All TelcoTitans.com articles in BTwatch #323
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Digital Reports
BTwatch Report #323 – April 2021
Key stories include: BT’s digital spring | NICE expands enterprise role | Consumer buys into Enjoy | Enterprise allays Zoom fears | STL aims to ‘de-skill’ fibre
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Content & TV
Ex-BT chief Patterson tipped for Super League top-spot
Former BT CEO Patterson said to be among those considered for controversial European Super League stewardship. Former employer BT stands against the breakaway league proposals.
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Innovation (R&D)
BT wants SIM-fitted drones as standard
Head of BT’s Drone Solutions keen on developing out-of-the-box SIM card solution. Telco wants Project Xcelerate to showcase EE network’s suitability for BVLOS flights. Scaling drone-flight volumes in BVLOS environment a pressing challenge. Collaboration with US-based TEOCO in the pipeline to optimise flightpaths.
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Premium
STL picked as Openreach fibre cable partner
STL cables expected to help simplify fibre deployment, while making the most of existing infrastructure. Environmental benefits of vendor solution referenced as focus on green network maintained.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT completes EE Digital Platform Services migration
Multiple EE services now based in Kubernetes-powered environment. New system “more flexible and ultimately cheaper”.
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT buys in to Enjoy personal service
“Commerce-at-home” service provider earns four-year contract renewal. BT now an investor in the company as it weighs up a SPAC-delivered listing.
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Premium
BT “disappointed” as government tweaks voucher scheme
Government kicks off first phase of £1.2bn Project Gigabit. £210m for rural voucher scheme, but fewer communities are eligible; £110m for connecting rural doctors’ surgeries, libraries, and schools. DCMS Delivery Plan suggests considerable uncertainty on most effective way to target government spending.
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Suppliers & SCM
BT taps Blackbird for in-cloud video editing
Content operations team to adopt new editing software, with Group seemingly keen to retain some form of remote working model post-COVID-19. Blackbird CEO says BT’s green credentials chime with its own. Eleven Sports and Liverpool Football Club join BT in vendor’s expanding client ecosystem.
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Premium
BT Cloud Work seeks to allay Zoom security concerns
BT Enterprise cloud communications offering from RingCentral uses Zoom technology for video conferencing. Zoom’s widely publicised security incidents might put off business customers, but BT assures that its platform is designed to avoid such risks.
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Suppliers & SCM
Rest of BT contact centres to adopt NICE tech
BT deploys solutions from longstanding partner across “additional lines of business” to optimise processes and boost customer retention.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Consumer: Extreme E rights nabbed
BT Sport takes racing rights and targets Ashes renewal.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Technology: BT, Telefónica plot edge pilot
BT and Telefónica prove edge compatibility; Ericsson and BT deliver 5G VR testing for Hyperbat.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Group: O2-VM gets provisional nod
BT remains neutral as CMA clears Virgin Media–O2 deal.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Openreach: R100 gets prepped in Highlands & Islands
Openreach readies for Scottish R100 subsea surveys; wholesale price increases take effect.
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Strategy & Change
Selley “driving two trains” as fibre provisioning speeds up
Increasing Openreach resources are being funnelled towards ensuring customers are connected to full fibre — and revenue keeps coming in — while the rollout builds momentum. No firm date set to reach 20 million homes target, but annual goals to be flagged. As competition builds among fibre altnets, Openreach ...
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Innovation (R&D)
Machine safety startup nets grant to join BT-backed Belfast Smart Port
AI-powered safety startup Machine Eye wins £75,000 proof-of-concept competition from Techstart. Business wins grant for access to BT’s private 5G network at Belfast Harbour’s Smart Port development.
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Suppliers & SCM
BT Sourced adopts Globality’s smart purchasing tech
Pourrat’s new ProcureCo leveraging AI to “transform” buying processes. Globality platform to enable simpler, speedier way of doing business. Tie-up of importance to ECG compliance strategy.
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M&A
BT absorbs Local Business agent Fourfront
Reseller relationship brought in-house in small transaction. BT says no shift in strategy for SME go-to-market.
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Premium
BT people moves: Karonis replacement named at Enterprise
Following the launch of BT Digital and BT Networks, Dave Matthews was appointed BT Enterprise CTIO to fill Karonis’ shoes. BT Non-Executive Director Cheshire takes a Chairman role at Spire Healthcare. BT Global SVP Roger Woodend departs for AWS.
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Suppliers & SCM
BT Sourced embarks on buyside disruption
Low-key launch for BT’s “standalone” procurement company. Time will tell if greater reliance on digital tools will turn BT Sourced into “procurement disruptors and trailblazers”.