Headlines
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Partnerships & Alliances
Digi keeps MásOrange waiting on Spanish roaming decision
Digi Spain has until 2025 to activate a national roaming agreement with Orange, but could opt for another partner.
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People
Telefónica Peoplewatch: fresh leaders appointed at fibre and tower JVs
Virgin Media O2’s Cornerstone tower JV with Vodafone UK poaches new commercial and sales chief from Boldyn, Germany’s Unsere Grüne Glasfaser names new IT director, more from across the Telefónica ecosystem…
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Network & Infrastructure
Openreach targets 30m full-fibre premises, nexfibre calls for altnet ramp-up
At Connected North in Manchester, Openreach optimism was juxtaposed by altnet consternation about the state of the UK fibre market.
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Public Affairs
Vodafone-backed AST SpaceMobile landed with ‘stock drop’ class action
The NASDAQ-listed LEO satellite provider hit by class action after supplier problems caused a launch delay, and a subsequent slump in shares.
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M&A
Telefónica grows O2 Germany stake to 97%
Group splashes a further €175m on opportunistic stake increase, bringing total spend on O2 shares over last six months beyond €2bn. Move chimes with Group strategy to increase exposure to “attractive and stable” German market, while aiding O2 with strategic recalibration…
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Network & Infrastructure
Telekom Deutschland faces uphill task to pass ten million premises in 2024
Group confirms that the ten million fibre rollout target remains valid.
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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…
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Network & Infrastructure
Job done on Scottish rural 4G initiative
Scottish 4G Infill programme wraps up after seven years.
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Content & TV
Telekom Deutschland targets tenants with UEFA EURO campaign
Commercial puts focus on the ability to switch TV providers with football as an additional incentive.
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Events
Telefónica’s Rao warns against 6G jump before realising 5G’s B2B potential
FutureNet World: O2 Germany CTIO cautions telcos against jumping into 6G too quickly and calls for improvements in enterprise sector to close gap between potential and realised revenue growth. Read more, including further views from BT and Three UK…
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People
Vodafone veteran Colman Deegan appointed CEO of Zayo Europe
Former CEO of Vodafone Spain takes helm at fibre infra player Zayo Europe.
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Network & Infrastructure
25G/50G slow-go: Openreach may hold out till 2030s on next-gen fibre tech
In depth report — two of the UK’s biggest fibre wholesalers have dampened expectations of imminent 25G and 50G PON upgrades, despite prep-work. Virgin Media O2-backed nexfibre sees no “imminent” case for commercial launch. Openreach also wants greater energy efficiency and to maximise older-gen GPON value extraction, with point-to-point eyed for enterprise. Read more…
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Venturing & Investments
DTCP closes second Infra fund, hints at a third
Report suggests that DIV II fund fell €40m short of its €1.6bn target.
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Financial & Performance
Lightning Fibre’s quick insolvency switch could show the way for struggling altnets
Lightning Fibre’s £40m pre-pack sale out of administration and back into the hands of the investment fund that had supported its initial build may prove a template for struggling UK altnets as expectations on performance levels rise, but at what cost for suppliers and partners? Read more…
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M&A
BT revives Ireland sale talks as Kirkby picks up where Jansen left off — report
BT said to be considering BT Ireland sale as new CEO Allison Kirkby attempts what Philip Jansen could not. A sale would extend the asset-light strategy taken on at BT Business…
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Financial & Performance
Spain continues to build Telefónica buffer, increasing stake to 5%
Government increases shareholding in the operator by 2%, quickly following up acquisition of a 3% stake in March 2024.
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Interview
Interview: T-Mobile partner SiFi Networks gears up for first ‘FiberCity’ launches
First FiberCity set to be completed soon in Fullerton, California.
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People
BT’s Howard Watson dedicates lifetime achievement award to Networks ‘obsession’
FutureNet World: BT Chief Security & Networks Officer Howard Watson thanks 7,300 BT Networks staff for contribution to BT prowess as he was named Technology Leader of the Year. Other award winners include Amdocs, Celfocus, Netcracker, Nokia, Huawei, Vodafone, more…
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Network & Infrastructure
Virgin Media O2 turns to Starlink for UK rural boost
Operator to use low-Earth orbit backhaul in an effort to bolster its rural connectivity, as progress on meeting Shared Rural Network deadlines has lagged…
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Network & Infrastructure
BT, Vodafone seek fast cash and stricter discipline as sector adjusts to new digital reality
FutureNet World: Vodafone’s Andrea Donà and BT’s Howard Watson issue a call for more cash, patient investors, and industry collaboration as network technologies evolve and a light emerges at the end of the investments tunnel. Watson heralds success of fixed, but wants the next mobile ‘G’ to be held back…