Ken Wieland
Ken has been writing about developments in the fixed and mobile markets for over twenty years. He has been a contributor to TelcoTitans since 2015.
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Content & TVVodafoneZiggo, KPN vie for F1 pole position
Vodafone JV wheels out four‑month discount for Viaplay, a streaming platform with F1 broadcasting rights. Rival KPN lifts flag on free twelve‑month deal to entice new customers. F1 and ‘Max Verstappen factor’ seen as big lure for Dutch pay‑TV subscribers.
- M&A
Vodafone under M&A spotlight in Italy, UK
Group reportedly in consolidation talks with Iliad in Italy. A potential merger with Three UK was also apparently explored. Vodafone keeps head down as rumours swirl. Read keen advocate of European in‑market consolidation.
- Operations
Safaricom Ethiopia splashes out $100m on first data centre
Located in capital city Addis Ababa, the installation accounts for one third of a total $300m investment pegged for first year of operations. Data centre, which will house “core network infrastructure”, was built in China and transported to Ethiopia. Rabacal indicates the same business model will be used for ...
- Public Affairs
Ofcom details O2 UK ‘carelessness’ in billing investigation
Regulator publishes 74-page document highlighting the extent of O2 UK feet-dragging in its investigation as to why the operator overcharged customers during a seven‑year period. Demands O2 UK review its processes and systems to ensure accuracy and completeness of responses to information requests in future. Restates view that £150,000 ...
- Suppliers & SCM
Safaricom lauds TIBCO for service and network advances
Kipkirui says microservices and cloud-native APIs from longstanding partner is key in helping OpCo to become an “insights-led, tech-driven company”. Adds that Safaricom has been able to maintain “maximum value” from capex invested in TIBCO. OpCo aims to migrate entire TIBCO BPM stack from on-prem to public cloud by ...
- Network & Infrastructure
Peru’s IpT likes open RAN, but sees room for improvement
CTO of rural provider lauds lower energy consumption, shorter implementation times, compared with traditional 4G rollouts. Flags “some limitations” on capacity and scalability, however; “overall cost” of open RAN equipment still in same ballpark as kit from mainstream vendors.
- Network & Infrastructure
BT’s McRae sees open RAN potential in tackling ‘not‑spots’
Optimistic about RIC to enable connectivity in hard-to-reach places. Flags work on rural open RAN trial in Wales, with BT as neutral host provider. Restates view that open RAN functionality is more important than lowering costs.
- Suppliers & SCM
BT joins audit club to boost supplier sustainability
Pourrat underlines ESG credentials though membership of telco grouping to share best practice on supply chain sustainability. Highlights that BT spent around £13.1bn this year with more than 1,100 direct suppliers in nearly 100 countries, and that understanding impact on environment and society is key.
- M&A
Will Drahi come knocking on BT’s door?
Six months on from French billionaire’s surprise raid on BT, Altice UK now free to up its stake or mount a takeover bid. Jansen called in for meeting with UK government minister to get the lowdown on Drahi’s intentions.
- M&A
American Tower “excited” by tower M&A in Europe
CFO flags possibility of “compelling things” happening in Europe’s tower scene. Cautions, however, that American Tower in no rush for dealmaking. Deutsche Telekom, Cellnex, Orange, and Vodafone also in the mix for tower M&A.
- Financial & Performance
Vodafone close to settling €2.4bn tax dispute with India
Group offers New Delhi a deal after retrospective tax legislation scrapped. Dispute harks back to Vodafone acquisition of Hutchison Essar in 2007. Indian stand-off has long cast a shadow over Group finances, despite recent legal victories.
- Network & Infrastructure
OpenBNG unveils winners of multi-operator RFI
DT‑backed TIP initiative makes strides in disaggregating the broadband network gateway. RFI process, initiated by DT, BT, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, and Vodafone, identifies shortlist of suppliers most likely to be first with commercial and OpenBNG‑compliant products. Altran, Benu Networks, Casa Systems, and RtBrick emerge victorious in software category. APS ...
- Partnerships & Alliances
Vi goes 5G network slicing with Nokia
Trial in Gandhinagar purportedly enables high‑resolution VR content. TRAI sets deadlines for consultation process with “stakeholders” on auction rules for delayed 5G spectrum auction.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Brand‑heavy TPG looks for smart data handling with AWS
Shaik flags “knowledge lake” as providing deeper understanding of consumer and enterprise behaviour. Aimed at breaking down data siloes across multi‑brand portfolio following TPG–VHA merger. Analytics of external datasets, available on the market, increasingly important.
- Suppliers & SCM
OpenBNG unveils winners of multi-operator RFI
TIP initiative to disaggregate the broadband network gateway makes strides. RFI process, initiated by BT, Deutsche Telekom, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, and Vodafone, identifies shortlist of suppliers for OpenBNG-compliant products. Altran, Benu Networks, Casa Systems, and RtBrick emerge victorious in software category. APS Networks, Delta, Edgecore, and UfiSpace winners in ...
- Partnerships & Alliances
India 5G auction delayed as Vi showcases prospects
5G‑friendly spectrum auction pushed back amid pricing and structure consultations. Vi CEO Takkar outlines ambition to be Digital India frontrunner as government lays out digitalisation ambition. Several pilot projects showcased with partners including Athonet, L&T, and local startups. Ericsson picks up P1; Nokia trailing.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Carrier Services settles with ClearX on data delivery
Group’s international connectivity unit aligns with Israeli blockchain firm to “streamline” delivery of data services. Colt Technology Services and PCCW Global part of “pioneering” work. ClearX expects data services platform to go live Q1 2022.
- M&A
Reliance denies interest in acquiring BT stake
BT share price jumps on report that Indian conglomerate eyeing a move for UK incumbent. Reliance quick to dismiss the article as “completely speculative and baseless”, but City still excited.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone, Telefónica launch fixed‑broadband TIP group
Operators co‑chair new TIP project group targeting FTTP access technologies. Vodafone cementing leadership at TIP.
- Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone joins European telco call for open RAN help
Group signs off on Analysys Mason report recommending that European policymakers financially stimulate the region’s open RAN ecosystem. Report also backed by Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telecom Italia, and Telefónica. Wibergh says “Europe needs to urgently prioritise open RAN” to avoid slipping further behind Asia and USA.
