Group – Page 5
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Network & InfrastructureLiberty Global’s Fries hints at UK fibre consolidation
CEO outlines plan to create a separate ‘light NatCo’ for new fibre JV. Liberty Global and Vodafone at inflection point over VodafoneZiggo. Despite fibre plans, Fries says HFC technology will be around for a long time yet.
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M&A
Vivendi head sees Telefónica–Prisa “synergies” as acquisition rumours continue
Arnaud de Puyfontaine wants strategy alignment with “common vision”. Local reports claim Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez “does not look favourably” on potential Vivendi involvement with Telefónica. Atresmedia also in the frame as part of convoluted acquisition scene in Spain.
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M&A
Former Telefónica business Atento seeks sale — reports
LatAm contact centre operator hires Goldman Sachs to advise on options, with sale on the table, according to Bloomberg. Telefónica partner and former subsidiary sees share price spike on news.
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Venturing & Investments
Wayra teams with Iker Casillas on sports tech investment
Telefónica hub enters collaborative venturing partnership with SportBoost targeting sporting innovation. Wayra seeks stake in sports technology future and offers financing, networking, and business development in return.
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Content & TV
Movistar Plus+ lays out international content distribution strategy
Movistar Plus+ Internacional division established to drive original, Spanish-language productions in overseas markets. Buendía Estudios and Sony executive Valenzuela installed to lead the unit. Content partnerships prioritised, with distribution brought closer in-house.
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Innovation (R&D)
Telefónica builds up metaverse momentum
Wayra unit seeks metaverse technology startups via Open2metaverse initiative. Spanish developers to get access to hub established in collaboration with Meta. Telefónica appoints Yaiza Rubio Viñuela as Chief Metaverse Officer.
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Products & Services
Telefónica ponders crypto payment integration
Spanish operator will not be a “mere spectator” on Web 3 and cryptocurrencies, with possibility of accepting token-based payments considered. Chief Digital Officer Chema Alonso describes Group “reflections” on potential role of the operator in decentralised technology developments.
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Financial & Performance
Telefónica’s FY21 comms decrypted: anticipating a new, asset-light dawn
Solid organic performance fuels management confidence in Telefónica’s ability to maintain growth and regain traditional swagger. New Spain and UK FibreCos to round off Group infrastructure monetisation programme. Near-term growth may still be dependent on inorganic activity in Brazil and JV success in UK.
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M&A
Telefónica preps new vehicle for digital M&A in Brazil
Local operating business Vivo indicates it may channel deals through a new platform as it seeks to build out its digital services ecosystem. Move would extend Vivo’s control over M&A and provide an alternative route to Telefónica’s central Wayra and Tech divisions.
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M&A
Telefónica Tech UK&I hints at more acquisitions
Telefónica Tech to continue UK shopping spree this year. After snapping up Cancom UK&I, division wants to expand cloud and cybersecurity presence in the region.
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M&A
Nabiax mulling sale of ex-Telefónica data centre bundle
Business set up through Asterion–Telefónica partnership reported to be assessing demand for set of eleven data centres in Americas. Move appears to shift focus of Nabiax, and its commercial tie-up with Telefónica, towards Spain. Centres were picked up in 2019 and 2021, as part of Telefónica’s trimming of Hispam ...
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Venturing & Investments
Telefónica partner Asterion fills infra fund number two
Investment manager with close links to Telefónica completes set up of a new €1.8bn pot. Five European markets in sights for energy and telecoms opportunities. Madrid-based business has various ex-Telefónica staffers on team and a history of deal-making with Group.
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Products & Services
Movistar to ‘reinforce’ Fusión bundles in defensive play
Spanish operator mulls adding adjacent services such as health and alarms to bundles. High-profile Fusión brand could be dropped.
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Content & TV
Telefónica ally Atresmedia enters Movistar Plus+ fray
Spanish media group reportedly interested in buying part of Movistar Plus+. Move pits Atresmedia against Vivendi, which is also seeking to build up Spanish media assets. Telefónica taking advice as pressure mounts on pay-TV business in Spain.
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Public Affairs
EU operator heavyweights want media players to pay their way
Top brass at Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone get shirty (again) over network investment “burden”. Sign off on open letter accusing video streaming, gaming, and social media groups of ‘piggybacking’ unfairly. Urgently call on European legislators to introduce rules for a “more proportionate” way of divvying up ...
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vivo gets ball rolling on Ânima learning JV
Brazilian operator’s Board clears path to creation of new company focused on digital courses. Vivo confirms 50:50 split with partner Ânima Educação. Some bureaucratic hurdles still to overcome.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telefónica deepens Oracle on-prem cloud ties in Spain
Operator unveiled as host partner for Oracle Cloud Madrid Region. Highlights (again) importance of using in-country data centres to ensure compliance with national data sovereignty regs and help business continuity. Telefónica Tech to offer Oracle Cloud Infrastructure services and boost PaaS offering.
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Public Affairs
Alierta era scandal still haunting Telefónica
Telefónica pays €6m into court to cover potential civil liabilities linked to trial of disgraced former advisor Rodrigo Rato. Newspaper speculation portrays Rato’s co-defendant, former Telefónica counsel Sánchez de Lerín, as “the man with the briefcase of secrets” linked to the telco. Rato litigation an ongoing hangover from earlier ...
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M&A
Telefónica mulls Movistar Plus+ options as Vivendi circles
Vivendi reportedly interested in buying part of Movistar Plus+. French media group seeking approval to increase Prisa stake to 29.9%. Telefónica seeking advice as pay-TV customers drain away in Spain.
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M&A
Oi mobile sale hits another road bump
Brazil’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) representative at antitrust regulator CADE gives thumbs down to proposed sale of Oi Group’s mobile assets to Telefónica|Vivo, Claro Brasil, and TIM Brasil. Non-binding decision cites competition concerns and recommends “administrative proceedings” to investigate collusion among trio to exclude other interested companies. Oi says ...
