BTwatch News – Page 41
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Enterprise: BT links up with TIM & Telefónica in Turin
BT Enterprise ties with Italian telcos for connected cars and the University of Hertfordshire for smart city solutions.
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Premium
BT focuses energies on health industry
BT ramps up plans with formation of Clinical Advisory Board populated by eight NHS clinicians. Move builds on operator’s sign-up to Health Tech Alliance and The Kings Fund as part of efforts to expand in the industry through collaboration.
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Premium
EE climbs on board with BAI
EE and Three UK become first two operators to sign up for neutral host network. A further key element is enabled for the Emergency Services Network. Motorola Solutions appeals CMA decision to investigate dual role as Airwave and ESN supplier.
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Premium
EE trudges on with Shared Rural Network progress
46 ‘fresh sites’ delivered under SRN programme. EE to upgrade a further 1,532 sites with 4G by 2024 in ‘partial not-spot’ phase.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Technology: DCMS hands out R&D investments
DCMS Future RAN competition hands four BT partners a portion of £36m R&D tranche.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Group: another Newcastle call centre to get refurb
Ericsson meetup for tech team; Second Newcastle call centre set for facelift; Osborne misses out as BT’s M&A chaperone boosts takings.
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Enterprise (B2B)
BT Enterprise’s SoHo unit to exploit micro-business boom
Senior figures named and recruitment drive underway at unit focused on single office, home office demographic. Unit launched in 2021 to deliver tailored services to a growing micro-business customer base.
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Operations
BT’s Mehta keen on ‘massive’ Indian expansion
Chief Digital and Innovation Officer wants to make “full use” of digital skills in the country. Outlines “very, very different” challenges compared to UK marketplace. Wider digital transformation “almost like creating a new BT”.
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Financial & Performance
BT OnePhone reports pre-buyout sales jump
Double-digit growth reported by converged comms business ahead of BT’s recent deal to secure full ownership. Despite expansion, question mark continues to hover over payout for stake add-on.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT’s McRae sees open RAN potential in tackling ‘not-spots’
Optimistic about RIC to enable connectivity in hard-to-reach places. Flags work on rural open RAN trial in Wales, with BT as neutral host provider. Restates view that open RAN functionality is more important than lowering costs.
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Operations
Openreach turns to video AI to cut install snags
Infra provider claims install quality, efficiency, and consistency gains from roll out of video analytics software from partner Vyntelligence.
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People
Ex-chair du Plessis wants to “move on” from BT exit
Jan du Plessis describes BT chairmanship as “not a great time”, but remains confident in Group strategy under CEO Jansen. Unceremonious resignation came amid reports of falling-out between the pair. Newly knighted du Plessis now teed up for UK audit watchdog role.
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People
Ex-BT chair teed up to lead UK audit regulator
Business Secretary Kwarteng puts Jan du Plessis forward for appointment to chair the FRC amid governance struggles on the audit watchdog’s “underweight” board. FRC in transition, and requires a chair able to partner with government.
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Strategy & Change
BT ramps up health tech plans with formation of Clinical Advisory Board
Eight NHS clinicians will aid BT in development of its healthcare solutions. Latest in a string of moves showcasing the telecom’s healthcare ambitions.
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Financial & Performance
BT’s M&A chaperone boosts takings
Boutique advisory firm Robey Warshaw reports a 50% jump in sales from corporate deal-making tasks. Partner of BT and Vodafone appears primed to benefit from industry’s new wave of consolidation.
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Suppliers & SCM
BT joins audit club to boost supplier sustainability
Pourrat underlines ESG credentials though membership of telco grouping to share best practice on supply chain sustainability. Highlights that BT spent around £13.1bn this year with more than 1,100 direct suppliers in nearly 100 countries, and that understanding impact on environment and society is key.
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT joins industry bodies in health-tech drive
Operator added to Health Tech Alliance and The Kings Fund as part of effort to expand in the industry through collaboration. Health a sector of interest to CEO Jansen amid BT Enterprise resurgence.
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Products & Services
Nozomi added to BT security portfolio
Partnership will see OT, IoT specialist’s solutions resold via BT.
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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.