Infrawatch: EMEA
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People
Telefónica’s network ops boss to lead Vodafone fibre JV
Spanish operators put more pieces in place for 3.6 million premises fibre venture, naming a CEO and unveiling its branding. Regulatory approval and third-party investor outreach also seen as progressing, ahead of mid-2025 target. Read more…
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Weekly Briefings
UK Infrawatch Weekly: UK satellite taking off; Equitix bailing on Gigaclear?
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including the latest on public sector network investment; a rapidly developing SatComms scene; signs of Equitix edging away from Gigaclear, and plenty more…
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Weekly Briefings
EMEA Infrawatch Briefing: SatCos explore new options; subsea revamps
Spain’s Indra eyes bigger role in European satellite picture, while Eutelsat moves to bring space connectivity to Nigeria and (reportedly) Egypt. Meanwhile, fibre players have struck fresh deals in Ireland and Spain, while others consider if further buys are immediately necessary…
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M&A
Indra to create integrated European satellite player with Hispasat buy
Spanish defence and IT group firms up plans for €725m purchase of Hispasat, with plans to form “most integrated” SatCo in Europe. Indra’s Executive Chairman Angel Escribano says deal is “key” to reaching target of at least €1bn total space sector revenue by 2030…
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M&A
BT Ireland grabs Cordiant’s attention for infra, wholesale sell-off — report
Operator reportedly looking to firm up sale of infrastructure and wholesale business units “in the coming weeks”, advancing Kirkby’s ‘asset-light’ strategy following recent sale of Irish data centres…
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Network & Infrastructure
KPN seeks to temper Dutch overbuild amidst fibre storm
CEO Joost Farwerck eager to temper overbuild in the Netherlands, as fibre rivals including DELTA Fiber and Open Dutch Fiber lock in overlapping city build programmes. Concerns accompany latest earnings showing incumbent maintaining pace to hit own rollout target…
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Strategy & Change
Helios Towers CEO casts vision for ‘symbiotic’ telco–energy expansion in Africa
Tom Greenwood took to the Mission 300 Africa stage to promote mutual benefits of telco-energy provider partnerships, as both look to expand their respective footprints on the continent.
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Strategy & Change
Acquisitive Polish FibreCo slows M&A, seeks funding in strategy rethink
Jacek Wiśniewski, Chief Executive at Poland’s Nexera, says business is exploring financing options to fuel push past 1.5 million premises. M&A and build-out set to slow down in 2025, as Nexera follows broader European trend of focusing on take-up…
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Network & Infrastructure
T-Mobile US could add satellite broadband to fixed-line portfolio
CEO Mike Sievert indicates openness to a tie-up enabling satellite internet to be marketed alongside terrestrial broadband services, widening reach of ambitious fixed-line business. But also notes capacity contraints at Starlink…
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Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica–Vodafone fibre venture takes shape
Operators reported to have lined up Telefónica’s Spanish network boss to lead set-up of their pending wireline infra joint venture, and to be close to receiving bids from prospective financial partners as they look to firm up the FibreCo’s ownership structure and capital base. Read more…
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Network & Infrastructure
MásOrange, Vodafone Spain seek synergies with mobile infra JV — report
Operator duo reportedly looking to form tower joint venture to capture synergies and reduce operating costs. If confirmed, move would continue rejig of Spanish telecoms market and prompt questions over tower consolidation in the country…
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M&A
Spanish state’s digital musical chairs continues: Indra said to near Hispasat buy
Defence and IT conglomerate reportedly closing in on €650m acquisition of satellite operator to grow defence and space capabilities. State holding company SEPI again seen pulling strings, following Telefónica coup. National, regional and global geopolitical angles…
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People
Viasat rejigs exec line-up after Inmarsat integration
SatCo shakes up leadership team in a bid to drive “long-term” growth, which includes President Guru Gowrappan stepping down and the creation of a new strategic initiatives role…
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People
MTN appoints new infra chief to drive AI strategy
Group CTIO Mazen Mroué named CEO for Digital Infrastructure, including Bayobab fibre and mobile hardware units.
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Network & Infrastructure
Telxius taps Ciena for wide-scale subsea network upgrade
Telefónica-backed subsea cable operator installs Ciena’s pluggable optics to enable transmission speeds beyond 100Gbps, moving beyond previous 70Gbps limit.
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Network & Infrastructure
Telstra International seeks AI gains with subsea network overhaul
Telstra’s international connectivity services unit launches upgrade programme, seeking to more than triple the capacity of submarine cable network over next five years. Blue Planet and Infinera recruited as software and hardware partners to help enable AI-based network “self-management” capabilities…
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Partnerships & Alliances
Eutelsat brings LEO services to Nigeria’s state SatCo
France-based SatCo ties with state-owned operator NIGCOMSAT in multi-year, multimillion-dollar deal.
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Weekly Briefings
EMEA Infrawatch Briefing: Spain in spotlight; TowerCo team-ups; M&A next steps
Latest on EMEA Infra: Spain flagged as a frontrunner in legacy switch-off progress, thoguh concerns on fibre overbuild remain; Cellnex mulls path to home market consolidation; TowerCos in Europe and Africa seek to expand rural and transport connectivity; more…
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M&A
Cellnex flexes M&A muscle for Spanish tower consolidation
Cellnex has the urge to merge in Spain after flurry of telco M&A has left too many TowerCos chasing too few mobile network operators.
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People
Brookfield picks long-time CEO Bruce Flatt as Chair
Canadian investment group selects Flatt as Chair after Mark Carney departs to pursue political ambitions. Flatt says the firm will continue driving current investment strategy, which includes focus on digital infra and energy transition…