All articles by Joseph Purnell – Page 53
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M&A
Telefónica Tech preps for part-sale
Long-mooted divestment plan appears close to initiation, with reports indicating private equity interest. Division not the big-hitter it once claimed to become, but hoping to draw punters through M&A and partnerships. Downsized ambition and reset scope remind of last decade’s Telefónica Digital, where grand ambition faded away.
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People
Vodafone’s Ethiopian OpCo gets a leader
Anwar Soussa takes job as first MD of as-yet-unnamed OpCo. Industry veteran brings M-PESA experience. EOC plans and ownership remain vague.
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People
Deutsche Telekom moves: T-Mobile names national security lead
Letitia Long, former US intelligence lead, joins T-Mobile Board of Directors as Director of National Security. Deutsche Telekom IoT gets a new CFO in Claudia Moritz. OTE veteran Tzimea adds Sustainability to her remit. Evolution of the Hungarian T-Systems division gets closer to completion.
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Premium
Vodafone signs HERE for traffic warning R&D
5G-enabled real-time traffic warning system in development. Partnership takes in HERE Technologies and Porsche. Precision location and edge computing utilised. 5G Mobility Lab hosts R&D project, adding to a growing list of V2X partnerships.
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Suppliers & SCM
Openreach enlists CommScope for full-fibre support
CommScope’s NOVUX platform to enable Openreach to hit FTTP deployment goals. US-based vendor added to a growing list of rollout programme partners.
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Strategy & Change
Fintechs ready to disrupt capital markets’ status quo
BT Radianz directors discuss the potential for fintechs to drive a step change in the capital markets sector. Hybrid cloud described as an accelerator at the culmination of a 20-year digitalisation process for the industry.
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Premium
BT bets on Sisal lottery bid
National Lottery licence up for grabs, with three challengers to Camelot incumbency. Sisal, with BT as technology supplier, faces competition from Allwyn and its partner Vodafone UK. Digital transformation top of the ticket for tender adjudicators.
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Premium
EE backtracks on post-Brexit roaming charges
EE became the first UK MNO to announce plans to reinstate roaming charges for customers travelling to the EU. O2 UK and Three UK follow suit to an extent, tweaking fair usage policies.
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Public Affairs
DRC: Vodacom denounces ‘arbitrary’ engineer arrest
Vodacom DRC formally protests arrest of engineer on allegations of fraud. Controversial mobile device registry at the centre of the row, which has in recent months seen marches on the streets of Kinshasa.
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Premium
Vodafone people moves: Czechs ring the changes
Brazdilova takes Commercial top-spot at Vodafone Czech Republic, with Rutherford out and Hoerová back. Transformation Director Girault heads for the door amid broader Group Technology reshuffles. Turkey’s Aksoy names his team with Enterprise and Marketing appointments.
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Operations
Four-day weeks and home working at Telefónica
“Avant-garde” union deal writes in provisions for permanent hybrid working for 15,000 employees. Four-day week pilot promised for volunteer employees, with an accompanying drop in pay. 1% salary increase also flagged.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Open Telekom Cloud goes full Circle
T-Systems’ infrastructure-as-a-service offering adds Circle partner benefits packages, with spend-based reward tiers. Not a one-way street, says Partner Manager Ulf Mayer, who is looking for commitment from customers.
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M&A
Murdoch’s News UK steps away from BT Sport talks
News UK has pulled back from talks with BT regarding a partnership for the sports broadcasting business. Discovery and ITV said to remain in contention, with DAZN seemingly the keenest of the bunch.
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Premium
BT people moves: BT Sourced adds procurement expertise
Rogers’ Barberis joins BT’s Dublin buying function as B2B VP. Openreach names new leads for partner management and fibre build as FTTP targets grow. BT Global Director Ladha heads for the door. HR rotations at Group and Enterprise.
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Premium
Telefónica people moves: Prautzsch takes helm at German FibreCo
Telefónica Infra’s fibre JV with Allianz fills out management positions, drawing on Telefónica insiders. Ayucar and Martínez take CTO roles in the Digital Consumer & Data Office. Vivo rotates Operations and Wholesale leadership.
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People
Fresh faces bedded in at Joosub’s Vodacom ExecCo
Vodacom Executive Committee confirmed with five newcomers. Vodacom South Africa joins Safaricom with a seat at the table, while other African OpCos grouped under International Business.
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Venturing & Investments
Iterable goes double unicorn with DTCP backing
Customer communications platform player takes $200m in funding, with Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners on the ticket. Medium-term IPO a potential exit route for Group investment arm. Martech continuing to pique interest for DTCP.
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People
Deutsche Telekom movers: brand leadership overhaul at T-Mobile
American NatCo’s Chief Marketing Officer Matt Staneff exits, paving the way for evolved brand and communications strategy. Group compliance lead Mackert reportedly exiting. Czech NatCo confirms leadership for newly-unified Enterprise division.
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Premium
UK government hands WAN win to BT
Five-year, £23m contract signed for network access services to the DWP. BT’s Strategic Supplier standing consolidated.
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Premium
EE adopts Nokia’s SON
Operator implements Nokia’s Self-Organizing Networks software in a bid to improve customer experience on its mobile networks. Nokia hails the deal as evidence of the strength of its BT account, which is said to have taken on a “continuous development” model.