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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Public AffairsVodafone to face MPs as franchisee ‘scandal’ escalates
Vodafone executives are set to meet with MPs as more allegations emerge about the operator’s franchising operation, raising political interest in the case that Vodafone considers a mere “commercial dispute”…
Analyst BriefingVodafonewatch: ‘right-sizing’ winners and losers
Analyst Briefing: Vodafone closes the year out with promises of network investment to come and new B2B IT capability; SpaceMobile looks to 2026 with expectation after ‘validating’ value in the past twelve months…
Products & ServicesVodafone seeks to rebuild trust in voice with network APIs
Vodafone has launched a caller ID network API in the UK, with US voice security partner Hiya ‘buying in’ to Group’s ‘novel’ standards-based approach to building consumer trust…
Suppliers & SCMTata wins big as Virgin Media O2 outsources IT — report
UK operator said to have signed a billion-dollar deal with Indian IT services giant. VM O2 has been handed a mandate from Madrid to modernise systems and processes, and has mooted a major external sourcing agreement to come…
Network & InfraVodafone pledges €150m network investment to ‘build, not just grow’ in Romania
CEO Nedim Baytorun says the enlarged operator will benefit from Vodafone Group support as it integrates Telekom Romania network assets, migrates customers, and accelerates network tech rollout. Two-year integration now underway…
M&AOrange buys out Spanish private equity partners in €4.25bn deal
French group confirms deal to take full control of Spanish JV, as Cinven, KKR, and Providence cash in, as private equity players cash in on Spanish consolidation game…
Network & InfraSpaceMobile strategy chief: satco spectrum buys will have ‘profound implications’ for D2D evolution
Scott Wisniewski says spectrum licences will define the next decade of direct-to-device satcomms, but AST SpaceMobile will stick by its beginnings as an MNO partner…
Analyst BriefingVodafonewatch: Vodacom moves on East Africa
Analyst Briefing: strategic pivots in Europe and Africa as Vodacom picks up a controlling stake in Safaricom; Economy of Things JV Pairpoint makes steps to ‘new phase’ amid losses; and a Greek exec team overhaul completes the local OpCo’s ‘renewal’…
Analyst BriefingBTwatch: going sovereign; leveraging AI
Analyst Briefing: BT launches a sovereign option for UK enterprise customers; prepares for the way for intent-based networks with AWS; and partners industry to protect against the rising cybersecurity threat…
Financial & PerformanceVodafone sinks more cash into Economy of Things venture, amid ‘strategic realignment’
Vodafone–Sumitomo JV Pairpoint secures another €30m from backers, initiates strategic reset, and hunts for a new CEO as losses mount…
PeoplewatchCityFibre hiring Neil McRae as CTIO — why?
In-depth: Former BT Chief Architect looks set to unexpectedly return to UK broadband. Is the largest fibre specialist looking to tap strategist’s deep understanding of incumbent and networks, or more recent experience in cloud and FWA?
PeoplewatchVodafone Peoplewatch: tech leadership rework, Greek renewal ‘complete’
November–December 2025 update: year-end Peoplewatch tracks significant moves at the top of Vodafone’s European Technology functions; an all-new leadership team in Greece; and 20+ other senior changes across Vodafone Group…
Network & InfraBT seeks to bring self-healing network vision to life, with a little help from AWS
Mobile networks lead Reza Rahnama says earlier attempts to deploy AI in the network fell short, but programmable 5G SA, with AWS architecture, means intent-based networks will soon be a reality…
Network & InfraSpace race: Ofcom begins countdown for D2D satellite services
UK regulator firms up framework, paving way for MNOs to launch direct-to-device services in the New Year…
InterviewCityFibre CTO plots PON roadmap to 50G and beyond
UK fibreco CTO David Tomalin talks PON future: XGS now in place and a 10–20 year technology roadmap that elects to leapfrog 25G. Vendor interoperability deemed marker of market maturity, with long-time favourites Calix and Nokia earning plaudits…
PeoplewatchVodafone Germany reworks Technology, Networks leadership
Operator reunites Technology leadership under Fabrizio Rocchio, as Tanja Richter readies to head off…
Analyst BriefingVodafonewatch: Della Valle says job done at Vodafone ‘building site’
Analyst Briefing: as CEO Margherita Della Valle closed the Group ‘building site’ after two years of sell-offs and restructures, the attention has turned to ‘growth opportunities’ — data centres, fibre, merger integrations, B2B, and space earn a look…Vodafonewatch Analyst Briefing: Della Valle says job done at Vodafone ‘building site’
M&AVodacom seizes control of Safaricom in multibillion top-up
South African group bets on mobile money and Ethiopian growth engines as it secures majority stake in Kenya incumbent — as Nairobi government finally cedes economic control to Vodafone cabal…
Network & InfraUK fibre: debt-laden Gigaclear scoops funding after ‘disappointed’ investor steps back
Deep dive: Rural specialist confirms £80m+ injection and claims uncertain future now settled. But questions remain amid rumours of potential sale and in wake of strategic backer Equitix making a sharp exit, as the UK’s National Wealth Fund again resembles policy-led Project Gigabit backstop…
PeoplewatchBT International adds EMEA telco, infra expertise to aid ‘growth’ agenda
Former IHS Towers deputy CFO Douglas Lubbe joins BT International leadership as CEO Bas Burger talks up ‘transformation for growth’ mission.