Europe – Page 126
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People
BT Sourced adds transformation lead
Former Allianz buying head appointed Director, Procurement Transformation.
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M&A
Telefónica joins Liberty in move towards UK tower sale
Goldman Sachs reportedly handed reins to examine prospective Cornerstone share sale.
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Premium
DT people moves: CEOs and CTIOs named in central and eastern Europe
A host of changes at DT’s European NatCos include two new CEOs and two new CTIOs, and a reworked Commercial division. Finance lead swaps at T-Systems Alpine. Group venturing unit DTCP targets portfolio partnerships growth.
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Innovation (R&D)
BT quantum-secures hollow core fibre in trial
QKD hook-up with Lumenisity HCF pitched as world first. Lord says trial “accelerates the UK’s lead in quantum technologies”. Widespread HCF deployment still some way off, however.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Deutsche Telekom IT Solutions ties with AWS for DevOps focus
New taskforce to adopt agile working methods with AWS engineering support. First project will focus on AI-based customer assistance solution from November.
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M&A
OTE takes full ownership of Romanian mobile business
OTE’s near-100% absorption of mobile business a regulatory prerequisite for sale of its fixed sibling to Orange. Telekom Romania’s 30% holding given €59m price tag. Previously the subject of sale speculation, TRMC now fully focused on organic growth, with new Bucharest headquarters portrayed as “fresh start”.
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Innovation (R&D)
DT: Open RAN not there yet, but developing fast
Deutsche Telekom’s view on open RAN state of play. Mixed bag: encouraging pace of development, but complexity reigns. Programmability capability is two to three years away. “Must have” automation needed to tackle integration challenge.
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Premium
Vodafone Q1 FY21–22: ‘Phase two’ relaunched with M&A sweetener
Some hints of compromise with City overseers as Vodafone re-seeds post-pandemic, digital-led growth plan. New Chairman van Boxmeer appears to be lighting a fire under Group mindset and strategy. M&A talked up as a lever to help Vodafone in the push to revive growth. Another chunk of Vantage could ...
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Deutsche Telekom Group: DT terminates De-Mail involvement
Last post for De-Mail; Group sees shareholder dissent over exec pay; mVAS project ticked off Pan-Net to-do list.
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Premium
Vodafone Q1 FY21-22 Headlines: pandemic snags unwind, gradually
Group bounces out of pandemic slump, helped by lapping and increased business confidence. Cautious CEO warns of further “bumps in the road”. In Spain, another large-scale downsizing move made under cover of Digital Telco transformation, and as fodder for Group’s centralisation-led efficiency plans.
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Premium
Vodafone Q1 FY21-22 Guidance: all quiet on capex front
Group unsurprisingly “firmly on track” to meet heavily caveated free cash flow target. Plan for spend “step-up”, highlighted in May 2021, appears yet to be firmed up after causing City consternation.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Telefónica Core Markets: O2 Business launches Managed Microsoft 365
Regulatory battles continue in Spain with mixed results; Movistar scores Italian football rights renewal.
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M&A
T-Systems offloads South African remnant
Deutsche Telekom’s enterprise unit wraps up SA exit after selling training and development provider. Continuation of T-Systems slimming drive
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People
New MD appointed at Deutsche Telekom Pan-Net
Jana Kvoriakova named Managing Director at Deutsche Telekom’s cloud infrastructure unit. She replaces Stefan Schnitter, who moves to T-Systems consultancy Detecon.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Deutsche Telekom Europe: Magenta ties with rivals for billing
Magenta teams up with rivals A1 & Three; Cosmote NB-IoT reaches 98% coverage; Hungarian regulator investigates SMS termination market.
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Partnerships & Alliances
DT and SK Telecom’s Techmaker JV readies Q4 launch
5G in-building tech developed by SK Telecom and adapted for Europe. Product available first in Germany, then offered to other European telcos. JV eyes next steps, spies AR/VR developments for 5G.
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Network & Infrastructure
Liberty sees UK–Dutch tower separation “sooner than later”
CFO says group “not in love with” tower ownership and keen to unlock value. Virgin Media O2 and VodafoneZiggo assets in focus.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: MTS acquires Factorin
Developments from around Vodafone’s softpower network. MTS acquires control of Factorin. SoftBank continues satellite broadband endeavours. Musical chairs at Tele2.
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Premium
Telefónica plays 3G shutdown catch-up in Germany
Operator shunts forward 3G shutdown programme by a few months. Vodafone and Telekom closed their 3G networks in June 2021.
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People
Vodafone makes tech changes in Czech and Portugal
Czech Technology office vacated by Zíka and separated as per Europe-wide model. Vodafone Portugal sticks to traditional model with CTO swap after Nascimento exit.