Ken Wieland
Ken has been writing about developments in the fixed and mobile markets for over twenty years. He has been a contributor to Market Mettle and TelcoTitans since 2015.
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Network & InfrastructureMagyar Telekom CEO rules out tower tie‑ups
Tibor Rékasi anticipates no strategic activity in the “near future”. 5G coverage target met in Budapest.
- Network & Infrastructure
Deutsche Telekom waiting in wings for TowerCo expansion
CFO Illek wants to see how Vantage Towers IPO pans out before making any big moves On prowl for investor partners through Digital Infrastructure Vehicle set up in collaboration with Cellnex. Flags Deutsche Funkturm’s “good price” and M&A possibilities. Selling tower assets to make a quick euro, à ...
- Network & Infrastructure
Deutsche Funkturm CEO says three’s a crowd in Germany
Jacobfeuerborn hints at further expansion abroad as ‘crowded’ home market dims growth prospects. ‘Grey spot’ network-sharing among German MNOs a concern.
- Network & Infrastructure
Deutsche Telekom tests 5G SA waters in Germany
Operator sets up antenna site near Munich to gain 5G standalone experience before commercial deployment. Plans afoot to run 5G SA core network in Telekom cloud infrastructure. Nemat views the tech as essential if network slicing and edge computing are to realise their full 5G potential.
- M&A
Liberty CEO puts two‑year timeframe on VodafoneZiggo IPO
Fries cautiously tells analysts to watch out for some “activity” at its Dutch JV in the next 24 months. VodafoneZiggo burnishes its IPO credentials with target-busting financials for FY20.
- Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica fires starting gun on Drillisch 5G
Spanish giant’s German operations finally agrees national roaming deal with country’s would-be fourth MNO. Paves way for 5G rollout by Drillisch. TowerCos circle market entrant for new business.
- People
How a choice of shoelaces helped change Deutsche Telekom’s fortunes
Former Deutsche Telekom chief René Obermann recalls how John Legere’s unusual footwear played its part in his appointment as T‑Mobile US CEO. Convinced he had the right man, Obermann avoided exposing Legere too early to conservative types at head office in case it scared him off.
- People
Vantage Towers taps Ericsson sales guy for Germany push
Peter Zehetner joins Vodafone’s TowerCo spinout as Managing Director in Germany. Formerly Ericsson’s Commercial Director in western Europe, Zehetner brings years of sales experience to the Vantage team. Winning business from Drillisch, Germany’s would-be fourth MNO, high on the things-to-do-list.
- M&A
Germany mulls selling stake in Deutsche Telekom
Coalition government considers “scaling back” state holdings in various companies, including Deutsche Telekom. Pandemic-induced financial pressures taking their toll.
- M&A
Rumours of Vodafone tie-up with MÁSMÓVIL resurface
But MÁSMÓVIL not necessarily the prey. Renewed media speculation that Spain’s fourth largest operator might acquire Vodafone Spain. Report from Banco Santander says MÁSMÓVIL, under new private equity owners, has the necessary financial clout to pull it off.
- Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica joins European peers in open RAN push
Signs MoU with Deutsche Telekom, Orange, and Vodafone. Aim is to generate greater economies of scale for smaller suppliers through common procurement parameters. Lobbying European governments for open RAN funding high on the agenda. Telefónica makes open RAN advances in Germany, UK.
- Network & Infrastructure
Deutsche Telekom, Samsung team up on standalone 5G
Samsung massive MIMO radio put through its paces in Czech city of Pilsen. Project enables first massive MIMO call on end-to-end 5G architecture within Deutsche Telekom’s European footprint. Tie‑up marks another (but still rare) appearance for the South Korean vendor in DT’s orbit.
- Enterprise (B2B)
T‑Systems eager to flag trio of “mega” renewal deals
Underperforming division, starved of good news recently, claims trio of deals provides “foundation” to grow its portfolio in cloud, digital services and security. Contracts include work in “new growth areas around digital transformation”.
- Network & Infrastructure
European heavyweights club together on open RAN
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone sign MoU. Aim is to generate greater economies of scale for smaller suppliers through common procurement parameters. Lobbying European governments for open RAN funding high on the agenda.
- Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone ties with Euro peers in bid to scale open RAN
Group signs MoU with Deutsche Telekom, Orange, and Telefónica. Aim is to generate greater economies of scale for smaller suppliers through common procurement parameters. Lobbying European governments for open RAN funding high on the agenda.
- People
Vantage Towers CEO says he’s no Vodafone lackey
Vivek Badrinath emphasises operational and strategic independence from Vodafone. CEO claims Europe is 20 years behind the USA in commercialisation of towers. Newspaper interview used to defend upcoming listing on Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
- Network & Infrastructure
Deutsche Telekom allies with European peers on open RAN
Telco grouping aims to generate greater economies of scale for smaller suppliers through common procurement parameters. Lobbying European governments for open RAN funding high on the agenda.
- Network & Infrastructure
T-Mobile US goes Nordic (again) for 5G expansion
Longstanding partners Ericsson and Nokia sign “multi-billion-dollar agreements”. Operator makes concerted 5G push at 2.5GHz to complement 600MHz rollout. Nordic duo also tasked with providing “advanced technical capabilities”, including voice over NR, NR carrier aggregation, network slicing, and multi-user massive MIMO.
- Network & Infrastructure
T-Mobile US looks to top up kitty amid C-Band feeding frenzy
Operator issues three tranches of Senior Notes. Says C-Band auction “may” have something to do with it, as bidding reaches an eye-watering $80.7bn.
- Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone bulks up Vantage Towers with Cornerstone
Vodafone UK and Telefónica UK give each other freedom to “commercialise” their 50% stakes in Cornerstone JV. Transfer of Vodafone’s shareholding to Vantage Towers to take place within weeks. Important (and long-awaited) addition to Vodafone’s European TowerCo ahead of upcoming IPO.
