Latest Virgin Media O2 Insight
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Strategy & Change
VM O2 slams brakes on NetCo fundraise amidst Telefónica strategy hiatus (nexfibre curtailed, too)
Plans to sell stake in NetCo spinout paused, as co-parent Liberty looks to “align” with partner Telefónica’s new management. nexfibre build also dramatically slowed to maintain “capital discipline” in UK’s “increasingly irrational” fibre market. Meanwhile, Netomnia raises new funds, ups target by another two millions homes…
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Eventwatch
Digital Voice: BT dials up VM O2, gov to help reboot ‘beyond painful’ migration
With POTS shutdown a strategic financial imperative, BT belatedly embraces collaboration to reach remaining two million (many vulnerable) analogue subscribers, as the already delayed digital landline switchover deadline looms…
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Weekly Briefings
Telefónicawatch Briefing: Europe’s need for a fix
Telefónica and European telco rivals position themselves for an anticipated wave of spend on network and IT strengthening in Europe, in response to political flux. Read more…
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M&A
CityFibre’s Holden: altnets and backers must pull together for investment‑grade nirvana
In-depth from Eight Advisory’s London event: as UK fibre altnets face financing challenges, optimistic CityFibre COO reveals vision for consolidation, suggesting sector is “a very small number of M&A transactions away” from creating a sufficiently scaled platform to rival BT/Openreach and VM O2. Additional Greg Mesch and Rob Hamlin coverage from FTTH Conference in Amsterdam…
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Products & Services
giffgaff embraces ‘natural evolution’ as it prepares for broadband launch
VM O2 sub-brand giffgaff starts limited trials for broadband service using nexfibre infra.
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Network & Infrastructure
INCA hails altnet heroes as spectre of overbuild looms
In a punchy, positive report altnet industry group INCA hails “dynamic” altnets on a mission to bring “fairer, faster, and more resilient” connectivity to the UK, but competitive benefits may not be sustainable, and the spectre of ‘supervillain’ Openreach still looms large.
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Strategy & Change
Vodafone–Three MergeCo looking to TV for convergence boost — report
Soon-to-be-combined operators said to be exploring TV subscription options as part of plan to poach customers, ramp up convergence.
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Financial & Performance
Spain and Brazil cement place in Telefónica core
Collectively, Telefónica’s core quad deliver on key Group ambitions in FY24, particularly around operating and capital efficiency.
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M&A
VodafoneZiggo open to M&A as it edges into Dutch fibre space
Mike Fries, CEO of parent Liberty, indicates M&A may have a role to play as VodafoneZiggo strengthens its broadband infra platform.
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Network & Infrastructure
Game of two halves: Ofcom preps for next five years’ fibre investment
Ofcom declares its fibre strategy to date a success, but reiterates it was implemented with a long‑term outlook running at least over the course of the next review period.
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M&A
2025: the year UK FibreCo cash becomes king?
This year may see further billions injected into altnets to pump-prime M&A consolidation, while 2026 could start to see what the end-state looks like (third scale player or continued swarm).
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People
Telefónica Peoplewatch: Indra incursion continues as Murtra makes mark
Latest strategic and senior changes at Telefónica, including reshuffles of both the Board of Directors and Executive Team as follow-ons from Telefónica’s recent ownership changes; Aduna takes shape; exec changes at infra ventures Fiberpass and nexfibre; and overseas changes at BT Business doubles down on the UK…
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Network & Infrastructure
Community Fibre: don’t fear the overbuild
London altnet CEO Graeme Oxby asserts the presence of fibre competition is a spur for greater adoption, as Community Fibre sees accelerating progress on uptake across its 1.3 million premises footprint.
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Network & Infrastructure
VM O2 takes aim at mobile network ‘pain points’ with £700m spend plan
UK operator expects to spend £700m this year to alleviate network “pain points” for customers and improve mobile service experience.
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Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: AI, APIs, and the coming 5G wave
Latest from BT as the operator talks up advancements in AI adoption, secures an API collab, and readies for an incoming wave of 5G use-cases; MWC used to talk up the same; Global Fabric goes live; more…
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Partnerships & Alliances
UK mobile operators reach accord on telco API launch
MWC 2025: Deal finally reached between Virgin Media O2, BT, Vodafone UK, and Three UK to debut telco APIs, following in wake of other European economies. Read more…
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Strategy & Change
UK FibreCo Netomnia mobile bolt-on to drive take-up
Top-three fibre challenger targeting inertial BT/EE customer base with segment-first addition of mobile bolt-on. Maverick CEO Jeremy Chelot seeking to break through customer acquisition ceiling, drive up ARPU and retention, chase down Openreach…
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Weekly Briefings
UK Infrawatch Weekly: CityFibre turns positive, HS2 gets connected, GoFibre Gigabit win
Project Gigabit, a Sky alliance, and the XGS-PON upgrade were all flagged as positive signs of CityFibre progress as it presented its latest annual results.
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M&A
Liberty seeks strategic partner to fuel B2B services expansion plan
Execs lay out strategy to build out, and eventually monetise, outsourced services businesses Liberty Blume and Liberty Tech.
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Financial & Performance
Fixed-up VM O2 looks to bounce back in 2025
UK operator forecasts a return to growth in the current year after spending much of 2024 strengthening its foundations.