EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 151
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M&A
Telefónica’s Vilá welcomes merger of rivals in ‘fragmented’ Spanish market
Telefónica COO again questions whether Telefónica should now be seen as a dominant player. Vodafone said to be exploring options for its fixed assets in Spain.
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Partnerships & Alliances
M-PESA gets interoperability boost in Kenya
Airtel, Telkom, and Safaricom customers granted access to M-PESA till payments. Central Bank of Kenya says first phase will “deepen digitalisation” for businesses. Airtel Money and T-kash equivalents still some way off.
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People
“Stability and continuity” key as Al-Saleh extends T-Systems stay
Chief Executive agrees to continue leading the business until at least 2027. Will guide T-Systems through “the next phase” following four-year transitional period.
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Premium
EE’s underground 4G service gets permanent status
Jubilee Line pilot is turned into fully fledged service. BAI hails completion of first ‘major delivery milestone’ for neutral host mobile network.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Technology: Tarana expects revenue influx
BT FWA partner Tarana predicts bumper year for 2022; BT recognised for 5G innovation.
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Premium
BT seeks cloud security to enable native infrastructure
Chief Architect Neil McRae positions security at the fore of cloud-native transformation. Calls on vendors to finally ditch legacy attitudes to security, and the days of “stupid passwords”.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Group: contractors chosen for refurbs
Constructions crews named for Better Workplace refurb in Belfast and Glasgow.
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Network & Infrastructure
DT committed to high-flying partner despite write-down
HAPS specialist Stratospheric Platforms remains loss making, but DT stays on board. Pilot in Saudi Arabia beamed a 5G signal from a mast 45,000ft in the air.
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People
Telefónica-backed content studio renews board
Buendía Estudios elects Gayo Chair, with equal representation from Telefónica and co-parent Atresmedia. Telefónica influence through Movistar’s Oslé, Movistar Plus+’s Burzako, and HQ’s Navarro.
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Public Affairs
Industrial action inbound as union rejects biggest BT pay rise in 20 years
Communication Workers Union rebuffs improved offer of a £1,500 flat rise for 58,000 employees. Union states it will take BT’s management “to a place they’ve never been before” as it prepares for a statutory industrial action ballot. BT believes its rates “compare well” against competitors.
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Operations
Cost-cutter and digitiser _VOIS: Vodafone’s agent of change lands in three new Local Markets
Vodafone Intelligent Solutions said to have created new bases in Albania, Turkey, and the UK. Group’s long-term centralisation efforts netted over €1.2bn in savings in the three years to March 2021.
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People
GlasfaserPlus taps DT links to boost leadership team
Fibre building joint venture brings in additional DT experience with two new hires. Voss named CTO; BuyIn’s Kleebaum brought onboard for Wholesale.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Systems Solutions: Siemens’ Geolus combined with PDM WebConnector
T-Sys offering customers functionality to search for products based on shape, using Siemens’ software.
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People
DT poaches Vodafone B2B marketing lead
Elvira González Sevilla takes B2B reins at Deutsche Telekom Europe, replacing Ralf Nejedl. Former Vodafone Business Head of Marketing “completes” Dominique Leroy’s management team in key growth area.
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Premium
Telefónica FY21 Headlines: slow but steady improvement
Group ends M&A- and pandemic-dominated year in forward gear on revenue and earnings. ‘Core’ quad performs solidly. Hispam turnaround progresses. Impairments in Peru and Spain fly below-the-radar. A final wave of infra deals on the way.
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Premium
Telefónica FY21 Guidance: growth expected, aided by deal-making
Management indicates gathering levels of confidence. M&A adds are key to recovery goals, however.
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Network & Infrastructure
Liberty CTO sees VM O2 fibre cost advantage
Rodriguez bullish on a cost-effective transition to fibre in the UK market, confounding the consensus view. However, other Liberty ventures may see a longer and more costly migration. Liberty embracing an all-IP environment as a chance to make the most of network capacity while delivering bundled offerings. Perils of ...
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Premium
T-Sys extends Spanish hiring spree to Reus centre
T-Systems Iberia to hire 300 employees in Catalan city. Move runs in parallel with expansions in Barcelona and Granada. Spanish unit claims to be experiencing rapid growth and seen as positioning for NextGenerationEU recovery funding opportunities.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Deutsche Telekom Europe: Recycling on the agenda
Recycling and green initiatives in Croatia and Poland.
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Public Affairs
BT leads social tariff calls, hikes mobile prices
Cost of living crisis puts BT’s (and rivals’) mobile price increases in perspective, despite Group calls for more social tariffs. BT’s Home Essentials one of several on offer, but more to be done to support vulnerable customers. Time for rivals to pull their weight, says BT’s policy director. Mobile ...