All Competition articles
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InterviewChelot: wholesale scale is ‘mission impossible’ without nexfibre-Netomnia deal
Interview: “I have a wholesale platform, but I have no wholesale customers”. Jeremy Chelot’s Netomnia hit a structural ceiling, with bowing out the only way to progress the Openreach challenge. Firing back at nexfibre deal critics, he asks for alternatives to his Plan B, deeming consolidation the best route and reflecting on the challenge of leading a business through a sale.
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Strategy & ChangeDeutsche Telekom said to explore T-Mobile mega-meld
Group’s leadership said to be weighing a full combination between it and its American powerhouse, thus sorting out current disconnects that could complicate future deal-making and strategy. Shepherding any such deal through the corridors of Washington, Berlin, and Brussels would be highly challenging, however.
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M&AFrench trio increases bid for SFR, starts exclusive talks
New offer gives SFR a total enterprise value of €20bn, with Bouygues still in the driving seat, Orange and Iliad onboard.
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Financial & PerformanceMacquarie takes a hit as it considers KCOM exit
Investment group writes down more than half a billion pounds on Hull-based operator as reports swirl of imminent sale.
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Network & InfraVi accelerates 5G rollout with ‘strategic densification’ model
CTO Jagbir Singh outlines a “phase and calibrated” 5G rollout approach as India’s Vi attempts to close the gap to its faster-moving rivals.
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M&ALiberty’s Fries dismisses CityFibre ‘sour grapes’ over £2bn nexfibre bulk-up
UK altnet tensions continue to heighten over the competitive implications of planned acquisition of Substantial Group, as Liberty Global CEO hits back at CityFibre over calls for in-depth CMA inquiry.
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AnalysisCutting through the satellite hype: Starlink and LEO’s threat to global telecoms assessed — Strand Consult
Guest analysis: with D2D connectivity dominating discussions at MWC26, terrestrial operators must reassess their broadband and defence sector strategies. Strand Consult’s outspoken founder cuts through the hype to separate disruptive fact from industry fiction…
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Network & InfraSouth Africa: MAZIV targets townships with major ‘fibre to the shack’ push
In-depth: Vodacom-backed fibreco’s Vumatel wholesale arm is targeting townships with a ‘fibre-to-the-shack’ rollout to unlock digital inclusion at scale. Smart deployment, aggressive pricing, and parental synergies enable the plan, rivalling wireless and satellite alternatives.
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InterviewIrrational and anti-competitive: CityFibre CEO urges CMA scrutiny of nexfibre-Netomnia-VM O2 consolidation play
Exclusive: In his first interview as CEO, Simon Holden unpacks Ofcom’s TAR framework and why the Competition and Markets Authority must intervene in the contentious £2bn nexfibre–Netomnia merger to protect infrastructure competition and prevent re-emergence of duopoly stagnation.
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Network & InfraTIM, Fastweb + Vodafone team to create Italian towerco challenger
Italian telco duo to create fresh wireless infra venture, seeking to cut tower lease costs and create operational efficiencies. The move further amps up competition in Italy’s tower market, with Cellnex and INWIT seeing share prices dip…
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M&ABrazil’s Vivo eyes fibre deals in bid for Total loyalty
Operator’s Chief Executive Christian Gebara cites continued interest in acquisitions that would boost its position as Brazil’s number-one fibre provider, and save cost on build. Identifying a good deal within the country’s huge mass of broadband players remains a challenge, however.
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M&AUK’s nexfibre goes big, gets Substantial
Deep dive: nexfibre’s planned takeover of Substantial Group, parent of infra rival Netomnia, is the UK’s first billion pound-plus fibre altnet transaction and may open the floodgates to long-anticipated consolidation in the fragmented, scale-hungry sector. Chief Executive Rajiv Datta speaks to TelcoTitans about how the deal boosts its challenge to incumbent Openreach on wholesale fibre.
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Financial & PerformanceIn depth: BT loses customers but claims to be building ‘momentum’
Q3 FY25–26: In patchy performance, BT International remains on the turnaround starting line, BT Business is limping heavily, and BT Consumer has not picked up the network advantage baton handed to it by Openreach. The latter, however, continues to put in work to provide management with something positive to talk about…
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Financial & PerformanceBT CEO ‘ignores the noise’ as pressure builds after tepid Q3
Q3 FY25–26: Allison Kirkby dismisses detractors as Q3 earnings underwhelm and reports hint at growing boardroom agitation. “I just keep my head down”, says indomitable CEO.
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M&Anexfibre set to win race for Netomnia — reports
Deep dive: Liberty/Telefónica‑backed netco said to be finalising a £2bn deal for UK’s #2 altnet, with confirmation as soon as this week… but what does it mean for nexfibre, VM O2, fibre rivals?
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Public AffairsGerman fibre players cautiously welcome BNetzA’s copper switch-off plans
German telcos and industry bodies issue guarded welcomes of German regulator’s latest regulatory plans to enforce copper shutdown in parts of the country, although timeline for the switch-off still not firmed up…
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Network & Infra‘No other choice’: 1&1 to sue BNetzA over spectrum extension move
Challenger operator CEO Ralph Dommermuth tells Handelsblatt that he intends to sue the regulator for spectrum licence extension decision that “ruled out” 1&1. “This is not OK”…
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Network & InfraIndus Towers progresses prep for African infra incursion
Giant Indian towerco creates Nigerian and Zambian units, bringing intriguing regional match-up against likes of American Tower, IHS, and Helios a step closer…
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Strategy & ChangeHungary’s 4iG gears up to become third 5G player in North Macedonia
Reports indicate that spectrum licences have been awarded to 4iG unit One Macedonia, although official confirmation is still pending.
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Network & InfraUSA 5G speeds update: T-Mobile maintains gap
The latest Opensignal and Ookla test results will have been music to the ears of new T-Mobile Chief Executive Srini Gopalan, given his belief in network performance as a major ongoing differentiator for the Un-Carrier, and that rivals AT&T and Verizon are living off past glories.