EMEA Infra – Page 33
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M&AAmerican Tower “excited” by tower M&A in Europe
CFO flags possibility of “compelling things” happening in Europe’s tower scene. Cautions, however, that American Tower in no rush for dealmaking. Deutsche Telekom, Cellnex, Orange, and Vodafone also in the mix for tower M&A.
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PremiumSweden’s Netel flags fibre services deal
Swedish group looks set to support German NatCo’s accelerated fibre rollout. Germany offers fertile ground for fibre-focused supplier.
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Venturing & InvestmentsDT venturing execs formalise digital infra vehicle
DTCP CEO Vento quietly launches Digital Transformation Capital Partners, an independent venturing unit with a European infrastructure bent. Shared management sees Vento and Klima at the helm, but new names also in leadership. Registrations in Germany, and Luxembourg, with Dutch assets in the portfolio.
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PremiumVi goes 5G network slicing with Nokia
Trial in Gandhinagar purportedly enables high-resolution VR content. TRAI sets deadlines for consultation process with “stakeholders” on auction rules for delayed 5G spectrum auction.
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Premium1&1 offers challenging maths for Vantage and Vodafone
TowerCo wins a potentially important reference deal with Vodafone German challenger 1&1. Strategically complex win clouded by reports of internal ructions.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Associates & JVs: KKR bids for TIM
KKR submits cheeky bid for TIM; TPG requests joint functional separation undertaking.
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Network & InfrastructureDT begins hiring for German fibre startup
Joint venture with Australia’s IFM begins recruitment of commercial and IT staff, as it seeks a slice of municipalities’ subsidised Gigabit roll outs.
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M&ADT ‘exploring fibre JVs in Austria, Poland’
Germany’s fledgling GlasfaserPlus tie-up said to be providing model for other JVs. Report indicates progress is at a more advanced stage in Austria.
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PremiumH1 FY21–22: Openreach enters fibre build phase two
Lonely position as sole BT unit posting positive results for the half year. CEO Clive Selley confident of future return on investment: FTTP rollout moving ahead of expectations; uptake supported by Equinox pricing deal and growing consumer demand.
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M&ASpain shields Telefónica as KKR’s TI bid makes waves
Spanish government reinforcing restrictions that would halt hostile bids for Telefónica until 2023. Europe’s telco sector awash with bid speculation as KKR pursues TI, and Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries is linked to a BT bid.
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Network & InfrastructureDT’s Jacobfeuerborn gives ‘flying towers’ up to ten years to take off
DT-backed SPL is seeking Series B funding. Second edition of GSMA white paper on HAPS due to be published in early 2022. Jacobfeuerborn sees HAPS as the ‘missing link’ between terrestrial and satellite networks.
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PremiumElsewhere in Telefónica Infra-Tech: initiatives surgery, maritime, and sports
Digital initiatives flagged in surgery, maritime services, and sports.
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PremiumTelefónica applies blockchain to tower management
In-house blockchain platform TrustOS leveraged for partnership with Atrebo. TREE asset management platform enables real-time tower data gathering to support network deployment.
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PremiumT-Mobile testing cell tower battery alternatives
TMUS conducting beta tests for ultra-capacitor replacement at cell towers, with potential to replace lead acid batteries.
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PremiumVodafone New Zealand said to initiate tower spinout
Former Vodafone OpCo’s parents reported to have hired advisors to guide them through separation and monetisation. Move comes with regional tower market heating up. Both Spark and Vodafone NZ moot interest in infra-sharing.
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M&AKKR launches Telecom Italia buyout attempt
Offer believed to be worth at least €32bn. Operator shares soar 30% as the news emerges.
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PremiumMovistar, WOM in fibre building show down
Rival operators both submitted proposals for multibillion-peso regional fibre deployment contract, set to be awarded in late-2021.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone CEO open to fibre JVs in Germany
Read exploring off-balance sheet financing and infrastructure partnerships to meet FTTP demand. Retains the love for HFC, however; believes network upgrades across cable footprint will meet consumers’ broadband requirements for some time yet. Della Valle pointedly notes that mid-term capex fixed guidance does not include FTTP buildouts.
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Financial & PerformanceVodafone: DT and Orange are ‘credible’ tower merger partners
Read confirms either of Vodafone’s big European rivals could end up being an ally as noise continues to increase around an “industrial merger” for Group’s Vantage Towers business.
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Network & InfrastructureVantage states ‘clear interest’ in Cornerstone buyout
Vodafone’s European TowerCo eyes opportunities in Netherlands and UK as partners Liberty and Telefónica look to cash in on wireless infrastructure assets. Strategic tie-up between Vantage and another MNO TowerCo also remains a possibility.