Latest from Infrawatch
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Weekly Briefings
EMEA Infrawatch Briefing: SatCos explore new options; subsea revamps
Spain’s Indra eyes bigger role in European satellite picture, while Eutelsat moves to bring space connectivity to Nigeria and (reportedly) Egypt. Meanwhile, fibre players have struck fresh deals in Ireland and Spain, while others consider if further buys are immediately necessary…
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M&A
Indra to create integrated European satellite player with Hispasat buy
Spanish defence and IT group firms up plans for €725m purchase of Hispasat, with plans to form “most integrated” SatCo in Europe. Indra’s Executive Chairman Angel Escribano says deal is “key” to reaching target of at least €1bn total space sector revenue by 2030…
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M&A
BT Ireland grabs Cordiant’s attention for infra, wholesale sell-off — report
Operator reportedly looking to firm up sale of infrastructure and wholesale business units “in the coming weeks”, advancing Kirkby’s ‘asset-light’ strategy following recent sale of Irish data centres…
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Network & Infrastructure
Shared Rural Network expands reach as BDUK cutback rumours swirl
Weekend reports suggest operators are irked by possibility that their coverage investment and network optimisation improvements could see the government scale back financial commitments to rural coverage…
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Financial & Performance
In depth: Openreach line losses accelerate, fibre gaps widen as strategic vulnerability
Q3 FY24–25: BT’s wholesale division again reports strong financials and record fibre build, but a deeper look reveals a worrying trend of accelerating line losses. This analysis delves into the implications of altnet and Project Gigabit competition, eroding historic market dominance.
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Network & Infrastructure
KPN seeks to temper Dutch overbuild amidst fibre storm
CEO Joost Farwerck eager to temper overbuild in the Netherlands, as fibre rivals including DELTA Fiber and Open Dutch Fiber lock in overlapping city build programmes. Concerns accompany latest earnings showing incumbent maintaining pace to hit own rollout target…
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Strategy & Change
Helios Towers CEO casts vision for ‘symbiotic’ telco–energy expansion in Africa
Tom Greenwood took to the Mission 300 Africa stage to promote mutual benefits of telco-energy provider partnerships, as both look to expand their respective footprints on the continent.
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Strategy & Change
Acquisitive Polish FibreCo slows M&A, seeks funding in strategy rethink
Jacek Wiśniewski, Chief Executive at Poland’s Nexera, says business is exploring financing options to fuel push past 1.5 million premises. M&A and build-out set to slow down in 2025, as Nexera follows broader European trend of focusing on take-up…
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Network & Infrastructure
T-Mobile US could add satellite broadband to fixed-line portfolio
CEO Mike Sievert indicates openness to a tie-up enabling satellite internet to be marketed alongside terrestrial broadband services, widening reach of ambitious fixed-line business. But also notes capacity contraints at Starlink…
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone puts D2D plans in motion with fresh SpaceMobile trials
Vodafone reveals first “space-to-land” gateway to enable direct-to-device services. Further trials of SpaceMobile technology pencilled in for spring 2025 as Group moves closer to launching Europe- and Africa-wide services after launch delays and legal troubles…
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Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica–Vodafone fibre venture takes shape
Operators reported to have lined up Telefónica’s Spanish network boss to lead set-up of their pending wireline infra joint venture, and to be close to receiving bids from prospective financial partners as they look to firm up the FibreCo’s ownership structure and capital base. Read more…
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Interview
CityFibre sees commercial promise, ‘moral obligation’ in Project Gigabit
CityFibre’s public sector lead Andy Nash talks to TelcoTitans on the altnet’s emergence as a strategic government supplier for Project Gigabit, answering “the big exam question” on going beyond initial goals, and the moral duty of delivering rural connectivity…
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Network & Infrastructure
MásOrange, Vodafone Spain seek synergies with mobile infra JV — report
Operator duo reportedly looking to form tower joint venture to capture synergies and reduce operating costs. If confirmed, move would continue rejig of Spanish telecoms market and prompt questions over tower consolidation in the country…
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M&A
Spanish state’s digital musical chairs continues: Indra said to near Hispasat buy
Defence and IT conglomerate reportedly closing in on €650m acquisition of satellite operator to grow defence and space capabilities. State holding company SEPI again seen pulling strings, following Telefónica coup. National, regional and global geopolitical angles…
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Weekly Briefings
UK Infrawatch Briefing: data centre AI plans; Zzoomming up altnet tables; Freshwave deals
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including the latest on sector mergers; power challenges accompanying the government’s AI power play; people moves, and plenty more…
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M&A
FullFibre, Zzoomm to form integrated altnet, fuel further M&A
UK fibre altnets to combine for a shared 600,000 ready for service network with 65,000 customers, adding FullFibre’s wholesale platform to Zzoomm’s retail.
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M&A
Boldyn enters German market with private 5G biz buy
UK-based neutral host player bulks up private 5G network offering with acquisition of Germany’s Smart Mobile Labs. Agreement comes as Boldyn looks to expand in private 5G sector, having participated in several projects over the past year…
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People
Viasat rejigs exec line-up after Inmarsat integration
SatCo shakes up leadership team in a bid to drive “long-term” growth, which includes President Guru Gowrappan stepping down and the creation of a new strategic initiatives role…
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People
MTN appoints new infra chief to drive AI strategy
Group CTIO Mazen Mroué named CEO for Digital Infrastructure, including Bayobab fibre and mobile hardware units.
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Network & Infrastructure
Telxius taps Ciena for wide-scale subsea network upgrade
Telefónica-backed subsea cable operator installs Ciena’s pluggable optics to enable transmission speeds beyond 100Gbps, moving beyond previous 70Gbps limit.