EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 217
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PremiumBT under fire in long-running NI public sector projects
Northern Ireland Assembly report slams contract extensions awarded to BT Group that cost taxpayers £120m. While civil servants displayed “indifference”, BT “ran rings” around them.
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PremiumOpenreach NI fibre plan stirs up Project Stratum
Openreach Northern Ireland on track to exceed FY20–21 full-fibre target. Overlap emerges with Openreach plan and publicly funded project. NI leads UK with highest full-fibre availability.
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PremiumVirgin Media’s foray into 5G signals end of BT era
All Virgin Media subscribers expected to leave BT network by early-2022. BT highlights “healthy pipeline” of new MVNO business opportunities.
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PeopleTeoh junior faces TPG ire after assault conviction
TPG Telecom said to be mulling disciplinary options after son of Chairman David Teoh is fined for assaulting Uber driver. Shane Teoh’s position as Non-Executive Director apparently safe.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodafoneZiggo consults virtual twin on fibre rollout strategy
Post-trial, Dutch operator partners with Tata Consultancy Services on AI-based network planning — and perhaps other functions too.
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Strategy & ChangeDeutsche Telekom blockchain spinout beamed back to mothership
trust2core’s work on enterprise blockchain application development to continue from within T-Labs. Group said to be expanding focus on blockchain services.
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Suppliers & SCMHot property Sitetracker expands ties with Vodafone
Group buying and property units join forces to form new collaboration with project management software supplier. Sitetracker builds on collaboration with Tomorrow Street, securing tie-up with latter’s parent VPC.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone tests 100G PON waters with Nokia
Experimental PON tech developed by Nokia Bell Labs gets runout at Vodafone’s Competence Centre in Eschborn, Germany. Enables speeds of up to 100Gbps on a single wavelength using a combination of 25G optics and “advanced” DSP techniques. Nokia envisages commercial availability in “second half of decade”.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVantage Towers on alert as Drillisch appears on 5G radar
National roaming deal between Drillisch and Telefónica Deutschland paves way for 5G rollout by Germany’s would-be fourth MNO. Vodafone’s TowerCo spinout vies with Deutsche Funkturm and Telxius for Drillisch business. Ericsson sales veteran Peter Zehetner joins Vantage Towers as Managing Director in Germany.
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Network & InfrastructureVirgin Media’s foray into 5G signals start of Vodafone era
Vodafone signs up MVNE Digitalk to support MVNO growth strategy.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone Hungary stumps up €135m to extend licences
Secures 15-year extensions to 900MHz and 1800MHz concessions. Supreme Court rules NMHH acted “lawfully” in blocking Digi Communications from participating in 2020 multiband auction.
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Network & InfrastructureICASA digs heels in over spectrum auction rules
Regulator stands firm against legal action taken by MTN, Telkom. VdSA proves unlikely ally.
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Public AffairsRegulations hit Vodacom customer tally
Vodacom Tanzania indicates impact of regulator’s fraud reduction scheme. Another 1.1 million SIM cards due for disconnection imminently.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Africa
Vodafone launches Africa.Connected campaign to bridge the digital divide, while Joosub clears things up regarding Ghana in Q3 results.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: A1 stable; NZ changes abound
Developments from around Vodafone’s soft-power network: results stability for A1; Elisa works Vodafone Business ties for SD-WAN delivery; changes afoot for Vodafone New Zealand.
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Innovation (R&D)Vodafone ups the ante on drone innovation
Dutch, German, and UK trials flag recent progress in autonomous and unmanned flight. Ericsson emerges as important co-pilot.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Europe: Italian 3G sunset
End of road for Italian 3G network; 5G used to combat COVID-19 in Spain; Turkey enterprise unit digitises cement mix.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Associates & JVs
Teoh junior faces TPG ire after assault conviction; INWIT’s Ferigo bemoans 5G rollout barriers.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Group: VPC targets supply chain sustainability
Telecom Italia adds weight to open RAN support scheme; VPC joins other operators in arrowing in on supplier carbon emissions.
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Financial & PerformanceBudget 2021: BT benefits but won’t move investment dial
Chancellor Sunak eyes investment-backed build-back. Short term tax break to bolster BT infrastructure expansion. However, gains will be “offset in later years”, and no movement on BT’s number one priority — business rates relief.