EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 201
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Products & ServicesSafaricom unveils in-house VOD platform
Kenyan operator launches Baze to support local creative industry. “One-shop entertainment platform” seen as successor to recently dissolved Songa by Safaricom.
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PremiumRejigged tie-up could find Vodafone Egypt a home
Vodafone secures route to in-Group transfer of Egypt stake in quid pro quo deal with local partner. Kenya-esque Vodacom hand-off of Egyptian interest one possibility.
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PremiumMixed Huawei 5G RAN messages remain in Europe
Vodafone Italy reportedly gets conditional approval to use Huawei 5G RAN equipment. Huawei’s position in Germany looks more vulnerable after IT Security 2.0 Bill becomes law.
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PremiumVodafone steers Sony 5G test drives
Vodafone Germany is providing the 5G network for Sony’s connected-car trials. “Database on wheels” the ambition, with constant communication required over stable, high-speed network.
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PremiumElsewhere in Africa: Vodacom pairs with Microsoft
Vodacom pairs with Microsoft for Mozambique SMEs; Safaricom adds digital menus to M-PESA ecosystem.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Europe: Unitymedia nearly integrated
German Unitymedia integration near completion; VfUK continues to target SME market with cybersecurity and data packages.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Associates and JVs: Vi and Vantage on 5G
Vi and Vantage Towers Greece get involved in 5G trials.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Group: Vodafone Business goes digital
Vodafone Business goes digital on customer experience; SD-WAN adoption hits bumps; telcos team up on handset eco-ratings.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: Altice rolls into BT
MTS surfs tower spin-out wave; SoftBank boosted by digital shift and gets strategic with LEO satellite venture OneWeb.
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M&ABT’s uninvited new co-pilot: what’s Drahi’s mission?
Altice buys minority stake but claims no intention of full-fledged takeover. Seeks to support BT’s strategic fibre, for which Drahi has genuine zeal. BTwatch explores industrial logic and financial machinations behind move.
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ProfileWhich Drahi has BT got itself entangled with?
Altice empire expands into UK. Drahi: a fibre visionary or ruthless financer? Does BT investment represent change of tack by rapacious wheeler-dealer?
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Venturing & InvestmentsShopper tracking startup earns Wayra investment and O2 deal
Wayra UK dials up London-based startup’s already substantial financing. Investment sets the stage for a “multi-million-pound” retail partnership with the Group’s UK operator.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Deutsche Telekom Europe: Services build-outs in Austria and Greece
Services build-outs in Austria and Greece; new data centre planned in Romania.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Telefónica Group: Nextory acquires e-book JV; Group joins handset sustainability drive
Nextory subsumes e-book JV; Group joins handset sustainability drive; Wayra plants capital in transcription and shopper-tracking startups.
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M&AIn detail: Liberty and Telefónica’s VM-O2 pre-nup
Three-year wait expected before a potential IPO of new joint venture, while both parties expected to remain involved in the business for at least five years. Telefónica reserving its right to go it alone in UK on IoT, cloud, and cybersecurity services. Liberty to get a board presence at ...
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PeopleT-Systems CTO takes the helm on Gaia-X board
Maximilian Ahrens elected Chairman along with first board of directors. First Gaia-X services expected by end of 2021. Another sign of Deutsche Telekom’s support for the initiative.
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Enterprise (B2B)DT’s Antje Williams puts three year timeline on enterprise 5G
Enterprises initially focusing on private networks but they want to test all types of features. ‘Fear of missing out’ cited as a key driver of digitisation and 5G.
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Strategy & ChangeDT on standby for 5G European Aviation Network add-on
Group open to a 5G upgrade on flagship European Aviation Network system. Execs see user demand for faster connectivity on planes. Vendor partner SkyFive working on 5G system in China. Airwave-dependent European update could be “some time” away, however.
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M&AVodafone Turkey buys into enterprise IT specialist FGS
OpCo takes 50% share of business services provider and frames deal as reflecting Vodafone’s march into “TechCo” territory. FGS products to be launched in Vodafone markets outside Turkey.
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Suppliers & SCMNPS revival makes for happy shopping at Vodafone’s VPC
Digital transformation at Vodafone’s procurement unit said to have driven positive Net Promoter Scores for user experience. VPC says it is now faster, more efficient, and has “happy” purchase orders. Process mining and machine learning driving further efficiencies.