Latest UK Headlines – Page 66
-
Network & InfrastructureOpenreach requests COVID vaccine relief
Direct talks between Openreach and government officials confirmed. COVID-19 surge halts operations. Openreach seeks to highlight public importance of connectivity.
-
Network & InfrastructureVodafone bulks up Vantage Towers with Cornerstone
Vodafone UK and Telefónica UK give each other freedom to “commercialise” their 50% stakes in Cornerstone JV. Transfer of Vodafone’s shareholding to Vantage Towers to take place within weeks. Important (and long-awaited) addition to Vodafone’s European TowerCo ahead of upcoming IPO.
-
PeopleBT’s Ainley takes Ericsson UK&I top-spot
Former Ventures MD Katherine Ainley will be CEO for the vendor’s UK and Ireland operations from February. BT Ventures dismantlement nears completion. Ainley to lead Ericsson through key 5G rollouts.
-
Consumer (B2C)Allera makes mark with BT Consumer “turnaround job”
Latest Business Briefing sees Allera stamp his style on Consumer division, striving to bring a premium sheen to a venerable brand. Multi-play out of fashion and cross-selling in as BT and EE set to play to strengths. New marketing chief Thrane buying in to Group transformation philosophy.
-
PeopleVodafone UK’s Jeffery jumps ship, and may not be last
Group loses another exec from layer below CEO Read’s increasingly thin top leadership. Home-market custodian and Read contemporary Nick Jeffery likely to have seen development opportunities limited in tightly-controlled upper echelons. Resultant vacancies in Group Operations and Strategy briefs pose a challenge in terms of introducing new voices.
-
Partnerships & AlliancesBT to head trials at Reading’s Arrow Drone Zone
Group targeting commercialisation of drone flights using country’s “first commercial drone corridor”. Funding delivered through four-year government initiative, but securing safety assurances for BVLOS flights first port of call. Potential benefits to healthcare vertical highlighted.
-
Innovation (R&D)Mobius: malware tracker tackles new use-cases
Geospatial intelligence tool is being trialled to support security efforts across BT’s physical assets, moving beyond its CAV origins. Epidemiological methods used to model and monitor the spread of malware.
-
PremiumBT people moves: IT executives reshuffled
IT Managing Director Rachel Higham confirmed her departure, leaving a vacancy for the all-important IT transformation project. Changes to Group’s regional management, including the exit of BT’s England Director and a new Openreach Scotland chair. High-profile alumni take advisory spots at UK regulators.
-
Partnerships & AlliancesVodafone clicks with Amazon on 5G edge service
Vodafone Business’ year-long collaboration with AWS on distributed MEC close to bearing fruit. First commercial services in UK, Germany slated for spring 2021. Vodafone and AWS initiate Edge Innovation Programme to develop PoCs.
-
Network & InfrastructureOfcom hints at ten-year “fair bet” timeframe for BT
Openreach to be unconstrained on full-fibre pricing until 2031 under proposed plans from the regulator. Jansen claims he would rather have a cap on returns, and more time. Fellow infrastructure builders happy with clarity, but Openreach customer TalkTalk unhappy with impact on wholesale. Regulatory clarity may kickstart discussions on ...
-
PeopleKatie Milligan takes Openreach chair in Scotland
Milligan, Openreach MD for Customer, Commercial & Propositions, to become Chairman of the Scotland Board in 2021. Scottish know-how tapped for unique regional challenges. 40-year veteran Brendan Dick to vacate the spot.
-
Network & InfrastructureBT calls for alternatives to fibre in rural Wales
Connecting the most challenging premises not viable under the USO. Openreach, backed by government infrastructure committees, wants to look beyond FTTP for gigabit access.
-
Network & InfrastructureOpenreach connects dots in Highlands and Islands
Regional fibre programme reaches its conclusion with targets surpassed. R100 scheme to pick up the baton in 2021 to continue superfast expansion to Scottish hinterlands.
-
PremiumElsewhere in BT Technology: Open Digital Architecture gets tested
BT backing digital architecture commoditisation; data traffic records tumble.
-
OperationsBT picks Belfast for legal relaunch
Multi-million-pound investment goes towards revamp of Group’s legal presence. Another BT function chooses to switch activities across Irish Sea.
-
Network & InfrastructureOpenreach consults with CPs on exchange closures
BT infrastructure arm continues prep for shutdown of 4,600 local exchanges. “Exchange evolution” programme may last 20 years, although early-2030s to see most dramatic change. Purchase of copper broadband services now halted in Salisbury.
-
Public AffairsBT could face winter strike action
CWU ups the ante in the Count Me In campaign as employees back what could be the first national strike at BT in decades. New Birmingham office to be first regional hub in Better Workspace programme, but the pandemic is complicating other office searches.
-
Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Openreach: job creation takes off
European fibre surge anticipated; Openreach partner folds.
-
PremiumElsewhere in BT Consumer: Premiership Rugby not guaranteed
Rugby talks go to wire; BT Sport welcomes fans back, EE clearing not-spots.
-
Network & InfrastructureUK gets on with life after Huawei
New 5G Diversification Strategy and Telecommunications (Security) Bill expected to introduce tough new network security expectations on operators, while attempting to reduce the risks associated with over-reliance on Ericsson and Nokia. Government backing open standards, and particularly open RAN, to create a diverse supply chain, but relative lack of ...