Headlines – Page 150
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M&ABT Sport mulls Discovery JV as DAZN buyout stalls
Discovery in talks with BT over sports broadcasting partnership. Deal would offer strong alternative to DAZN’s £600m buyout attempt.
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PeopleDeutsche Post’s Frank Appel linked with DT chair
Deutsche Telekom’s long-running search for its next chairman looks set to come to a close before the end of the year, with Deutsche Post CEO Frank Appel rumoured to be leading the pack. DT CEO Tim Höttges reportedly to be given mandate extension.
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Financial & PerformanceVodafone close to settling €2.4bn tax dispute with India
Group offers New Delhi a deal after retrospective tax legislation scrapped. Dispute harks back to Vodafone acquisition of Hutchison Essar in 2007. Indian stand-off has long cast a shadow over Group finances, despite recent legal victories.
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Venturing & InvestmentsDT venturing execs formalise digital infra vehicle
DTCP CEO Vento quietly launches Digital Transformation Capital Partners, an independent venturing unit with a European infrastructure bent. Shared management sees Vento and Klima at the helm, but new names also in leadership. Registrations in Germany, and Luxembourg, with Dutch assets in the portfolio.
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Network & InfrastructureSpaceMobile confirms slippage on BlueWalker 3 launch
Deployment of prototype satellite rescheduled for next summer. SpaceX-supported launch is precursor to integration and testing programme with Vodafone and other partner MNOs.
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Network & InfrastructureLow-orbit satellites could jeopardise space exploration, astronomers warn
Elon Musk’s Starlink plans to launch over 12,000 satellites Project, among others, could waste “a serious amount of public money”
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Partnerships & AlliancesTelefónica goes MagNET fishing for telco SME tie-ups
Growth division reveals it has been building out a new B2B service delivery platform to strengthen its place in the value chain. Telco and SI partners being sought to extend MagNET-based offerings “globally”.
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Network & InfrastructureDT begins hiring for German fibre startup
Joint venture with Australia’s IFM begins recruitment of commercial and IT staff, as it seeks a slice of municipalities’ subsidised Gigabit roll outs.
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Enterprise (B2B)Dublin up: BT Ireland relocates B2B support
Move of service desk ops furthers expansion of BT’s workforce in Dublin. Transfer forms latest step in long-running customer experience transformation programme. Deep-Insight advising BT Ireland on customer-centric strategies.
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Strategy & ChangeShip steadied at Deutsche Telekom UK
Much-diminished British unit says increasing app usage generating uptick in usage and revenue. Business assures over “long-term plan” for DT’s operational presence in UK.
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OperationsTelefónica presents redundancy plan to Spanish unions
Union negotiations begin over new phase of headcount reduction. Reports suggest more than 3,000 staff will be offered voluntary redundancy, although eventual job cut total expected to be lower. Move comes amid ongoing competition and inflation concerns.
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M&ADT ‘exploring fibre JVs in Austria, Poland’
Germany’s fledgling GlasfaserPlus tie-up said to be providing model for other JVs. Report indicates progress is at a more advanced stage in Austria.
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People1NCE recruits Rook to lead expansion plans
Former T-Mobile and Vodafone IoT lead Ivo Rook takes Chief Operating Officer title at Deutsche Telekom investment 1NCE. IoT platform provider and DT strategic partner 1NCE targets “global” expansion, leveraging Rook’s broad industry experience.
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Strategy & ChangeVodafone ponders risk of depopulated city centres
Operator flags potential threat from fewer people living and working in cities. Population changes affect network planning and investment returns. Analysts say Vodafone not alone in thinking about potential impact.
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Products & ServicesSafaricom to implement advertising on M-PESA platform
Operator hopes to open additional revenue streams for its biggest earner. Parent Vodacom will apply lessons from similar offering with Alipay in South Africa.
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PeopleEurope B2B head exits as DT targets change
Dominique Leroy’s DT Europe continues to build out its enterprise-focused activities as SVP, B2B Ralf Nejedl announces his departure.
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M&ASpain shields Telefónica as KKR’s TI bid makes waves
Spanish government reinforcing restrictions that would halt hostile bids for Telefónica until 2023. Europe’s telco sector awash with bid speculation as KKR pursues TI, and Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries is linked to a BT bid.
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OperationsJansen hopes to get BT on front foot with new HQ
BT’s new HQ opens after more than a year of delays. Jansen aims to remove “hierarchical” business format.
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M&AReliance denies interest in acquiring BT stake
BT share price jumps on report that Indian conglomerate eyeing a move for UK incumbent. Reliance quick to dismiss the article as “completely speculative and baseless”, but City still excited.
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Financial & PerformanceTelefónica adds €750m to growing sustainable bond bank
Group takes total financing raised through sustainability-linked bonds to €3.25bn over two years. Funds ringfenced for legacy network upgrades and rural connectivity builds in Germany, Spain, and (potentially) Brazil.