All articles by Joe Purnell – Page 27
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M&AUK fibre M&A ‘easy’ (compared to challenges of compatibility, integration, compliance)
Challenger leaders at INCA gathering call out lack of industry standards as key obstacle to more M&A. Integration and migration are costly and complex, making compatibility a consideration for prospective buyers. Compliance also increasingly important in valuations. More positive is XGS-PON embrace, deemed a “damn fine standard for a starting place”, but beware legacy tech. Learn more…
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Financial & PerformanceVi offers equity to Ericsson, Nokia in latest fundraise bid
Equity sale to vendors will take total equity issued in past few months to INR 240bn, putting Vi on track to raise enough funds to pursue 4G/5G rollout aspirations.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodafone returns to Azerbaijan with new Partner Markets deal
Group enlists Azerconnect to Partner Markets roster in a return to Azerbaijan after eleven years.
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Strategy & ChangeBT CEO prioritises scale as asset monetisation talks re-emerge
As BT considers options for BT Global, where scale was never achieved, CEO Allison Kirkby will use the same measure in discussions about potential portfolio changes elsewhere.
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Analyst BriefingBTwatch Weekly: policy in focus as BT execs make the General Election rounds
Latest from BT and its ecosystem, including discussions of a political nature from a handful of senior Group leaders in the build up to the UK’s General Election. The future of TV, planning policy for network expansion, and the need for pro-innovation and investment changes all earned a mention…
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PeoplewatchBT switches ESN leadership as part of top-level changes in enterprise portfolio
Faisal Mahomed named Emergency Services Network Director, with Simon Warner his replacement as Director of UK Portfolio Business.
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Network & InfraVodafone links 2Africa subsea cable to UK hub
Vodafone onshores another section of 2Africa submarine cable, this time in Cornwall.
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Analyst BriefingVodafonewatch Weekly: ex-OpCos begin turnaround; venturing moves in Europe, Africa
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem as the Group completes in Spanish exit and hears news of a turnaround from another former OpCo in Hungary, while prospective new ownership in Italy makes more M&A moves. Startup incubation and acceleration is brought to the fore in Portugal and Kenya; open RAN updates with partnerships in tow; drones take flight in Germany; and plenty more…
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Content & TVBT policy chief calls for TV distribution rethink as IP takes hold
Policy & Public Affairs Director Helen Burrows describes current content distribution regulation as insufficient and outmoded, with need to update and reflect change in audience demand.
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Network & InfraProject Gigabit finally reaches Scotland with first rural fibre tender
UK government fibre build scheme opens procurement process for North East Scotland network, geared towards reaching 68,000 premises. Northern Ireland and Wales contracts in the pipeline, as are larger ‘call-off’ bundled lots that have piqued the interest of larger players…
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Analyst BriefingVodafonewatch Weekly: African infra in spotlight, Spanish retreat complete
Latest from Vodafone and its partners and interests as Spanish exit completes, Shared Ops leadership adjusted, and climate plans pushed back. In Africa, infra-sharing is on the cards, but Vodacom’s in-progress South African fibre deal faces backlash…
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PeoplewatchBT Peoplewatch: Data & AI leadership redrawn at BT Digital
Senior swaps include new Data & AI leader after Zoë Webster exits the Group, leaving a legacy of AI adoption and foundations for scaling. BT Business changes include senior shuffles for Central Government accounts, while Openreach opts to leave Corporate Affairs & Brand unfilled after Catherine Colloms departs. Plenty more across the Group…
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Analyst BriefingBTwatch Weekly: Kirkby sets agenda as Group targets simpler, leaner, better
In-depth analysis of BT’s FY23−24 results, including the vision cast by CEO Allison Kirkby in her first full-year earnings call. Tweaks made to Group shape will redraw Business boundaries and target the division that has caused significant headaches in recent years. Consumer and Openreach are turning a corner, with the hard graft of the past few FYs soon to be leveraged and monetised. Developments elsewhere include: another delay to the all-IP landline migration; an Openreach executive exit; self-powered base stations; and a multimillion-pound fine from Ofcom…
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PeoplewatchVodafone Peoplewatch: Shared Ops overhaul prompts further procurement shuffle
30+ senior/strategic appointments across Vodafone Group worldwide, including: knock-on effects of ongoing Shared Operations restructure; BizDev leader Philippe Vogeleer’s departure; and new CFO at Vodafone Investments. Vodafone Germany turns attention to Broadband & Entertainment, while Business makes regional changes across Europe. Plus lots more on product and finance fronts, and in Africa, Europe, and Group HQ…
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PeoplewatchOpenreach corporate affairs and brand chief exits
Catherine Colloms, long-time Director of Corporate Affairs & Brand, has left Openreach after leading the business through its BT split.
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Financial & PerformanceBT FY23−24 Highlights: Kirkby unveils sharper BT; investors finally cheer
CEO Allison Kirkby lays out her vision for change, tightening the focus of her predecessor to pitch a simpler, nimbler BT Group with a ROCE mindset differentiated by CX. Network superiority remains central as impetus shifts from build to monetisation, without easing up on the former. With B2B a stubborn drag, the one major diversion from Plan Jansen: now UK-first, Global offloaded…
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Financial & PerformanceBT FY23−24 In-depth: focus shifts from build to connections, monetisation
CEO Allison Kirkby tees up mindset shift from fibre build to networks monetisation, driving connections to grow ARPU, leveraging the sweat and spend of previous FYs. For FY23−24, consistently solid performance at Consumer and Openreach makes up for perennially painful Business…
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Financial & PerformanceBT FY23−24 Spend: capex goes post-peak; further opex savings inbound
Openreach spend declines despite record build, and more to come on both fronts in the next FY. Management tees up another £3bn cost transformation initiative, having exceeded early expectations with the last…
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Financial & PerformanceBT FY23−24 Guidance: consistency with predictable growth by decade-end
As Openreach moves beyond the money pit nadir, BT management forecasts consistent growth by the 2030s. Vague and unqualified expectation for positive momentum comes as Group leverages recent spend for good…
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Analyst BriefingVodafonewatch Weekly: nip and tuck all part of the plan, as CEO evinces optimism
In-depth analysis of FY23−24 results as Margherita Della Valle attempts to paint rosy picture of shrinking Group. Storm still to come in Germany, but Spanish exit secured, and confidence around UK merger prospects. Significant developments across (re-shaped) footprint include: changing leadership; strategic partnerships; and an M-PESA spin-off update…