Latest
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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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Weekly Briefings
BTwatch 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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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…
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People
Vodafone 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 & Performance
Vi 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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Weekly Briefings
Infrawatch Weekly: CTOs to the fore as industry reshuffles, DT disses 1&1, BDUK springs forward
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including big Project Gigabit wins for Quickline, Wessex Internet, and Wildanet; a first appearance in the wild of a DSIT-funded 4G mast; DT taking a swipe at its newest mobile rival; people moves, and plenty more…
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Public Affairs
Telefónica Peru hands over €345m to end 20-year tax dispute
Operating business set to pay €345m to national tax agency, bringing an end to long-running case that has served as a source of uncertainty for Group’s strategic direction in a competitive and economically challenging market…
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Marketing
‘Huge’ file dump prompts another delay in DT-Telefónica logo dispute
Spanish operator wins more time to present its case in branding dispute, citing the burden of sifting through an “astonishing” volume of evidence submitted by opponent Deutsche Telekom.
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Weekly Briefings
Telefónicawatch Weekly: Shareholder dance continues with growing Spanish flavour; O2 presses on with 5G experiments
Spanish banking foundation pops up as Telefónica top shareholder, as Spanish government seperately said to be seeking spot on board as it builds its own national interest stake. Elsewhere: O2 gets 5G projects on the move; refinancing in Peru; VM O2 resumes digital landline project…
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Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica makes grab for MásOrange 5G spectrum: report
Operator reportedly looking to purchase 3.5GHz block as newly-merged entity required to sell off further assets under regulatory obligations.
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People
Expereo installs ex-Vodafone Business exec as CEO
Ben Elms, one-time Vodafone Global Enterprise CEO, earns promotion at SD-WAN and cloud connectivity service provider after stint as CRO.
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Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: M&A success in Africa; funding milestone in India; Microsoft getting AI-cosy in Paddington
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem, including: long-awaited acquisition in Tanzania that looks to be good business for Vodacom; initial answer to funding questions at Vi via Vodafone partner ABG; developments across the Group’s European operations; and more…
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Partnerships & Alliances
Tomorrow Street adds AI and automation smarts to Vodafone’s scaleup accelerator
Newest members of VPC/Technoport Luxembourg hub: Emplay, Squirro, and Workato.