All articles by Joseph Purnell – Page 15
-
Financial & Performance
New EE must wait five years to be rid of Old BT
New CEO Allison Kirkby re-confirms Jansen/Allera New EE strategy, but BT brand to limp on in Consumer at least until PSTN shutdown, with Plusnet retained as broadband b-brand. ARPU is up, but multiplay elusive as ever, subscribers still being lost, still far from walking the talk. Read more…
-
Financial & Performance
BT Business gets UK exceptionalism vibe, with Global ops on chopping block
New CEO Allison Kirkby mulls further ‘optimisation’ opportunities in latest bid to turn around long-beleaguered B2B activities. Much-lauded new network-as-a-service proposition Global Fabric may be retained as partner play. Domestic rump not obviously a better bet, however…
-
Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: Kirkby gathers transformation troops, but can she convince investors?
Latest from BT and its ecosystem the day before the Group’s FY23–24 results hit the screens. CEO Allison Kirkby is corralling a new squadron of incomers to drive forward her flavour of transformation for BT, but investors so far appear unconvinced. Spectrum auctions may be imminent, as real estate redevelopment nears completion, and a revitalised Corporate & Public Sector team boast a West Country win. Read more…
-
M&A
Vodafone earns regulatory go-ahead for Spanish retreat
Vodafone Spain sale to Zegona Communications to complete by the end of the month, with share buyback programme already underway.
-
Financial & Performance
Vodafone CFO open to another Vantage Towers sell-down
Luka Mucic uses Group’s FY23−24 earnings call to tease further Vantage Towers sell-down, pitching TowerCo disposal as evidence of value-creating potential for new Vodafone Investments division. Exposure has been reduced in India, while VodafoneZiggo will stay in the family…
-
Operations
Openreach opens ‘snazzy’ new City HQ
BT’s access services business has moved its HQ to a new site in London, closing out a tenure at ‘tired’ King’s Cross offices.
-
Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: cost of Ethiopian expansion laid bare; another twist in M&A tale
Latest from Vodafone, affiliates and partners: Group earns security clearance for UK merger; Ethiopia optimism reiterated despite financial reality check; and TowerCo Inwit braces for reshaped Italian market following MNO reshuffle. More from South Africa, Spain, Netherlands, elsewhere…
-
M&A
Vodafone−Three welcome deal’s security clearance as focus turns to antitrust
UK government green-lights merger (with caveats) after conducting security review, but Vodafone−Three are far from celebrating as the CMA’s investigation steps up a gear and leaves consolidation in doubt…
-
People
BT Peoplewatch: as Kirkby ups the transformational ante, ex-CEO Patterson goes boardroom ‘goliath’
40+ senior/strategic appointments across BT Group, including: new CEO Allison Kirkby making mark with more transformation-focused imports; ex-CEO Gavin Patterson makes it boardroom berth number-eight; and major changes at revamped BT Business. Fibre build remains priority at Openreach, while Consumer beds in fresh device and marketing leadership. Read more…
-
Financial & Performance
UK’s Digital 9 reshapes boardroom, weighs Arqiva options as wind-down progresses
Former Bank of Scotland exec Eric Sanderson named Chair to lead wind-down process, with one or more other Non-Execs to be added in near future. Steps made in asset sale but future of Arqiva stake not yet decided.
-
People
BT adds transformation expertise to board, seeks out ‘operational resilience’
Ex-Barclays finance chief Tushar Morzaria appointed to BT Board of Directors, with Chairman Adam Crozier lauding ‘corporate change’ specialism and adding further transformation expertise to the BT boardroom.
-
Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: BT adds to concerns about Vodafone−Three UK merger, EE Finance gets Patterson’s Glow
Latest from BT and its ecosystem of partners and suppliers in a week where the UK’s competition authority revealed the level of concern it has about Vodafone UK’s proposed merger with Three — with BT’s networks found to be one potential flashpoint. EE continues retail revamp; Etc. ignites EV charging trial; and Business advances its Portfolio makeover…
-
Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: ups and downs in Group’s network-sharing tie-ups and M&A; RAN mega-tender KO
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem, including: commencement of massive RAN tender; regional network-sharing in Australia; and UK merger with Three competition concerns mount. Elsewhere: Vodafone Business seeks role in edge compute innovation; Vodacom Tanzania facing legal action; and more consolidation prospects in the Netherlands and Spain explored…
-
Interview
Brace for ‘AI tidal wave’: Kao Data urges UK data centre step change
Next-gen specialist discusses Manchester Data Centre of the North investment sweetspot, need to prep for AI-fuelled tsunami of demand (nowhere in Europe ready). Read more…
-
M&A
Merged Vodafone−Three ‘incentivised and able’ to ‘frustrate’, ‘harm’ BT — CMA
Merger-critical Competition & Markets Authority investigation is damning on logic and impact of combination, dubious of benefits. Network-sharing joint venture MBNL is at heart of concerns and may become a focus for any forthcoming ‘remedies’. Read more…
-
Network & Infrastructure
TPG signs more regulator-friendly rural RAN-sharing deal with Optus
Australia’s TPG Telecom signs MOCN agreement with Optus in bid to present true regional challenge to Telstra, taking notes from regulator’s report on the unsucessful Telstra deal to add to optimism about green-light prospects…
-
Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: leadership rotation follows Group structure reset
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem, including: senior people moves across the Group and its recently-reworked divisional set-up; Vodafone Portugal CEO puts on a brave face, presents potential M&A failure as ‘no big deal’; Group satcomms investment AST SpaceMobile faces class action after share price crash; and much more…
-
Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: CEO Kirkby sets about transformation agenda, Openreach ramps up build
Latest from BT and its ecosystem of partners as Openreach takes “unapologetic” stance in the face of rollout criticism from challengers; CEO Allison Kirkby reportedly makes earnest moves to implement transformation agenda via consultancy appointment and Ireland shake-up; more from industry events in the UK and Europe…
-
People
Vodafone Peoplewatch: senior swaps in Germany as transformation agenda beds in
20+ high-profile moves in and around Vodafone, including: new Business CEO; HR swaps in multiple markets; German consumer services team overhaul; top-level pivots in Africa; plus more across the Group…
-
Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: Donà’s network wishlist, IoT wins, and small steps forward for Vi
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem as UK CNO Andrea Donà calls for more cash for quicker network upgrades; Celfocus partnership takes gold; SAP exec named Business boss; and India’s Vi finds new momentum in hunt for funding…