BTwatch News – Page 63
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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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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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PremiumElsewhere 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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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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PremiumElsewhere 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 & InfrastructureScotland: 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&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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Public AffairsTalkTalk 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 & InfrastructureBT’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 & 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.
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Partnerships & AlliancesBT, Microshare smarten up London hospital
BT sticking with LoRa as a an LPWAN option as it promotes the onsite efficiency gains for organisations using IoT private networks. First known partnership between BT and Microsoft-supported IoT startup Microshare.
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PeopleBT movers: ex-CEOs pick sides on China and Hicks heads to Facebook
External Innovation VP Lydia Hicks sets up shop in Silicon Valley with Facebook; YouView security lead joins BT as Security Director. Former Microsoft Development Director Van Ballaer joins Global. Ex-CEOs Livingston and Bonfield pick up China-related spots.
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PeopleBT strips directorships from treasurer on murder charge
Quick changes made to company officers for major BT holding companies in the wake of Treasury Manager’s widely reported arrest. Review of Winnister’s responsibilities highlights complexity of BT’s many tiers of subsidiaries, and echoes of losses past still reverberating.
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Network & InfrastructureOpenreach misses out on NI’s Project Stratum deal — reports
Startup Fibrus reportedly wins contract for Project Stratum. Fibrus shaking up Northern Irish fibre scene with big plans and deep pockets.
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PeopleFormer BT leaders split across UK-China divide
Ex-BT CEO Ian Livingston expected to foster support for challenger vendors as UK transitions from reliance on Huawei equipment. Predecessor Sir Peter Bonfield charged with smoothing relationships between government and Chinese-funded chipmaker Imagination Technologies. Ex-Chairman Rake has been under fire as Huawei-apologist.
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Network & InfrastructureUK’s 4G-based Emergency Services Network faces more delays
Airwave unlikely to be switched off until 2024, possibly 2025. EE on track with 4G network.
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Network & InfrastructureBT, Stirling to launch Scottish Living Laboratory
BT named technology partner for University-led climate monitoring project. EE’s 5G network put to work.