Europe
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Strategy & ChangeVM O2 slams brakes on NetCo fundraise amidst Telefónica strategy hiatus (nexfibre curtailed, too)
Plans to sell stake in NetCo spinout paused, as co-parent Liberty looks to “align” with partner Telefónica’s new management. nexfibre build also dramatically slowed to maintain “capital discipline” in UK’s “increasingly irrational” fibre market. Meanwhile, Netomnia raises new funds, ups target by another two millions homes…
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EventwatchDigital Voice: BT dials up VM O2, gov to help reboot ‘beyond painful’ migration
With POTS shutdown a strategic financial imperative, BT belatedly embraces collaboration to reach remaining two million (many vulnerable) analogue subscribers, as the already delayed digital landline switchover deadline looms…
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PeopleBT Peoplewatch: all change in Tech finance, Business leadership
30+ senior and strategic movers across BT, including a wave of corporate affairs changes; a remit expansion for Technology CFO Ed Briggs; swaps at Media & Broadcast; more…
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Weekly BriefingsOrangewatch Briefing: the impact of geopolitical turmoil; sparks fly in Spain
In this issue, we report on Orange’s Q1 FY25 earnings call with a focus on data sovereignty and sharpening competition in France…
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Network & InfrastructureOpenreach banks £157m subsidy for Scottish fibre build
BT’s wholesale access arm confirms latest Project Gigabit regional contract as it continues to stack up government grants for fibre notspots and chase near-£1bn-scale BDUK jackpot. Builds on controversial £600m, Scottish R100 awards…
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Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: AI agents put to task
Latest from Vodafone as the Group’s AI strategy fills out; several Business deals in Europe, Africa, and further afield; and a view from the Group and its peers as geopolitics shake up the industry…
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PeopleFormer Orange exec takes on new role at Spanish data centre startup NxN
Sergio Riolobos has been appointed CEO of NxN Datacenters, which plans to build its first data centre in Valencia.
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Weekly BriefingsTelefónicawatch Briefing: Europe’s need for a fix
Telefónica and European telco rivals position themselves for an anticipated wave of spend on network and IT strengthening in Europe, in response to political flux. Read more…
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodafone expands Fortinet B2B cybersec pact — portfolio and regions
Operator’s Business arm incorporates fresh services into its converged B2B network and security offering, aiming to protect enterprise customers amid ever rising cyber threats, extending reach into further parts of Europe and Asia as well as the US.
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Network & InfrastructureSpanish blackout tests telcos’ mettle on infra resilience
Power outages in Spain, Portugal, and parts of France have highlighted the vulnerability of telecoms networks, following concerns over infra resilience across Europe.
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Weekly BriefingsBTwatch Weekly: Openreach bites back as altnet challengers add pressure
Latest from BT, including testy confrontations between Openreach and challenger FibreCos; BT Business CTO shares lessons (and warnings) from the Group’s telco-as-a-platform overhaul; and more quantum developments emerge from Adastral Park…
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Network & InfrastructureOrange lays groundwork for ‘dark NOC’ as part of ‘platforming journey’
Laurent Leboucher hints at efforts to add “cognitive” abilities to Orange’s shared network operations centre in Europe to facilitate increased automation and faster response times.
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Weekly BriefingsDeutsche Telekomwatch Briefing: congstar stamps its marque
A busy few days on the marketing front at DT as Greece’s OTE firms up a long-anticipated move closer to central branding, and figures from Germany’s congstar suggest DT’s multi-brand portfolio is delivering commercial gains in a challenging environment. Read more…
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PeopleVodafone Peoplewatch: top-table changes across Europe
April 2025 edition: 30+ senior and strategic people changes across Vodafone and its ecosystem, including European CEOs, Consumer leads, Vodafone Business executives, and board members at Group-level and in Africa…
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Financial & PerformanceOrange France steers a steady course as competition intensifies
Q1 FY25: Orange clearly does not wish to offer cutthroat prices despite aggressive plays from domestic rivals.
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Public AffairsEWE Tel sues German regulator over spectrum extension ‘obligation’
EWE’s telecoms arm files lawsuit against the Bundesnetzagentur, claiming that the regulator needs to beef up third-party access requirements on MNOs to appropriately address competition concerns…
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MarketingOTE dons parent’s T in brand switch-up
With adoption of ‘Cosmote Telekom’ as new commercial marque, outlying NatCo finds compromise with parent Deutsche Telekom that preserves local brand equity while unlocking more efficiencies from being part of DT family.
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Enterprise (B2B)One Touch Switching gathers momentum as attention turns to enterprise
Connected North: TOTSCo CEO Paul Bradbury talks up first several months of OTS in action, with lessons and technology now being put to use in enterprise switching trials.
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M&AOptimising Orange sells off Polish energy arm
Orange Poland offloads electricity services unit, seeking to place greater focus on telecoms and digital services rather than adjacent verticals…
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Financial & PerformanceTariff turbulence: Orange’s Heydemann scents opportunity in uncertainty
Operator’s CEO says turbulent geopolitical scene is raising B2B client concern over data sovereignty and security, although thinks it is too early to say whether these fears will crystallise into higher investment.