Latest UK News – Page 74
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Innovation (R&D)BT ties with Sweden’s Skydome on emergency response
VR leveraged by embryonic Skydome for incident monitoring purposes. Startup’s R&D partners include Intel. Potential for deployment at BT’s network of smart ports.
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PremiumCityFibre bags fresh cash injection
Openreach challenger announces fresh funds through stake sale and bond issue. Capital “enables” Project Gigabit ambitions. CityFibre’s FTTP rollout reaches 650,000 premises. Altnet momentum builds with an estimated £8bn in investment publicly promised.
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Venturing & InvestmentsWayra UK sets up fundraising support initiative
UK incubator leans on expertise of outside consultancy to launch Wayraise scheme. Mountside helping ensure Wayra businesses are “investor-ready” and works to facilitate greater flow of VC into startup ecosystem.
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M&ATelefónica joins Liberty in move towards UK tower sale
Goldman Sachs reportedly handed reins to examine prospective Cornerstone share sale.
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Innovation (R&D)BT quantum-secures hollow core fibre in trial
QKD hook-up with Lumenisity HCF pitched as world first. Lord says trial “accelerates the UK’s lead in quantum technologies”. Widespread HCF deployment still some way off, however.
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PremiumBT includes rugby in Vena line-up
Tressler enthusiastic about Vena commercial model for sports. Media and Broadcast launches Vena ‘quick start’ programme to learn more about sports’ requirements.
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PremiumOpenreach and Nokia trial 25Gbps FTTP technology
Other FTTP partners ADTRAN and Huawei are said to favour 50G PON.
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PremiumOpenreach bulking up in Northern Ireland
Openreach Northern Ireland ramps up recruitment, with 16 new openings in nascent civil engineering division. Pressure is on to meet near-term FTTP rollout target. NI tops UK for ultrafast coverage.
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PremiumAltnets object to Openreach FTTP price proposal
Regulatory spat over wholesale FTTP pricing spills out into the open. Openreach says new prices offer certainty and encourage FTTP take-up. Fibre rivals claim the cheaper wholesale pricing scheme will reduce infrastructure competition and deter investment. Ofcom provisionally says no action needed, but final decision is expected by the ...
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Group: BT Sourced launches
BT and friends enter electric vehicle endeavour; BT Sourced opens its doors.
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PremiumBT onboard for Avanti West Coast Wi-Fi upgrade
Avanti West Coast invests £45m in railway Wi-Fi infrastructure project, with BT tapped for LTE mast build.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Openreach: FTTP circuit charges increase
Charge increases for FTTP circuits; investigation into BT’s USO compliance suspended; FTTP rollout in Scottish Highlands prompts disquiet.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Global: EE adopts VMware software
Technology partner driving force behind EE’s cost-reduction push; Group flags CyberFirst partner status.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Consumer: CNN cut from BT TV
BT Sport expands cricket portfolio; CNN news channel removed from BT TV; Fibre altnet exec raises concerns over nature of FTTP marketing.
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PremiumVodafone Q1 FY21–22: ‘Phase two’ relaunched with M&A sweetener
Some hints of compromise with City overseers as Vodafone re-seeds post-pandemic, digital-led growth plan. New Chairman van Boxmeer appears to be lighting a fire under Group mindset and strategy. M&A talked up as a lever to help Vodafone in the push to revive growth. Another chunk of Vantage could ...
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PremiumVodafone Q1 FY21-22 Headlines: pandemic snags unwind, gradually
Group bounces out of pandemic slump, helped by lapping and increased business confidence. Cautious CEO warns of further “bumps in the road”. In Spain, another large-scale downsizing move made under cover of Digital Telco transformation, and as fodder for Group’s centralisation-led efficiency plans.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Telefónica Core Markets: O2 Business launches Managed Microsoft 365
Regulatory battles continue in Spain with mixed results; Movistar scores Italian football rights renewal.
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Network & InfrastructureLiberty sees UK–Dutch tower separation “sooner than later”
CFO says group “not in love with” tower ownership and keen to unlock value. Virgin Media O2 and VodafoneZiggo assets in focus.
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OperationsPourrat cuts the ribbon at BT Sourced HQ
BT procurement unit’s Dublin offices formally opened. Chief Procurement Officer Cyril Pourrat, mastermind behind the ProcureCo, leads the launch.
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PremiumTelefónica people moves: VM O2 hiring spree
VM O2 continues to bed in second layers of leadership after inaugurating top-table. Telefónica Tech makes regional appointments in Brazil, Germany, and Mexico.