Latest UK News – Page 81
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Network & InfrastructureEE spins up spectrum to further 5G ambitions
New licences put to use minutes after being issued, in partnership with Nokia. BT pays an additional £23m after initial low-ball auction, but Group still bagged “an excellent price”, says Consumer CEO Marc Allera. EE open to future spectrum trades as O2 and Vodafone sign their own deal.
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Innovation (R&D)UK access to Horizon Europe unclear
Government offers to pay some of the costs, but not all, to access EU’s Horizon Europe scientific funding initiative. The successor to Horizon 2020, which BT has tapped into, Horizon Europe has an R&D budget of €95.5bn.
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PeopleTelefónica, Liberty lay out leadership for merged VM-O2
Telefónica and Virgin Media execs share the spoils 50:50 at the new venture, which is still pending regulatory approval. Jo Bertram and Gareth Turpin among the O2 names to get a seat, with Telefónica Argentina’s de Meo brought in as CIO. No room for O2’s HR guru Catherine Leaver, ...
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PremiumBT people moves: strategic appointments in health and banking
BT continues its effort to grow into the healthcare industry with accounts leaders named at Enterprise. Unilever CISO joins Group as cybersecurity VP. BT Global’s Rycx targets Simplify programme expansion for MNCs. Board changes at soon-to-be subsumed OnePhone.
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Innovation (R&D)Telefónica Argentina taps IBM for open RAN trial
Proof of concept open RAN network led by IBM as systems integrator. Movistar test network adds to Group trials in Germany and the UK. IBM plants open RAN flag in Spain with new Centre of Excellence.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Telefónica Core Markets: E-Plus review closed
EC ends E-Plus review; German 5G rollout builds; UK taskforce plans for supplier diversity.
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Network & InfrastructureO2 to expand small cell footprint beyond London
Long-running project in capital seen as having progressed to point where template can be expanded to other UK cities. Move sets up contest between O2’s site and tech enablers.
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Content & TVEx-BT chief Patterson tipped for Super League top-spot
Former BT CEO Patterson said to be among those considered for controversial European Super League stewardship. Former employer BT stands against the breakaway league proposals.
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PeopleOpenreach’s Milligan on importance of rural fibre
Openreach executive sees fibre deployment as key to reversing rural to urban migration. Building broadband is not enough: more education is required to ensure higher take-up. Need to ‘join the dots’ to ensure infrastructure and economic programmes are properly implemented.
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Innovation (R&D)BT wants SIM-fitted drones as standard
Head of BT’s Drone Solutions keen on developing out-of-the-box SIM card solution. Telco wants Project Xcelerate to showcase EE network’s suitability for BVLOS flights. Scaling drone-flight volumes in BVLOS environment a pressing challenge. Collaboration with US-based TEOCO in the pipeline to optimise flightpaths.
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Suppliers & SCMRest of BT contact centres to adopt NICE tech
BT deploys solutions from longstanding partner across “additional lines of business” to optimise processes and boost customer retention.
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Network & InfrastructureBT completes EE Digital Platform Services migration
Multiple EE services now based in Kubernetes-powered environment. New system “more flexible and ultimately cheaper”.
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Partnerships & AlliancesBT buys in to Enjoy personal service
“Commerce-at-home” service provider earns four-year contract renewal. BT now an investor in the company as it weighs up a SPAC-delivered listing.
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PremiumSTL picked as Openreach fibre cable partner
STL cables expected to help simplify fibre deployment, while making the most of existing infrastructure. Environmental benefits of vendor solution referenced as focus on green network maintained.
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PremiumBT “disappointed” as government tweaks voucher scheme
Government kicks off first phase of £1.2bn Project Gigabit. £210m for rural voucher scheme, but fewer communities are eligible; £110m for connecting rural doctors’ surgeries, libraries, and schools. DCMS Delivery Plan suggests considerable uncertainty on most effective way to target government spending.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Group: O2-VM gets provisional nod
BT remains neutral as CMA clears Virgin Media–O2 deal.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Consumer: Extreme E rights nabbed
BT Sport takes racing rights and targets Ashes renewal.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Openreach: R100 gets prepped in Highlands & Islands
Openreach readies for Scottish R100 subsea surveys; wholesale price increases take effect.
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Strategy & ChangeSelley “driving two trains” as fibre provisioning speeds up
Increasing Openreach resources are being funnelled towards ensuring customers are connected to full fibre — and revenue keeps coming in — while the rollout builds momentum. No firm date set to reach 20 million homes target, but annual goals to be flagged. As competition builds among fibre altnets, Openreach ...
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InterviewVishal Dixit: MVNOs are vital to Vodafone UK growth
Conversations with potential UK MVNO partners are “in the double digits”. Asda Mobile and Virgin Media deals exemplify OpCo’s new approach to MVNO partnerships. OpCo moving away from a ‘computer says no’ approach to MVNOs.