All Europe articles
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Partnerships & AlliancesDT teams with Cellnex for European tower expansion
Two groups firm up relationship following a long courtship. Dutch unit T‑Mobile Infra to be DT’s anchor investment in new Digital Infrastructure Vehicle. Move releases DT to join European TowerCo gold rush, but while keeping options open on future ownership of its own infrastructure assets.
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Venturing & Investments
Wayra plants further capital in Ireland’s SalesOptimize
Ireland-based startup given (another) leg-up by Telefónica’s incubator hub.
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Strategy & Change
EXCLUSIVE: Vodafone splits IT, networks to advance TechCo vision
New bifurcated tech-network division of responsibilities. Group-level with anticipated OpCo trickle-down. Groundwork for delayed TechCo strategy and build-out.
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Network & Infrastructure
European heavyweights club together on open RAN
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone sign MoU. Aim is to generate greater economies of scale for smaller suppliers through common procurement parameters. Lobbying European governments for open RAN funding high on the agenda.
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People
Vantage Towers CEO says he’s no Vodafone lackey
Vivek Badrinath emphasises operational and strategic independence from Vodafone. CEO claims Europe is 20 years behind the USA in commercialisation of towers. Newspaper interview used to defend upcoming listing on Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
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Products & Services
British Airways completes on-boarding of DT’s EAN
Milestone reached for otherwise noticeably quiet partnership between Deutsche Telekom and Inmarsat.
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Consumer (B2C)
Elsewhere in BT Consumer: EE waives roaming
EE waives EU roaming charges, broadband guarantees personalised, lockdown learning backed.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT clocks onto quantum timing tech
EU-funded consortium hoping to accelerate commercialisation of quantum‑enabled clocks. Further expansion to the Group’s ecosystem of quantum partners.
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M&A
Telefónica sells infra biz to American Tower
Telxius finds a home at US infrastructure giant. Transaction expected to wipe €4.6bn off Telefónica net debt.
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People
Latest Vodafone people moves: Deutsche Glasfaser taps Vodafone again
New MNC marketing head at Vodafone Business. Two more Vodafone Germany execs head to fibre altnet Deutsche Glasfaser. Vodafone Hungary appoints replacement Deputy CEO for pivoting Budai.
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Network & Infrastructure
Openreach requests COVID vaccine relief
Direct talks between Openreach and government officials confirmed. COVID‑19 surge halts operations. Openreach seeks to highlight public importance of connectivity.
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M&A
DT said to be upping ante on Dutch sale talks
Possible sale of T‑Mobile Netherlands could square with long‑rumoured plan to buy KPN in order to bolster the Group’s convergence strategy.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone bulks up Vantage Towers with Cornerstone
Vodafone UK and Telefónica UK give each other freedom to “ commercialise ” their 50% stakes in Cornerstone JV. Transfer of Vodafone’s shareholding to Vantage Towers to take place within weeks. Important (and long-awaited) addition to Vodafone’s European TowerCo ahead of upcoming IPO.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telefónica in on SEAT’s flagship Spanish e‑vehicle plan
Longstanding partner builds-out connected-car alliance with Telefónica. Group lends hand to SEAT’s goal of accelerating electric vehicle adoption in Spain.
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Consumer (B2C)
Movistar steps up smart‑home drive
Longstanding partner and stakeholder CaixaBank namechecked as partner on TV‑based payment solution. Group’s smart-home play given potential leg up by pandemic, with expanded Living Apps catalogue.
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Interview
Deutsche Telekom backs GSMA scheme to sort network security headaches
DT CSO Thomas Tschersich is a leading proponent of GSMA and 3GPP scheme. NESAS aims for more secure mobile networks and efficient security testing. Geopolitical climate heightens awareness about the security assurance scheme, and DT exec insists it could be an apolitical solution to concerns.
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Venturing & Investments
Tech Ventures looks to unlock Alias Robotics’ full potential
Alias becomes tenth addition to new investment vehicle’s portfolio. EC-backed robot “ antivirus ” solution to be put on show at Bavarian cybersecurity lab. Importance of cybersecurity solutions for autonomous robots illustrated.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone Germany CEO Ametsreiter on 5G ramp-up mission
Vodafone Germany ups 5G coverage targets but still lags Telekom. Draft IT Security Act 2.0 under fire from former Head of Cybersecurity at the Ministry of the Interior.
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Interview
Droniq COO: BVLOS flight within sight
Ralph Schepp talks regulatory hurdles, market potential, and use‑cases. DT‑DFS JV sets high ambitions for traffic management platform. Partners brought in, with DT staying close.
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Venturing & Investments
Telefónica on board with 5G emergency comms project
AI to be leveraged by EC-funded research group as a means of providing enhanced 5G network coverage for emergency services. Group building ecosystem around responsible use of AI. Another example of operator working the axis between e-health and connected-vehicles.
