Joe Purnell
Joseph Purnell is BTwatch and Vodafonewatch Editor and a Senior Reporter at TelcoTitans, contributing telecoms news analysis since 2019 as part of the TelcoTitans Editorial team.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodafone, SpaceMobile pick Luxembourg for European SatCo HQ
Group further embeds itself in Grand Duchy with local headquarters.
Network & InfrastructureVM O2, VodafoneThree firm up €401m spectrum deal to redress the ‘imbalance’
Following VodafoneThree’s merger completion, VM O2 outlines the spectrum it plans to acquire.
Suppliers & SCMBT’s buying boss wants AI to move faster, looks to startups to lead the way
BT Sourced head Cyril Pourrat reflects on missed expectations around ‘speed of execution’ on AI deployments, but remains confident that the tech delivers when embraced by colleagues.
Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: risks and rewards of AI at scale
Latest from Vodafone as group technology and data chiefs discuss progress, risk, and potential of AI at scale; leadership change in Luxembourg; critical comms deal with Airbus; and more….
OperationsVodafone’s plan to keep up with AI through democratisation, value-hunting
DTW Ignite: Vodafone execs discuss AI adoption at scale, raising concerns that the technology is moving ‘too quickly’, but confident that the group’s overriding strategic direction will enable it to keep ahead of the curve.
Network & Infrastructure‘Fabulous’ ESN ‘back in delivery’, ticks off first milestones with EE, IBM leading the charge
CCW 2025: Home Office’s John Black, EE’s David Salam, and IBM’s Andy Doggett share a progress report on the UK’s Emergency Services Network, with optimism the prevailing mood. Early milestones checked off, infrastructure in progress, and EE looking for partners and suppliers…
PeopleSwitch of leadership at Vodafone’s Luxembourg scaleup hothouse
Tomorrow Street appoints a new CEO, with Kenneth Graham exiting for a wider Vodafone Procure & Connect post.
Network & InfrastructureAirbus looks to MNOs, SatCos for added mission critical comms resilience
CCW 2025: after Airbus and Vodafone collaborate on mission critical comms in Europe, Airbus programme lead Thibaut Faivre talks future MNO partnerships in MEA, expanding the defence giant’s public safety footprint, and the role of SatCos in secure communications.
Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: UK merger complete, hard work begins now
Latest from Vodafone as VodafoneThree strategy laid out; Commscope named VodafoneZiggo’s DOCSIS upgrade vendor; group appoints CFO Luka Mucic replacement; Procure & Connect breaks ground at Luxembourg logistics hub…
Network & InfrastructureAST SpaceMobile enters India with Vi D2D satellite deal
Pair of Vodafone interests sign deal to advance subcontinental direct-to-device satellite connectivity.
PeopleMicrosoft and ex-Telefónica exec Pilar López named Vodafone CFO
Luka Mucic’s replacement named as Pilar López, who will join from Microsoft and bring 15 years of experience at Vodafone rival Telefónica.
Weekly BriefingsBTwatch Weekly: BT navigates changing UK telco landscape
Latest from BT, including a firmed-up leadership team at new overseas B2B unit BT International; TalkTalk takeover mooted; Consumer tackles CX with 4,000+ AI bots; and BT braces for newly scaled VodafoneThree impact…
PeopleVodafone Peoplewatch: El Sayed takes global IT post; VodafoneThree changes emerge
30+ senior and strategic movers across Vodafone, including Ahmed Elsayed’s new Africa- and Europe-wide technology role; top leadership appointments at the combined VodafoneThree; newcomers from rivals in Germany; former CEOs Aldo Biso and Hannes Ametsreiters make moves…
PeopleVodafoneThree names new head for youth brand VOXI
Tom Hoare appointed to lead one-million-customer VOXI sub-brand, bringing commercial know-how and experience from rival BT.
Network & InfrastructureLiberty and Vodafone ‘aligned’ on Dutch towers sale — Fries
Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries suggests a sale of VodafoneZiggo’s tower assets is moving forward, with an appointment made to lead the process and co-parent Vodafone onboard.
Network & InfrastructureVodafoneThree seeks ‘convergence opportunity’ with FWA plan, fibre altnet deal
Newly combined UK mobile giant sees promise in fixed, too, signing Community Fibre agreement to reach a total of 22.5 million FTTP premises. VodafoneThree expects the fixed broadband base to double, while Community Fibre “optimistic” about industry-leading take-up rates…
PeopleBT Peoplewatch: Bas Burger names his BT International lieutenants
40+ senior and strategic changes across the group, including an all-new BT International top-team under Burger’s leadership; changes at Jon James’ Business branch; a HR return for Alison Wilcox; CFO swaps at Digital and Networks; more…
Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: CEO Della Valle’s slow-cooker recipe
Latest from Vodafone and its global interests, including a deep dive into the group’s FY24–25 results. CEO Margherita Della Valle continues to talk a big game, but questions remain about the overall strategy; VodafoneThree emerges as new scaled UK mobile giant; Safaricom tees up in-market M&A; Vodacom rejigs executive structure; Vodafone Germany hits new lows…
Financial & PerformanceVodafone FY24–25: Della Valle’s to-do list isn’t shrinking
Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle offers candid summary of the group’s FY, but appears broadly satisfied with progress thus far and remains optimistic about prospects to the end of the decade. Claims of an imminent reversal in Germany; UK merger complete; and an improved revenue mix across the group are among the drivers…
Financial & PerformanceVodafone FY24–25 in-depth: another challenging year en route to German revival
CEO Margherita Della Valle emphasises the various ‘transitions’ Vodafone has navigated over the past two years, putting mixed financials in perspective…