EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 149
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Financial & PerformanceHrvatski Telekom rides Q1 shocks but ‘ready to adjust’
Croatian operator says Ukraine war exacerbating supply disruption challenges and inflation. No change to FY22 guidance but management watching developments. Telco still keen on M&A to expand regional footprint.
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M&AVivo eyes convergence options as Oi integration begins
Cross-selling to new Oi customer base a focus for CEO Christian Gebara as migration and integration gets underway, set to be completed in 2023. Synergies of BRL 5.4bn (£870m/€1bn) expected via efficiencies in costs, investments, and integration. Spectrum and mobile site tidy-up due this year, with half of the ...
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodacom signs “exclusive” deal with Visa in South Africa
New contract builds on similar deal between Safaricom and Visa for M-PESA. Visa payments option likely to be available as a virtual card integrated into the recently launched VodaPay Super App.
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Network & InfrastructureInmarsat CEO highlights risks from unmanaged space expansion
Rajeev Suri calls for a common approach to protect the space environment. Inmarsat and Viasat agree undertakings with the UK government to smooth merger progress.
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MarketingTelefónica has a change of plan on convergence
Fusión brand set to be replaced after a decade as totem for Group’s convergence strategy. Move comes with convergent ARPU and acquisition in stall. New service to draw on Group’s prolific recent recruitment of partners such as Microsoft, Prosegur, and Teladoc.
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Strategy & ChangeEE to swallow BT and move “beyond connectivity”
BT Consumer’s two brands set for change as EE takes centre stage. EE to become flagship for converged products and new, “future services”. BT moniker to remain for Enterprise and Global operations as BT Means Business platform kicks on. Simplification, for customers and teams, the name of the game. ...
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Network & InfrastructureBT welcomes “quantum revolution” with network launch
Quantum-secured metro network connects London offices, enabling quantum key distribution and management in partnership with Toshiba. EY named first commercial customer; revenue expected within 18 months. BT CTO Watson says quantum race is on, and UK is well placed. Believes quantum will become an “integral part” of country’s economic ...
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Partnerships & AlliancesOrange leans on DT buying ties to counter inflation
Executives lay out anti-inflation toolkit in macro risk-inflected Q1 results call. BuyIn joint venture with DT highlighted as having an important role in dampening cost pressures. African ops described as “resilient” to Ukraine war shockwaves.
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Network & InfrastructureSubsea rollout for 15 Scottish islands ramps up
BT partner Global Marine to start deployment of 16 subsea cables from May. Initial survey work completed last year by Fugro and OceanIQ.
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Strategy & Change‘A deliberate ploy’: UK operators face backlash as prices increase
Consumers facing broadband and mobile price hikes question operators’ justifications. Infrastructure investment and heightened demand among the buzzwords, but critics say margins the greater concern. MVNOs come out on top against ‘big four’ in a consumer survey.
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Venturing & InvestmentsWayra invests in ‘Spanish Google Drive’
Cloud storage provider Internxt receives cash injection in new funding round. Security-focused business hopes to grow “even faster” with newfound support.
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OperationsTelekom Deutschland CEO urges regional decision making
First meeting of five ‘Regio Circles’ takes place in Berlin. Gopalan keen to empower local customer-facing units to improve end-user experiences. Fibre and 5G services a priority.
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Strategy & ChangeTelekom Deutschland to change tariffs in fight against ‘cheap is cool’ mentality
TDE Sales & Service lead Ferri Abolhassan says tariffs will be restructured later this year. Customer satisfaction a priority, with service identified as a key differentiator.
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Network & InfrastructureVodacom Tanzania targets rural areas with fibre investment
TZS 25bn investment secures use of government-owned fibre infrastructure. State wants 80% population coverage by 2025. OpCo aims to offer increased access to healthcare, education and “financial inclusion”.
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PremiumBT people moves: Gastey leads Global Manufacturing
José Gastey named MD for new Global Manufacturing function, combining several industry verticals. BT’s divisional General Counsels swapped as Canham exits, Beckenbridge pivots, and Langlands moves. Better Workplace management tweaked as fit-out contracts awarded.
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Innovation (R&D)Staex: DT spinoff aims to patch up fragmented IoT
Telekom Innovation Labs project on ‘new-generation’ IoT orchestration re-surfaces. New business Staex offers a fresh, decentralised take on running smart-utility and smart-city projects. First external funding secured. Startup sits outside of the DT perimeter but maintains ties with Detecon and T-Mobile.
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PeopleBT alumnus Shaw takes KCOM top-spot
Tim Shaw, former BT Enterprise CTIO, takes Hull operator’s top-spot. Set to drive “exciting transformation” under Macquarie owners.
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Network & InfrastructureScottish gov working with Openreach to accelerate R100
R100 project, backed by devolved Scottish government, connects only tiny fraction of targeted premises with superfast broadband. Subsea infrastructure on track to hit rollout deadline, but wider R100 programme facing delays. Scottish government “actively engaging” with Openreach to accelerate rollout; acknowledges (again) that R100 is “hugely challenging”.
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Venturing & InvestmentsTelefónica takes stake in deep-tech investment fund
Leadwind, launched between Telefónica and K Fund last year, raises €140m in first closing. Telefónica named largest private backer, with Spanish government’s innovation fund among public support.
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Strategy & ChangeTelcos must build trust as foundation for data services
Operators currently assume an unfounded bond of trust with customers, but can still build role as valued brokers, believes VM O2’s CDO. Fostering an improved reputation for trustworthiness and delivering privacy-by-design can lead to new revenue streams, according to Vodafone Business data chief. Ex-Deutsche Telekom veteran calls on operators ...