Joseph Purnell
Joseph Purnell is the BTwatch Editor and a Senior Reporter at TelcoTitans, contributing telecoms news analysis since 2019 as part of the TelcoTitans Editorial team.
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Products & ServicesIn depth: One Touch Switching launch day
UK’s ‘imperfect’ fixed broadband migration hub debuts to mixed altnet reviews, and incumbent ISP win-back loophole only spotted on launch day. OTS broadly seen by many challengers as open season on majors with poor customer satisfaction, mixed with fears of race to bottom and weakness on multi-play (Sky and VM O2 are both bullish, too). Register to read…
M&ARegulator still dubious on Vodafone–Three merger; wants further compromise
Proposed merger of two underpowered MNOs found to have negative ramifications for UK competitive landscape, but the antitrust body offers road to approval via series of behavioural and structural ‘remedies’.
PeopleBT Peoplewatch: Wholesale in transition as Business evolves
20+ senior and strategic changes at BT, including: more exits from BT Wholesale; fresh engineering setup at Openreach; architecture leadership moves; and strategic transformation appointments at Group and Business…
Weekly BriefingsBTwatch 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)…
Financial & Performance‘Tough decisions’ ahead for Australia’s TPG amid cost-cutting
CEO Iñaki Berroeta announced jobs are going as latest part of multi-year cost-cutting programme.
Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: rural 4G, industrial 5G, and patents for 6G
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem, including: 1&1 roaming deal signed and live; a potential Partner Markets entrance to Uzbekistan; SatCos catch Safaricom flak amid call regulatory overhaul; and more from India, South Africa, further afield…
Network & InfrastructureVodafone goes nuclear with Czech 5G MPN launch
5G SA private network deployed at Czech nuclear power plant, with testing to define future installation projects.
Public AffairsSafaricom ‘calls for’ mandated MNO–SatCo partnerships as Starlink expands in Africa
Reports indicate Kenyan operator is pushing local Communications Authority to consider blocking solo foreign SatCo entrants and oblige them to form partnerships with licence-holding MNOs.
Weekly BriefingsBTwatch Weekly: Openreach simplifies, MAUD levels up, EE adds parental guidance
Latest from BT and its ecosystem, including: content delivery network level-up with Edgio trials; Openreach restructures for complex fibre builds; SWAN passes migration milestone; EE warns of smartphone risks for kids…
PeopleOpenreach simplifies exec team to navigate ‘very complex’ fibre build
Chief Engineer Andy Whale takes on leadership of new Complex Engineering department, bringing together complex fibre and Ethernet build teams.
Products & ServicesBT gets MAUD on air via Edgio CDN deal
BT’s efficient, ‘sustainable’ multicast-assisted transmission tech readies for live trials on EE TV platform.
Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: spotlight on networks in largest OpCos
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem, including: questions remain over Vi 4G rollout strategy; 5G success reputed in Germany; and shared services momentum builds, months after Accenture-backed division launch…
Weekly BriefingsBTwatch Weekly: UK fibre competition heats up amongst other headaches
Latest from BT and its ecosystem, including: Sky inks CityFibre wholesale deal, pushing BT share price off a cliff; Etc. targets role in BT platform strategy, fintech product among the routes in; Business exec changes see new focus for some, as Global options reviewed; more on PSTN, SRN, and full-fibre rollout headaches…
Network & InfrastructureCityFibre adds ‘kingmaker’ Sky in fibre wholesale offensive
UK’s largest altnet signs wholesale deal with Sky, making a dent in Openreach dominance and pushing further the claim of genuine competition to the incumbent. Sky commits to rental economics, while CityFibre leverages Project Gigabit fame to help ISPs to new full-fibre markets…
Network & InfrastructureTrooli CEO: UK’s Project Gigabit scheme will ‘come into its own’
Talking to Zen’s Richard Tang, Trooli CEO Andy Conibere praised the work of the government’s BDUK in stimulating an altnet industry.
Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: fibre, satellite, and 5G network milestones
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem of investments and partners, including: SpaceMobile launch nearing with Vodafone near top of priority list; Kenyan 5G superiority (with FWA uplift); and a Greek fibre deal on the cards…
Network & InfrastructureUS majors first, Vodafone next as SpaceMobile readies for launch
AST SpaceMobile backers AT&T and Verizon will beta test space-based cellular broadband initially, with Vodafone and Rakuten next on the list for commercial services.
PeopleBT rejigs B2B leadership as international opportunities eyed up
Chet Patel tasked with exploring options for BT Business’s global unit; Ashish Gupta and Alex Tempest move on; and shoes to fill at BT Wholesale…
Weekly BriefingsBTwatch Weekly: Drahi out, Bharti in as CEO Kirkby claims BT strategy ‘vote of confidence’
Latest from BT and its ecosystem, including the Group’s new largest shareholder and the motivations behind the move; Openreach stepping into the Project Gigabit fray with a potential £800m windfall; BT Sourced hypes nnamu procure-tech; more around the Group…
Network & InfrastructureOpenreach enters Project Gigabit fray at near-£1bn scale
Openreach handed its first Project Gigabit contracts, more in discussion. UK government ‘redoubles’ rural infill efforts, including first few in Wales…