Latest Strategy News
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Network & Infrastructure25G/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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Weekly BriefingsBTwatch Weekly: Watson calls for discipline, Openreach eyes fibre mega-contracts
Latest from BT and its ecosystem as CSNO Howard Watson calls for patient investors and looks ahead to rewards at the end of the networks upgrade tunnel; Openreach licks lips at prospect of Project Gigabit mega-contracts; and more SRN updates as EE charges on…
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M&ABT 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 & PerformanceSpain 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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Network & InfrastructureBT, 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…
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PeopleVodafone opts for SAP’s Auramo as new Business boss
SAP Chief Business Officer Marika Auramo to take Vodafone Business top-spot, completing Margherita Della Valle’s Executive Committee and adding more senior SAP expertise to the table.
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Financial & PerformanceVi eyes £1.7bn public offering to fund 4G and 5G rollout
Troubled Indian JV makes lucrative FPO plans, but what will it mean for Vodafone’s stake? Operator adds to longstanding promises of 4G expansion and 5G rollout, with funding to be channelled to network build…
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Strategy & ChangeTelefónica said to refinance struggling Peruvian biz again
Group reportedly approves capital reduction and further investment in the country, as unit continues to seek a turnaround after reporting sales and earnings declines in FY23…
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M&AVodacom Tanzania snaps up rival Smile as Saudi investors cut losses
It’s all Smile(s) as Vodacom completes acquisition of small Tanzanian operator with attractive spectrum holding and 4G network presence. Vodacom Tanzania acquired local rival Smile for TZS 68.8bn (£22m/€25m) just two years after Saudi investors spent $235m+ on a rescue deal. The deal delivers access to Smile’s 800MHz and ...
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Enterprise (B2B)BT evolves Local Business with more activity brought in-house
Changes afoot across BT’s SME IT services portfolio as some regional partners step up and others fall away. Pattern emerges of fewer partners holding expanded remits, and BT is not shying away from bringing some regions in-house “where we need to”…
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Financial & PerformanceVi to get £197m top up from Vodafone partner Aditya Birla
Vi makes inroads into reducing debt pile with proposed cash infusion from Aditya Birla and thumbs up from shareholders for INR 200bn equity offering.
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Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: Phones 4u legal battle reignite, satcomms remain grounded, enforced M-PESA spin-out hits tax challenge
Latest from Vodafone and its partners, including revived legal wranglings in the UK over Phones 4u collusions claims, Vodafone-backed SpaceMobile still struggling to launch, Safaricom $0.5bn+ tax exposure complicating state-enforced divestment of M-PESA jewel. Plus much more…
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Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: sharpened focus for emerging TowerCos, bumps on path to UK fibre consolidation, 6G in space
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including TowerCos IHS and Helios embracing core-strengthening exercises; Netomnia’s predictions for a likely ceiling on market penetration for altnets; and the beginning of the next rules update for the UK’s fibre landscape. Plenty more…
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Financial & PerformanceYet another AST SpaceMobile launch delay for MNO backers
Getting current-gen BlueBirds into low-Earth orbit for cellular broadband from space taking longer than expected, but funding in place after Vodafone, AT&T and Google supported latest call. Other industry backers include American Tower, Bell Canada, Rakuten, Samsung, Cisneros…
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Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: Germany goes into cost-cutting mode, while shareholder Xavier Niel grumbles about Group strategy
Lots of action in Germany this week as Vodafone announced 2,000 job cuts and new efficiency programme and fibre altnets argued the practical and competitive hurdles holding back gigabit broadband deployments. Read the full briefing…
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M&ASpain buys 3% of Telefónica, more share purchases likely
Madrid initiates process of regaining primary shareholder status in Telefónica, as national interests surrounding telco ownership continue to rise back up the agenda in Europe, prompted by phase of operator vulnerability to outside takeovers and broader climate of geopolitical risk.
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M&AVodafone ‘not well managed’ suggests disgruntled Xavier Niel
Vodafone minority shareholder Xavier Niel has cast doubt on Vodafone management’s strategic vision in a Sunday Times profile that followed the sale to Swisscom of the Vodafone Italy business he has long coveted.
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Network & InfrastructureBlue Planet: Re-making telcos as platform heroes
Blue Planet is calling on operators to build new platforms that rise above the existing tangle of legacy technologies and unlock the revenue and innovation opportunities promised by a fully automated ‘no ops’ future.
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PeopleDeutsche Telekom names new Global Business boss
Conrad Riedesel to lead go-to-market for DT’s networking and unified comms propositions outside of Group’s German core.
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InterviewNetomnia: capex inefficiency is blocking consolidation opportunity
Speaking to TelcoTitans, Netomnia founder and CEO Jeremy Chelot suggests too many altnets are banking on unachievable take-up goals, and that playing fast and loose with investor money has resulted in a block on viable valuations for consolidation.