EMEA Tier-1 Telcos – Page 144
-
M&A
Telefónica said to be negotiating PangeaCo stake sale
Peruvian fibre business reportedly on the market, as Group’s Hispam monetising plans evolve further. PangeaCo to take form of Brazilian/Chilean equivalent, assuming part-sale goes through.
-
Suppliers & SCM
Job cuts coming as ISS works to solve DT deal losses
Manager of Group’s German facilities working through “long list” of restructuring measures, with aim to reach breakeven on flagship deal. Stage one complete as key IT milestone hit. Staff and subcontractor cutbacks coming as ISS seeks to squeeze out more costs.
-
Venturing & Investments
DT scopes out precise positioning partnerships
Nascent German business Angsa Robotics beats competition from ten other startups to win Deutsche Telekom backing. Startup gearing up for launch next year.
-
Network & Infra
Hrvatski Telekom outspends rivals on 5G spectrum
Croatian NatCo can now start 5G network rollout in earnest.
-
Partnerships & Alliances
Telecom Egypt to hold Vodafone to “strict” dividend deal
Executives of Vodafone’s Egyptian partner suggest new deal gives watertight dividend flow from their joint mobile business. Agreement creates path for Vodafone to do an internal switch of its Egyptian OpCo, following failed Saudi Telecom deal.
-
Suppliers & SCM
Greek TowerCo ramps up tenancies with Sigfox deal
Sigfox taps Vantage’s Greek business for infra support in “nationwide” IoT deployment programme. Ten-year strategic agreement to increase mast tenancies by more than 250 over next three financial years.
-
M&A
Höttges “ready” for Drahi tête-à-tête after BT raid
DT confirms Altice’s secretive acquisition of a large BT holding went unflagged. Group “open” to discussions and sees prospect of “exciting” developments towards end of 2021. DT accentuates lack of pressure to sell up, should Altice target its holding.
-
Premium
Vodafone IoT powers Westenergie’s renewable grid
Westenergie is a case study for digitalisation and IoT.
-
Network & Infra
Portuguese operators remain embroiled in epic 5G auction
Portugal’s 5G auction has completed 146 days of bidding, and counting. Government said to have no plans to intervene, but drag adds to 5G deadline pressure.
-
Strategy & Change
Safaricom looks closer to Ethiopian fintech expansion
Newly established Ethiopian OpCo reportedly given green-light to offer fintech service by market regulator. But incumbent rival already gifted year-long head start in m-money services realm.
-
Products & Services
IoT.nxt takes sports performance platform on tour
Rugby team the first to leverage IoT.nxt’s PLAYER.Connect real-time sports performance platform. Vodacom-owned IoT specialist targets fresh industry segment, drawing on breadth of Vodafone partnerships.
-
M&A
Telefónica (finally) exits Costa Rica
Group finalises long-awaited divestment. Final transaction price is $538m, around $40m short of previously agreed deal. Movistar marque utilised by Liberty as it pursues multi-brand strategy in Costa Rica. Former Movistar Costa Rica exec to head operations.
-
Premium
Telefónica people moves: senior Vivo swaps
Vivo names executive changes including operations and talent directors. Wayra’s long-time leader Arias exits for Madrid VC. Truphone draws more tier-one expertise with former O2 UK Transformation Director promoted.
-
Partnerships & Alliances
Sky “fundamental” to BT Sport strategic partnerships
As BT’s sports broadcasting division hunts for minority investors or strategic partners, CEO Jansen puts Sky tie-up front and centre. ITV backs away from chipping in, but remains keen on partnership.
-
Suppliers & SCM
VPC’s Wilson praises Lenovo for help in pandemic crisis
Ninian Wilson impressed by Lenovo’s ability to meet “huge demand” for laptops when Vodafone call-centre operatives needed to work from home during lockdown. Extends existing Lenovo contract as reward: “when people help you in a crisis you don’t forget”.
-
M&A
Rakuten acquires Telefónica open RAN investment
Rakuten to acquire Altiostar, Telefónica minority investment and “partner of choice”. Telefónica relationship with the US-based open RAN specialist extends beyond stake holding, with collaboration in network development and deployment in Europe and Latin America.
-
Premium
Vodacom optics take off with Nokia tech
South African optical network trials hailed as a success, with Nokia hardware enabling long-distance, high-capacity data transmission. Testing seen as a proof of concept for wider rollout and 5G services expansion.
-
People
Vivo CIO segues into FiBrasil top job
Telefónica’s new FibreCo JV names Vivo veteran as CEO. CIO vacancy opens up at Brazil OB.
-
Strategy & Change
Telefónica Tech extends cloud reach in Brazil
TC&CT division snags 49.99% stake in Vivo’s CloudCo Brasil. Deal builds on TC&CT’s earlier purchase of CyberCo Brasil. Working in parallel with local operating businesses becoming a Telefónica Tech trend.
-
Venturing & Investments
Telefónica ploughs second batch of funding into “critical” Nozomi
Group’s Tech Ventures vehicle adds to funding in industrial cybersecurity player Nozomi Networks. Telefónica Ventures MD Gawendo talks up the value of the tie-up as Group seeks to beef up IoT security capabilities. Additional investment strengthens relationship between the commercial and strategic partners, started in 2020.