Europe
-
Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: CEO Kirkby sets about transformation agenda, Openreach ramps up build
Latest from BT and its ecosystem of partners as Openreach takes “unapologetic” stance in the face of rollout criticism from challengers; CEO Allison Kirkby reportedly makes earnest moves to implement transformation agenda via consultancy appointment and Ireland shake-up; more from industry events in the UK and Europe…
-
M&A
Vodafone insists imperilled Portugal deal ‘not life or death’
Vodafone Portugal’s acquisition of market minnow Nowo looks set to be denied, but OpCo CEO Luís Lopes is unphased and remains confident of prospects regardless.
-
Partnerships & Alliances
Digi keeps MásOrange waiting on Spanish roaming decision
Digi Spain has until 2025 to activate a national roaming agreement with Orange, but could opt for another partner.
-
People
Telefónica Peoplewatch: fresh leaders appointed at fibre and tower JVs
Virgin Media O2’s Cornerstone tower JV with Vodafone UK poaches new commercial and sales chief from Boldyn, Germany’s Unsere Grüne Glasfaser names new IT director, more from across the Telefónica ecosystem…
-
Network & Infrastructure
Openreach targets 30m full-fibre premises, nexfibre calls for altnet ramp-up
At Connected North in Manchester, Openreach optimism was juxtaposed by altnet consternation about the state of the UK fibre market.
-
Weekly Briefings
Deutsche Telekomwatch Weekly: Germany’s Gigabit goals in spotlight
Group CEO Höttges weighs in on infra policy, highlighting slow pace of mobile challenger 1&1’s network rollout at Group AGM. Telekom Deutschland’s Srini Gopalan also goes on regulatory offensive, reiterating calls for removal of bureaucratic hurdles in German fibre rollout, as questions begin to be asked about the country’s long-term Gigabit goals…
-
M&A
Telefónica grows O2 Germany stake to 97%
Group splashes a further €175m on opportunistic stake increase, bringing total spend on O2 shares over last six months beyond €2bn. Move chimes with Group strategy to increase exposure to “attractive and stable” German market, while aiding O2 with strategic recalibration…
-
Network & Infrastructure
Telekom Deutschland faces uphill task to pass ten million premises in 2024
Group confirms that the ten million fibre rollout target remains valid.
-
People
Vodafone Peoplewatch: senior swaps in Germany as transformation agenda beds in
20+ high-profile moves in and around Vodafone, including: new Business CEO; HR swaps in multiple markets; German consumer services team overhaul; top-level pivots in Africa; plus more across the Group…
-
Content & TV
Telekom Deutschland targets tenants with UEFA EURO campaign
Commercial puts focus on the ability to switch TV providers with football as an additional incentive.
-
Weekly Briefings
Infrawatch Weekly: squeezing value from investment, Lightning administration unpicked, SiFi lands in America
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including infra owners declaring if they’ve got it, they might as well use it; a Lightning‑quick insolvency resolution; the Welsh sector veteran bringing fibre to the US; people moves, and plenty more…
-
Events
Telefónica’s Rao warns against 6G jump before realising 5G’s B2B potential
FutureNet World: O2 Germany CTIO cautions telcos against jumping into 6G too quickly and calls for improvements in enterprise sector to close gap between potential and realised revenue growth. Read more, including further views from BT and Three UK…
-
People
Vodafone veteran Colman Deegan appointed CEO of Zayo Europe
Former CEO of Vodafone Spain takes helm at fibre infra player Zayo Europe.
-
Weekly Briefings
Telefónicawatch Weekly: Spain continues stakebuilding; Group gets bogged down with brand legals
Spanish government brings itself level with CriteriaCaixa as Telefónica’s largest shareholder, increasing stake (through SEPI) to 5%. Elsewhere, Group gets to working through ‘huge’ DT brand dispute file dump; Virgin Media O2 taps Starlink for rural connectivity boost; Group seeks to keep closer watch on AI impact…
-
Venturing & Investments
DTCP closes second Infra fund, hints at a third
Report suggests that DIV II fund fell €40m short of its €1.6bn target.
-
M&A
BT revives Ireland sale talks as Kirkby picks up where Jansen left off — report
BT said to be considering BT Ireland sale as new CEO Allison Kirkby attempts what Philip Jansen could not. A sale would extend the asset-light strategy taken on at BT Business…
-
Financial & Performance
Spain continues to build Telefónica buffer, increasing stake to 5%
Government increases shareholding in the operator by 2%, quickly following up acquisition of a 3% stake in March 2024.
-
Weekly Briefings
Infrawatch Weekly: CTOs to the fore as industry reshuffles, DT disses 1&1, BDUK springs forward
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including big Project Gigabit wins for Quickline, Wessex Internet, and Wildanet; a first appearance in the wild of a DSIT-funded 4G mast; DT taking a swipe at its newest mobile rival; people moves, and plenty more…
-
Marketing
‘Huge’ file dump prompts another delay in DT-Telefónica logo dispute
Spanish operator wins more time to present its case in branding dispute, citing the burden of sifting through an “astonishing” volume of evidence submitted by opponent Deutsche Telekom.
-
Weekly Briefings
Telefónicawatch Weekly: Shareholder dance continues with growing Spanish flavour; O2 presses on with 5G experiments
Spanish banking foundation pops up as Telefónica top shareholder, as Spanish government seperately said to be seeking spot on board as it builds its own national interest stake. Elsewhere: O2 gets 5G projects on the move; refinancing in Peru; VM O2 resumes digital landline project…