Headlines – Page 149
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Network & InfrastructureFluent Gopalan flexes on fibre and 5G
Telekom Deutschland Chief Executive Srini Gopalan continues to emphasise need for network-building partnerships. DT has not given up on under-scrutiny Glasfaser Nordwest JV. Group tech boss Claudia Nemat maintains environmental messaging — and surprises with a musical demo of 5G SA.
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PeopleBerroeta shuffles leadership team again
Technology roles brought together under ex-MTN CTIO Chiarelli. Cooney to lead unified Consumer domain. Leadership now bedded in after 18 months of integration.
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M&ADefences up as Drahi increases BT stake
Patrick Drahi’s Altice UK stops short of a takeover bid, but increases holding to 18%. UK government issues warning that it “will not hesitate” to protect national interests amid concerns of foreign investment in critical infrastructure incumbent. Takeover not Drahi’s ‘intention’, but caveats are in place.
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Content & TVMovistar, DAZN secure five-year La Liga deals
La Liga generates €4.95bn in revenue from new round of concessions. Movistar’s controversial agreement on hold ahead of talks between Telefónica and regulator CNMC.
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Innovation (R&D)Vodafone seeks a bit of tech stardust with Nova platform
New “innovation management ecosystem” promises financial and business support to execs with bright ideas. Focus appears both internal and external, with customers and partners of Vodafone expected to become involved. Move forms part of broader reset of Vodafone’s platforms and services strategy.
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M&AWill Drahi come knocking on BT’s door?
Six months on from French billionaire’s surprise raid on BT, Altice UK now free to up its stake or mount a takeover bid. Jansen called in for meeting with UK government minister to get the lowdown on Drahi’s intentions.
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Suppliers & SCMOpenreach urges Vauxhall to build British ‘green’ fleet
Clive Selley, Openreach CEO, “in talks” with Vauxhall owner Stellantis to increase production of electric vehicles at its UK plant. Vauxhall supplies Openreach’s 28,000-strong commercial van fleet, which will be ‘green’ by 2030. 1,000 EVs currently on the road in Openreach livery.
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Financial & PerformanceTalkmobile revamp takes a knock from COVID-19
Vodafone UK’s bid to refresh side-business Talkmobile gets bogged down as economising customers and intense competition hit revenue. OpCo still sees inhouse MVNO as a useful defence mechanism against low-cost mobile rivals.
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Products & ServicesDroniq hails success of first U-Space trial in Germany
Deutsche Telekom JV wants to become Germany’s first U-Space provider. EU U-Space regulation set to apply from January 2023. Droniq and Deutsche Funkturm are applying for a joint licence for aerial tower inspections.
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Public AffairsBT slammed for lack of action on spoofing
IP altnet pokes incumbent over limited success in rooting out fraudulent use of caller ID. BT focused on industry collaboration to address fraud challenge. Migration to all-IP by 2025 portrayed as critical to effective remedies for the problem.
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Venturing & InvestmentsWayra Hispam expands startup investment portfolio with Mexican duo
Vinco and Retrypay join over 100 startups as part of Wayra Hispam’s “ongoing commitment to digital transformation”.
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M&AMagyar Telekom divests healthcare subsidiary
Hungarian NatCo’s T-Systems Hungary business has divested its Pan-Inform subsidiary. Unit will be operated by the state following the deal’s conclusion in early-2022.
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M&AAmerican Tower “excited” by tower M&A in Europe
CFO flags possibility of “compelling things” happening in Europe’s tower scene. Cautions, however, that American Tower in no rush for dealmaking. Deutsche Telekom, Cellnex, Orange, and Vodafone also in the mix for tower M&A.
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Innovation (R&D)DCMS allocates £36m in R&D funding for 5G projects
Future RAN competition rewards 15 companies, including four BT partners. UK government distributes funds as part of its Supply Chain Diversification Strategy. Also sets target for 35% of UK mobile network traffic to be carried via open RAN by 2030. 2G, 3G expected to be retired by 2033 at ...
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Network & InfrastructureAltnets prep fibre wholesale platforms to rival Openreach
Two platforms aim to create full-fibre marketplaces for altnets and resellers. Signs of confederation among the UK’s 80-plus altnets, as wholesale competition heats up. Platforms facilitate Project Gigabit wholesale mandates and One-Touch Switching.
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Strategy & ChangeVodafone’s Wibergh hails speedy integration of former Liberty assets
CTO said 1,000 people are involved in the four-market integration programme. Vodafone TV figures dipped in Germany because of COVID-19. Velocix is supporting GigaTV in Germany.
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Network & InfrastructureTPG cites 5G momentum in Aussie auction snub
Australian operator TPG Telecom did not pick up any blocks in the 900MHz auction, with CEO Berroeta claiming its portfolio is strong enough already. TPG’s 5G network live on 700MHz, with 26GHz trials underway. Rivals Optus and Telstra share the spoils in TPG’s absence.
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Strategy & ChangeVodafone Spain cuts 33 fewer jobs than expected
Spanish OpCo said to have made 53 people redundant. 34 retail stores now being operated by external partners. Telefónica signals maximum jobs affected by early-retirement plan is now 2,753.
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PeopleMovistar Money JV rejigs leadership
Lending JV Telefónica Consumer Finance reshuffles board, with changes aligned to adjustments by Group and co-parent CaixaBank. Telefónica’s María Jesús Almazor swapped for Oscar Candiles as a JV representative.
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Network & InfrastructureHow CityFibre rolls with supply chain turbulence
Fibre builders not immune from global supply chain chaos. UK altnets feeling the pinch in chip and labour shortages, alongside rising costs. CityFibre supply chain director shares mitigation tactics.