Joseph Purnell
Joseph Purnell is a Staff Reporter for TelcoTitans, contributing telecoms news analysis since 2019 as part of the TelcoTitans and Market Mettle Editorial team.
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PeopleLatest Telefónica moves: Oslé named Spain CEO; Almazor heads up Cloud
Newly‑formed Unsere Grüne Glasfaser FTTH joint venture names a handful of team members ahead of anticipated approval. Movistar CEO rotates to lead Telefónica Tech’s Cloud unit, while Sergio Oslé takes the Spain spot. New strategic planning lead at Group‑level.
- Public Affairs
Openreach strike action goes ahead
Strike underway in row over engineer pay grade restructuring. Industrial action described as a ‘wake‑up call’ for the whole of BT amidst wider unrest.
- M&A
Vodafone readies cheque for Egyptian fintech players
Vodafone Egypt signs MoU for minority stakes in digital payment players Bee and Masary. New Vodafone Egypt CEO Abdallah seeks to paint deal as part of “promising” strategic investment plan, following Group’s failed exit.
- People
Latest Vodafone people moves: Italy’s commercial leadership confirmed
Veteran executive departures at the top of India’s Vi. Vodafone Hungary’s Enterprise Business Unit gets a new lead from Apple. Raimondi named Commercial Director in place of now‑Chief Commercial Officer Duilio.
- M&A
Telefónica to swap more data centres for Nabiax stake
Four data centres are said to be on the table, with a 20%‑stake in Asterion subsidiary Nabiax the price. Nabiax‑Telefónica JV reportedly in the pipeline to manage the estate.
- Venturing & Investments
YBVR earns extra Wayra investment for XR platform
Extended reality startup raises $1.5m in Pre‑Series‑A round, with Wayra increasing its initial investment. YBVR’s Verizon partnership bolstered. Wayra continues to bet on AR/VR/XR.
- Products & Services
Telefónica’s Chema Alonso ‘to drive Spanish press Netflix’
Telefónica Chief Digital Consumer Officer will reportedly lead the project, dubbed the “Netflix of the press”. EU reconstruction funding said to be on the cards.
- People
Latest Deutsche Telekom people moves: Petri named Deputy CSO
20‑year veteran Axel Petri named Deputy CSO under Thomas Tschersich. In‑house consultancy makes exec swaps. New CFOs installed at T‑Systems in Brazil and the Netherlands. Changes at T‑Mobile US’s Emerging Technologies unit: Dwayne Benefield and Ivo Rook leave; Julie Goldthwait steps up.
- People
Latest BT people moves: Groth joins Data & AI team
BT continues Digital refresh: Group Data & AI Solutions unit further fills out with Groth joining to lead partnerships. Weston picks up Transformation Performance remit at Global. Chet Patel takes Americas MD spot at Global, with Vanderick holding fort as MD, Commercial. James Lilley to drive all‑IP for Openreach ...
- People
Latest Telefónica people moves: Garcia ascends to TIP directors board
Juan Carlos Garcia becomes the face of Telefónica’s collaborative innovation endeavour by succeeding David del Val at 5TONIC and Telecom Infra Project. Michael Falkensteiner takes on German brand leadership. Another former O2 exec joins Deutsche Glasfaser management.
- People
Former EE chief Swantee joins Vodafone Board
Olaf Swantee will join the Group’s Board of Directors in July, pending approval. The former EE and Sunrise CEO has also spent time at Orange, Telia, and T‑Mobile US.
- People
Latest Vodafone people moves: new lead to drive Group transformation plans
New Transformation Director in as CFO mulls yet another step‑up in efficiencies plans. New CEO Aksoy formally takes over at Vodafone Turkey. Vantage Towers inaugurates its Supervisory Board with Grube as Chair. CISO swap at India’s Vi.
- Strategy & Change
Deutsche Telekom to ‘new‑skill’ nearly a third of workforce
VP, Digital Transformation Bruné highlights skill upgrades as fundamental to success, pushing “new‑skilling” to top of the Group’s strategic priority list. DT aims for 30% uptake of up‑skilling programme by 2024.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Hrvatski Telekom connects Split
HT and IT services subsidiary Combis take home smart‑city platform contract, building digital transformation service for the City.
- M&A
BT to take full OnePhone ownership
Swedish technology partners to be bought out after nine years, bringing the mobile PBX proposition fully under BT umbrella. OnePhone previously flagged as a quiet success of Enterprise portfolio, and now seemingly turning a profit.
- Venturing & Investments
Payflow banks Wayra backing
Salary-on-demand startup Payflow added €400,000 to its Seed round via a strategic investor trio including Wayra. Wayra family grows but with scaleups now in the crosshairs.
- People
Deutsche Telekom movers: T‑Systems NL CFO exits
Departures include T‑Systems Netherlands CFO and Group TV platform development lead. Deutsche Telekom bolsters EU policy efforts. Former Telekom Deutschland boss joins board of telco IT player LotusFlare.
- Venturing & Investments
Wayra backed LinkApi lands a buyer
Telefónica’s Brazilian scale‑up hothouse exits LinkApi through Semantix acquisition. Wayra continues transition to later‑stage startups with fourth exit in just over a year.
- Innovation (R&D)
5G Create: UK MNOs left with bit parts
Another nine projects added to the state‑backed funding call. BT/EE, O2, and Three support AR, broadcasting, and logistics use‑cases. Emerging players take lead roles.
- M&A
Oi firms up mobile deal, Vivo reinforces its market lead
Oi finalises mobile asset sale to three‑strong consortium of Claro, TIM Brasil, and Vivo. Oi CFO: regulatory approval expected within the year. Trifecta of assets now divested by in‑administration Oi as it seeks route to recovery via fibre.
