Headlines – Page 135
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Products & Services
BT Final Mile locker network expands
Calor and EDF Energy named as third-party customers for Final Mile service. Pelipod revenue has been rising, but so have losses. CJ Retail Solutions was awarded the locker installation contract.
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M&A
T-Mobile Netherlands sale finalised
Consortium WP/AP Telecom Holdings concludes long-awaited transaction. New owners keen on ‘business as usual’ approach, with eyes on continued growth. Deutsche Telekom expected to net about €3.8bn from sale.
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Partnerships & Alliances
SpaceMobile lures Orange with Vodafone template
Evolving cellular broadband provider now claims association with 1.8 billion mobile accesses as commercial plans progress. FY21 results see $80m more cash spent by SpaceMobile, but with $322m still at hand to fuel 2023 first phase launch. Management assures supply chain and satellite slots secure despite global upheaval.
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Venturing & Investments
DT invests in Helium’s distributed network
Telekom Innovation Pool joins $200m funding round in decentralised IoT network operator. Crypto token incentive model sees growth in recent years. Liberty Global among fellow participants.
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT flags new contract with Deutsche Post DHL
The two groups have been working together since at least 2010. Focus on building a sustainable and cloud-based network to underpin supply chains.
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Network & Infrastructure
No further delays in Sprint 3G shutdown, insists TMUS
Following a three-month delay, reports had suggested the process could yet suffer further setbacks. Shutdown began 31 March and will be completed by the end of May. TMUS’ own network to follow suit on 1 July.
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Public Affairs
Álvarez-Pallete: scrap ePrivacy, improve GDPR
Telefónica Executive Chairman José María Álvarez-Pallete calls on the European Commission to withdraw its proposed ePrivacy Regulation in favour of better enforcement of GDPR. ePrivacy ambitions of “harmonised” single market will not come to fruition, says the Spaniard. Calls for improved data legislation to compete with Asian and US ...
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M&A
Hrvatski Telekom to absorb evotv assets
Merger of HT Produkcija with Croatian incumbent on the cards. HT Produkcija, fully owned by Hrvatski Telekom and owner of evotv, will cease to exist.
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Public Affairs
“Insulting” pay bump rejected as BT faces fresh union battle
Communication Workers Union refuses £1,200 flat rise, demanding a 10% increase. States BT has a “clear choice” between prioritising shareholders or workers. Union threatens to begin statutory industrial action ballot.
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Content & TV
Movistar Plus+ signs €1.4bn DAZN deal for La Liga rights
Telefónica’s pay-TV platform to broadcast every Spanish top-flight match for five years from the 2022–23 season. DAZN retains production responsibilities, with Movistar Plus+ customers granted access to broadcasts. DAZN continues telco partnership strategy to ease rights costs.
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Network & Infrastructure
Gopalan defends Group’s caution on fibre
TDE CEO Gopalan said broadband strategy paying off. DT expects to build 60%–65% of Germany’s fibre infrastructure. Vodafone Germany’s 5G+ dismissed as mere marketing.
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People
BT Sport boss exits ahead of Discovery merger
Simon Green, Head of BT Sport since its inception, set to leave this week. BT Sport evolving as it prepares for Discovery tie-up.
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Network & Infrastructure
From castles to classrooms: Wales tests rural 5G case
Project explores 5G value for rural communities with focus on agriculture, education, tourism, and transportation. EE 5G network connects sites in Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire. 4G and 5G are considered key to closing rural broadband gaps in Wales, but policymakers can do more to encourage investment.
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Public Affairs
CNMC pledges post-merger review of Telefónica regulations
Proposed merger of Orange with MÁSMÓVIL would create largest player by subscribers. CNMC President will seek to balance obligations of telcos with those of digital platforms. Regulator reports on football rights contracts are being ignored.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT’s Allera: “we got it wrong” on digital switch-over
BT Consumer CEO Marc Allera hits pause on Digital Voice rollout amid public backlash about impact on elderly and vulnerable customers. Analogue-to-digital migration set to continue for those that want it, while BT deploys safeguards to assure concerned customers.
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People
ISS UK&I CEO to drop Openreach Non-Exec role
Liz Benison departs to focus on regional CEO role at Openreach partner ISS. Ceeney named as her replacement and will take the role in May.
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M&A
Deutsche Telekom set to cash in on Dutch exit
T-Mobile Netherlands’ junior partner Tele2 expects sale transaction to close within “weeks”. Group to receive around €3.8bn in net cash proceeds. Unlikely to follow Tele2’s lead and use cash windfall for extraordinary dividend.
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Network & Infrastructure
VM O2 taps VMware to boost 5G rollout
Expanded collaboration to deliver 5G services “without limitations”. VMware continue work on Virgin Media O2’s ongoing deployment, which began 16 months ago.
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Network & Infrastructure
Euro giants put O-RAN security and sustainability in spotlight
European open RAN MoU group drawing focus towards the potential for targeted and measurable energy efficiency gains through adoption of open disaggregation, supporting critical operator goals. Security review suggests an open architecture, drawing on IT security protocols and built on a zero trust methodology should prove more secure than ...
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Public Affairs
DT stops software development in Russia
Operator confirms closure of St. Petersburg development centre in response to Ukraine crisis. “Many” of DT’s thousands of employees have left Russia.