EMEA Tier-1 Telcos – Page 26
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Innovation (R&D)
BT R&D chief calls for “coherent” policies to support UK innovation
UK industrial strategy for telecoms needs a rethink to support homegrown technology development, drive demand, and revive ailing sector, according to Gabriela Styf Sjöman, Managing Director, Research & Networks Strategy at BT Group.
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Network & Infra
Hrvatski Telekom assessing carve-out of wireless infra
Croatian operator becomes second Deutsche Telekom business in recent weeks to flag interest in a tower spin-off, after Greece’s OTE.
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Network & Infra
Telefónica takes bulk of Spain’s rural 5G SA funding
Group receives more than half of €508m funding available through UNICO-5G Redes Activas programme, despite alterations to tender to reduce perceived competitive advantage.
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Network & Infra
Vodacom sues regulator and MTN over alleged improper spectrum sharing
Suspicions on MTN’s perceived overperformance in Ookla testing prompted Vodacom to investigate its rival’s spectrum practices, and allege malpractice in new court filings.
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M&A
Telefónica, Asterion ‘gearing up’ to put data centre asset in play
Bidding for data centre operator reportedly set to begin “in the coming weeks”, shortly after firming up major capacity expansion agreement with hyperscalers.
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Network & Infra
Telekom Deutschland picks up pace on fibre after slow start to 2024
Deutsche Telekom’s home market business adds 190,000 homes to its fibre footprint in April, leaving it with 1.6 million to go to hit its 2024 target.
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M&A
Digi lands fresh role in OTE’s Romanian exit saga
OTE has signed an MoU with West Network Invest, said to be majority owned by Digi Romania.
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M&A
Vivo in talks to buy FibreCo Desktop, advance consolidation — report
Brazil’s largest integrated operator reportedly sounding out São Paulo-focused fibre specialist for acquisition. Move would could kick up country’s fibre consolidation and add a million to Vivo’s strategically important fixed-broadband customer base. Read more…
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telefónica extends Google Cloud deal into realm of AI
Group frames three-year extension and expansion of cloud services relationship with hyperscaler as a means to expand in B2B and accelerate digital transformation.
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Network & Infra
Safaricom Ethiopia sources locally made towers for network rollout
Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia hailed a “new era” for the country’s telecom sector as it prepares to install the first homegrown towers that come with same quality but lower price than imported equivalents.
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Strategy & Change
Vodafone clarifies climate ambitions, pushes net zero back five years
With the publication of its first Climate Transmission Plan, Vodafone delivers more concrete information on the Group’s decarbonisation plans and expectations, but downgrades an ambition to reach Scope 1&2 net zero.
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Products & Services
Vodafone’s TOBi chatbot gets a generative AI makeover from Microsoft
Vodafone reveals early progress with applying GenAI to advance customer experience transformation as part of strategic tie-up with Microsoft.
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Network & Infra
Millicom sees joint Telefónica NetCo as key to Colombian ‘repair’
Outgoing Millicom CEO Mauricio Ramos says network-sharing JV was “badly needed” to drive a turnaround in country’s hyper-competitive and capital-intensive telecoms market. Collaboration forms key part of both operators’ strategic switch-ups, with Millicom already seeing early benefits. Read more…
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Network & Infra
DT bosses not wild about BNetzA’s rights extension conditions
BNetzA proposals, outlined last week, would let Germany’s three major mobile players avoid a lot of the cost of re-acquiring licences due to expire next year.
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Network & Infra
Spanish telco trio to share spectrum on rural 5G rollout: report
MásOrange, Telefónica, and Vodafone reportedly planning to pool spectrum assets for UNICO-5G Redes Activas initiative. Suggested move holds potential to reduce costs of meeting government rural coverage targets.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telefónica adds cybersecurity dimension to Microsoft alliance
Telefónica Tech integrates generative AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot for Security with its portfolio.
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M&A
Spain completes another Telefónica stake purchase, hitting 10% target
Government finishes two-month process of incremental share buy-ups to become the operator’s largest stakeholder. Reports indicate Spain’s CriteriaCaixa also looking to increase stake to 10% to match government’s holding. Read more…
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Venturing & Investments
Wayra, BancoEstado launch fintech startup call
Telefónica’s open innovation unit seeking out fintech entrepreneurs and startups alongside Chilean bank. Move reinforces Wayra’s interest in fintech and follows several investments in sector over last three years. Read more…
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Consumer (B2C)
BT delays Digital Voice switchover, revamps all-IP rollout plan
BT needs more time to complete the switch to digital landlines but hopes Digital Voice customer conversions will go hand-in-hand with full-fibre upgrades.
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Public Affairs
DT agrees ‘painful’ compromise with German unions
Management averts further strikes by securing deal giving home market workers a 6% pay rise, as well as easing stance on collective agreement coverage and timeframe.