EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 183
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Venturing & InvestmentsVodafone venturing alumni earn No Big Deal backing
Marketing platform provider No Big Deal banks €465,000 in funding to scale in Benelux region. Founded in 2020 by former Vodafone Procurement Company and Tomorrow Street managers Bergstra and Klemetz.
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Strategy & ChangeOVHcloud IPO to fuel Europe’s “cloud champion”
T-Systems’ Gaia-X partner to go public this week. European cloud provider plans to take on US tech giants with data sovereignty credentials. Growth plans include bulking up through acquisitions.
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Partnerships & AlliancesGreggs keeps good times rolling with VM O2 partnership
Virgin Media O2–Greggs alliance working “well for both brands”, as telco adds element of differentiation to customer loyalty programme.
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Venturing & InvestmentsWayra buys into eSIM startup Airalo
Telefónica one of four telco investors in eSIM specialist. Funding to be used to expand to more countries and recruit more staff.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Group: emission targets brought forward
Net-zero targets brought forward by fifteen years ahead of COP26; warnings against competitor tower deal.
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Products & ServicesDT hopes to get nuSIM on track after two-year delay
Four chipset makers have started nuSIM security certification process. LTE-M now deployed in four markets, with more to come in 2022.
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Strategy & ChangeTelefónica reorgs retail division and pushes physical sales
Telefónica España’s distribution unit split into three departments, targets efficiency gains. Telyco stores to be given experience-focused facelift to maximise post-COVID high street surge.
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PeopleOpenreach names new fibre delivery guy
Change at top of Fibre & Network Delivery unit as Matthew Hemmings comes in for Kevin Murphy. Internal hire sees Hemmings take lead of team focused on expanding Openreach’s UK-wide fibre network.
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PeopleVodafone twins management of international B2B units
Partner Markets’ CEO Diego Massidda takes on ownership of Carrier Services division. Move adds to wider rework of Group’s international B2B functions as Vodafone seeks post-pandemic growth revival and more joined-up go-to-market approach.
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Venturing & InvestmentsTelefónica-backed VC fund targets ‘global champions’
Telefónica joins Kanoar to launch Leadwind as “anchor investor”. Targets scale-ups in Europe and Latin America, with investments of up to €15m and partnerships within the Telefónica ecosystem.
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PremiumNEC solidifies SI position in Telefónica’s open RAN push
Japan-based vendor to coordinate live trials in four key markets. German open RAN trial seen as springboard for NEC’s leap into wider Group sphere.
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Network & InfrastructureCiti said to be charged with Telefónica Spanish infra sale
Rumours continue to circulate around Telefónica’s fibre monetisation plans in Spain. Investment bank understood to have valued Spanish fibre infrastructure at €14bn. Sale speculation comes despite Telefónica classing its Spanish fibre infrastructure as a “strategic asset”. Report suggests Group is seeking resources to finance investments in 5G and digitisation. ...
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Venturing & InvestmentsWayra opens wallet for security startup Gabriel
£8.8m total funding raised in Series-A round. Startup eyeing growth opportunities in domestic market and beyond. Telefónica teaming up on the distribution of home security solutions in LatAm.
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PeopleDT–Orange procurement alliance BuyIn names new device boss
Sharaf steps up to lead Devices & Platforms, taking the reins from Kohler.
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Suppliers & SCMTDE's Yext engagement bears fruit
German NatCo flags digital customer support improvements. Yext says telco is a user of its Listings and Reviews products, among others.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Deutsche Telekom Group: Deutsche Funkturm flags mast deal
DT adds TripleA to tower-building team; real estate “right-sizing” takes effect.
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OperationsVodafone Spain’s downsizing plan under union scrutiny
Operator proposes to outsource remaining retail outlets, rather than close them as part of job cull. Unions want assurances that employment is “guaranteed” and that outsourcing of workers is voluntary.
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PremiumVM O2 takes to the skies with Fotokite
Swiss tethered drone solutions provider trials emergency response system with VM O2.
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ProfileCEO Lutz Schüler relishes challenger role at VM O2
After Virgin Media O2’s first 100 days, Schüler is raring to go head-to-head with BT on full fibre, wholesale, and B2B. Reportedly in talks with Sky on fibre investment. Determined merger integration won’t slow VM O2 down. Big believer in “data and digital” for delivering what customers want; hints ...
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Innovation (R&D)BT wants 6G to solve real-world problems
Senior BT execs say new technology should respond to consumer, industry needs. No appetite for a “step change” in radio; 5G backwards compatibility a must. Coverage, reliability more promising areas for 6G improvement than peak data rates.