All Howard Watson articles
-
Strategy & Change
GenAI is ‘last chance’ for telcos, says DigitalBridge CEO Ganzi
Telecoms operators’ central office and fibre assets give them a chip in the generative AI game, but they need to play their cards right, says boss of digital infra giant.
-
Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: Strategy & Change shakeup as Kirkby sets agenda
Latest from BT: a major shakeup from CEO Allison Kirkby as she brings in McKinsey expertise to lead Strategy & Change, with Digital chief Harmeen Mehta on the way out; networks future in focus with NaaS Global Fabric nearing launch and efficiencies sought through tie-up with Orange, others; and AI beds in for in-house legal teams…
-
People
Kirkby changes BT Digital guard: Mehta exits; Meakin earns cap badge
Latest Kirkby BT-Redefined trilogy: Departure of the Mehta, Rise of the Meakin, and Zen of the Watson. Read our analysis…
-
Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: 5G SA heralds AI age, Openreach sets wish list for fibre future
Latest from BT and ecosystem, including: standalone 5G launches at last, coupled with new in-home Wi-Fi 7 offerings and AI services, bringing anticipation of convergence change and ARPU growth; Mexico’s Slim adds more BT shares to holding; Openreach lays out TAR desires (much to rivals’ chagrin)…
-
Network & Infrastructure
EE preps for AI future with 5G SA and Wi-Fi 7 upgrades
EE says launch of 5G SA in 15 UK cities, coupled with new Wi-Fi 7 routers, show how operator is preparing for a surge in AI usage and bringing its fixed and mobile networks closer together.
-
Products & Services
BT gets MAUD on air via Edgio CDN deal
BT’s efficient, ‘sustainable’ multicast-assisted transmission tech readies for live trials on EE TV platform.
-
Network & Infrastructure
BT takes carrier aggregation one step further in 5G SA launch prep
Nokia and Qualcomm partnered again for latest 5CC carrier aggregation trial, laying foundations for 5G SA launch later this year.
-
Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: Kirkby earns Slim’s approval; Mehta ratchets transformation agenda
Latest from BT and its ecosystem, including Slim-affiliated investment and Kirkby priorities for asset monetisation. At DTW24, BT execs promoting transformation progress and shift to ‘platform thinking’ — also developments in innovation productivity, autonomous networks, quantum internet, ServiceNow integration, more…
-
Weekly Briefings
Infrawatch Weekly: interesting infra times in Spain, a SatCo share drop lawsuit, and UK altnets’ ‘moment of peril’
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including consideration at Connected North of how altnets can balance urgent, and occasionally conflicting, priorities; Cellnex aiming to win as the Spanish mobile sector restructures, and exploring a new TowerCo paradigm in Poland; Phoenix Towers’ European expansion ambitions; legal woes compound setbacks at SpaceMobile; plus plenty more…
-
Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: CEO Kirkby sets about transformation agenda, Openreach ramps up build
Latest from BT and its ecosystem of partners as Openreach takes “unapologetic” stance in the face of rollout criticism from challengers; CEO Allison Kirkby reportedly makes earnest moves to implement transformation agenda via consultancy appointment and Ireland shake-up; more from industry events in the UK and Europe…
-
Eventwatch
Telefónica’s Rao warns against 6G jump before realising 5G’s B2B potential
FutureNet World: O2 Germany CTIO cautions telcos against jumping into 6G too quickly and calls for improvements in enterprise sector to close gap between potential and realised revenue growth. Read more, including further views from BT and Three UK…
-
Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: Watson calls for discipline, Openreach eyes fibre mega-contracts
Latest from BT and its ecosystem as CSNO Howard Watson calls for patient investors and looks ahead to rewards at the end of the networks upgrade tunnel; Openreach licks lips at prospect of Project Gigabit mega-contracts; and more SRN updates as EE charges on…
-
Network & Infrastructure
25G/50G slow-go: Openreach may hold out till 2030s on next-gen fibre tech
In depth report — two of the UK’s biggest fibre wholesalers have dampened expectations of imminent 25G and 50G PON upgrades, despite prep-work. Virgin Media O2-backed nexfibre sees no “imminent” case for commercial launch. Openreach also wants greater energy efficiency and to maximise older-gen GPON value extraction, with point-to-point eyed for enterprise. Read more…
-
People
BT’s Howard Watson dedicates lifetime achievement award to Networks ‘obsession’
FutureNet World: BT Chief Security & Networks Officer Howard Watson thanks 7,300 BT Networks staff for contribution to BT prowess as he was named Technology Leader of the Year. Other award winners include Amdocs, Celfocus, Netcracker, Nokia, Huawei, Vodafone, more…
-
Network & Infrastructure
BT, Vodafone seek fast cash and stricter discipline as sector adjusts to new digital reality
FutureNet World: Vodafone’s Andrea Donà and BT’s Howard Watson issue a call for more cash, patient investors, and industry collaboration as network technologies evolve and a light emerges at the end of the investments tunnel. Watson heralds success of fixed, but wants the next mobile ‘G’ to be held back…
-
Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: Etc. makes a Tap to Pay play; Tech Fellowship recognises top talent; new ads amplify B2B identity
In-house innovation from incubation arm and distinguished tech leaders in the spotlight this week.
-
Network & Infrastructure
BT calls for more public funding to connect UK’s most remote homes
BT shares broadband policy wish list as UK government ponders intervention for 100,000 ultra-rural premises not covered by commercial or public-funded programmes.
-
Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: Adastral refocused as Networks domain; One Touch Switch Glitch; Biz boosters…
Latest from BT ecosystem: reassurance that R&D hub remains critical to Group operations; slammed again over One Touch Switch delays; Broadpeak, Sprinklr join roster; Business boasts renewal; and much more…
-
Strategy & Change
Adastral Park: BT R&D hub shifts leadership, strategy as Networks takes precedence
Suffolk network, technology, and research campus being moved under wing of lead tenant Networks, said to reflect evolving strategy under CSNO Howard Watson and CNO Greg McCall. Adastral has been undergoing changes, but BT assures it remains ‘critical’…
-
Content & TV
BT teams with Broadpeak to bring MAUD to life
France-based Broadpeak provides tech components that will underpin BT’s live video streaming network architecture.