All TelcoTitans.com articles in BTwatch #316
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Vendor Voice
F5: telcos need allies for digital leap forward
In an interview with BTwatch, key figures from F5’s European operations discuss the application security service provider’s relationship with BT Group in the wake of securing a place on the telco’s streamlined list of 15 certified security partners. Richard Holben, the vendor’s BT Global Account Manager, and Ian Harris, ...
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Digital Edition
BTwatch Report #316 – October 2020
Key stories include: Nokia new number-one | Quantum put into action | EE backs SMEs | BT and Microshare laud LoRa | New civil partnerships for Fibre Cities
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Openreach: innovation in the crosshairs
Openreach targets innovation, Vodafone launches gigabit services, superfast stymied by capacity gap.
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Suppliers & SCM
New construction deals as FTTP reach extended
Four partners joining Openreach’s old guard as the business begins planning fibre deployments beyond its March 2021 milestone.
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Network & Infrastructure
Mixed results from G.INP tests on ECI cabinets
Openreach withdraws some ECI VDSL lines after ReTx runs into problems. Blame pinned on supplier’s DSLAMs.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Global: McAfee flags BT role
Financial services business grows, US military renews contracts, McAfee flags BT role.
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Enterprise (B2B)
BT completes sale of Latin America assets
New company Sencinet to operate BT network assets. With Sencinet partnership, BT keeps a presence in the region. What’s next in Global asset offload?
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Consumer: Carphone exited, finally
Carphone dumped, BT Mobile abandons premium services, BT Sport adds OTT interoperability
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Products & Services
EE targets SMEs with new data pack
5G-ready bundles for small businesses: jumping the work–play divide. Smart Benefits get a spotlight.
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Consumer (B2C)
BT ends inflation-only price hikes to fund fibre
CPI + 3.9% set as new price rise formula across BT’s consumer products. Covering increased infrastructure investment is the party line, but move is an awkward reversal of recent commitment to inflation-only increases. Liberty Global’s CEO Fries describes the switch as a “whoops” moment for the rival to his ...
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Technology: Watson calls for sustainability fix
BT’s Watson makes a call-to-action over wireless industry’s energy usage, saying power-hungry mobile networks need a sustainability “fix”.
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Innovation (R&D)
BT Sport gets immersive with 5G trials
UK research project seeks “mixed reality” broadcast experiences. International project demos 5G in remote production at IBC event.
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Strategy & Change
Openreach 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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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Group: SEC exit nears
BT backing off office space rental plans, SEC exit nears, rival TalkTalk set to de-list.
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Network & Infrastructure
Scotland: Openreach full-fibre plan’s unique challenges
Scotland has hardest to reach rural communities. Increased FTTP activity intensifies competition for skilled engineers. Scottish government pumps funds into rural broadband.
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M&A
MBNL’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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Public Affairs
TalkTalk takes pot shot at Openreach FTTP pricing
CEO calls for longer-term, discounted full-fibre wholesale deals. Harrison claims BT’s alleged fears of breaching UK competition rules is “red herring”, while incumbent maintains it needs to appease all stakeholders.
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Innovation (R&D)
Double dose of reality for BT in Glasgow R&D link-up
Controlling football crowds and helping train technical staff among 5G-based applications being looked at in AR/VR tie-up with University of Glasgow.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT’s Nokia pick points to renewed virtualisation drive
Nokia to become 5G infrastructure top dog as Huawei fades. Virtualisation opportunities abound as BT and Nokia commit to expanding open RAN ecosystem, and imminent developments on the network edge are anticipated.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT 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.