Headlines
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Network & Infrastructure
Case study: Telenet adopts network digital twins to break automation glass ceiling
How can operators achieve genuine network autonomy? Telenet’s Stijn Eeckhaut and Celfocus’s Carla Penedo reveal their phased approach, leveraging network digital twins and a cognitive operations layer, as well as empowering engineers to build trust in new data-driven processes.
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Strategy & Change
Telefónica to take more ‘calculated risks’ in new strategy, says Murtra
Telefónica’s strategic review is now expected in the fourth quarter this year, as Executive Chairman Marc Murtra envisions more risk taking and calls for a “social contract” with the European Commission that enables national consolidation in exchange for investment.
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People
T-Systems expands AI team to strengthen B2B portfolio
Deutsche Telekom’s business services unit has hired Liberty exec Magdalena Jonczak as Global Head of AI & Data, to bolster ambitions around AI-led services and efficiencies.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telenet and Proximus near fibre sharing tie-up
Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries says major Belgian telcos are nearing completion on a deal covering fibre build-out and infra-sharing. Discussions mark the latest move in Belgian fibre asset reshaping, as operators seek to give a sorely needed boost to country’s FTTP build-out while stretching out scarce capital.
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Network & Infrastructure
Liberty and Vodafone ‘aligned’ on Dutch towers sale — Fries
Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries suggests a sale of VodafoneZiggo’s tower assets is moving forward, with an appointment made to lead the process and co-parent Vodafone onboard.
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People
AtlasEdge names chief to lead new ops function
European data centre provider creates new Business Operations function, and appoints IT and telecoms aficionado Raoul du Plessis to lead it. Appointment is next in AtlasEdge’s series of management team changes seen over the past year…
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Financial & Performance
Digi ‘adapting as we go’ after a testing start in Belgium
Closely-watched new entrant has already been forced to “resize” and “rescale” its business in the first few months of operation.
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Network & Infrastructure
VodafoneZiggo says ‘no’ to Dutch fibre, goes ‘all in’ on DOCSIS
Q1 FY25: With move to new strategic plan, Vodafone–Liberty Global joint venture commits to DOCSIS 4.0 upgrade over the next few years, turning down full-fibre prospect but keeping the door open to FibreCo partnerships…
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Strategy & Change
VM 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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Products & Services
giffgaff embraces ‘natural evolution’ as it prepares for broadband launch
VM O2 sub-brand giffgaff starts limited trials for broadband service using nexfibre infra.
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M&A
VodafoneZiggo open to M&A as it edges into Dutch fibre space
Mike Fries, CEO of parent Liberty, indicates M&A may have a role to play as VodafoneZiggo strengthens its broadband infra platform.
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M&A
2025: the year UK FibreCo cash becomes king?
This year may see further billions injected into altnets to pump-prime M&A consolidation, while 2026 could start to see what the end-state looks like (third scale player or continued swarm).
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Strategy & Change
‘Europe needs a DOGE’: Höttges looks to Musk for regulation blueprint
MWC 2025: Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Höttges has led the usual calls for policy overhaul in Europe, this time offering a direct comparison between European MNOs’ challenges and T-Mobile’s ‘freedom’.
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Network & Infrastructure
Belgian fibre: Orange and Proximus confirm tie-up talks
Telco pair acknowledge ongoing discussions over a mutual fibre buildout arrangement covering less urban areas of Belgium’s Walloon Region.
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Network & Infrastructure
Deep dive: Virgin Media Ireland’s fibre switch-up enabling 5Gbps and faster launches
Virgin Media leaps ahead on path to 10G. Strategic move driven by customer demand and enabled by €200m IT/network transformation, positioning Ireland as pacesetter in Liberty Global’s NetCo-ServCo fibre (r)evolution. TelcoTitans talks to commercial chief Paul Higgins. Read more…
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M&A
Liberty seeks strategic partner to fuel B2B services expansion plan
Execs lay out strategy to build out, and eventually monetise, outsourced services businesses Liberty Blume and Liberty Tech.
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Financial & Performance
Fixed-up VM O2 looks to bounce back in 2025
UK operator forecasts a return to growth in the current year after spending much of 2024 strengthening its foundations.
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Financial & Performance
Liberty Global targets $200m+ in savings through AI
The European group has quantified how much it expects to save in operating costs from deploying artificial intelligence across its telecoms assets over the next three years.
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M&A
Virgin Media O2 said to attract first offers in £1bn NetCo stake sale
Spanish media reports Virgin Media O2 owners Telefónica and Liberty Global have received non-binding offers from investors for a 40% stake in the planned NetCo carve out, with BlackRock and CPP Investments in the mixer.
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People
Sky pinches tech boss from Liberty Global
Aarne Aho takes on Group Chief Technology Officer role at Sky, after long career leading tech and product development at Liberty Global and Virgin Media.