown. Strong chains of command, coupled with responsiveness to staff concerns, said to frame management response. Fears on return to offices and on-premises work may prove the biggest challenge.
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Public Affairs
Ofcom gives BT fibre pricing freedom, but adds burdens
Openreach not to face caps or controls on national ultrafast pricing until 2031, as long as it is “fair and reasonable”. Locally-targeted pricing from Openreach prohibited as Ofcom seeks to protect emerging altnets. BT Consumer may lose some edge from 90 day notice period for new propositions from Openreach. ...
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Digital Reports
BTwatch Report #321 – February-March 2021
Key stories include: Digital makeover for BT board | Canonical lauds BT innovation | Enterprise eyes NHS opportunity | 5G FWA launch at Global | Lees takes lead on transformation.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT explores optical options after Moore, Shannon
Lord keen to leverage lower-cost data centre technologies for network deployment. Floats idea of ripping out ROADMs in core network and replacing them with routers and ZR optics pluggables. Lower prices through photonic integration seen as key. Promising trials with hollow-core and multi-core fibre.
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Public Affairs
Threat of BT national strike intensifies
CWU calls on BT member base to back strike action, with further details on proposed ballot in “coming weeks”. Group transformation continues to exacerbate already disaffected BT-union relations. Mass walkouts from ‘late-spring’ a possibility. Union and BT share very different relationship perspectives.
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Public Affairs
BT braces as Ofcom fibre ruling looms
Ofcom to set out its fibre vision this week, and while BT may get pricing freedom, it may not get the longer-term clarity it craves. Regulator’s steps to open up infrastructure competition may also disrupt the incumbent’s plans.
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People
Transformation guru Baumann joins Vodafone Germany
Former Microsoft transformation lead Heide Baumann named Director, Commercial Operations at German operator. Brings experience from BT, Liberty, and Three to Vodafone.
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Innovation (R&D)
BT shines light on AI in the East
Adastral Park R&D facility takes centre stage in inaugural Artificial Intelligence Festival. East of England emerges as UK hub for AI research and innovation. BT asserts AI thought leadership and is UK’s top AI patent filer. Group’s use of AI aligns with telco peers, but recent moves suggest bigger ...
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People
BT denies right royal dust-up at the top
Group moved to issue a denial of Jansen ultimatum as speculation swirls on du Plessis’ surprise departure decision. Two camps emerging, with some discontent at Jansen power moves, but CEO’s position appears safe for now. Beyond rumours and gossip, BT board looks starved of experience needed for Group transformation ...
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Network & Infrastructure
DT lends experience as Openreach preps for all-IP surge
Openreach drawing on minority owner’s learnings as it corrals the UK’s CPs towards digital voice services. Migration closely linked to fibre rollout, but timing may be dependent on CP retail plans as market joins BT in favouring IP voice services.
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