Latest – Page 218
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M&ABT Italia offloads SAP services subsidiary
BT Global continues ‘global not national’ streamlining programme with the sale of Italian IT outsourcing outfit ERPTech. €4m+ deal leaves Italia lightweight but focused.
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Venturing & InvestmentsTelefónica partner Asterion fills infra fund number two
Investment manager with close links to Telefónica completes set up of a new €1.8bn pot. Five European markets in sights for energy and telecoms opportunities. Madrid-based business has various ex-Telefónica staffers on team and a history of deal-making with Group.
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Products & ServicesMovistar to ‘reinforce’ Fusión bundles in defensive play
Spanish operator mulls adding adjacent services such as health and alarms to bundles. High-profile Fusión brand could be dropped.
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Venturing & InvestmentsBT opens venturing wallet for on-demand talent pool startup
Startup acceleration ambition kickstarted with minority stake in Distributed. New acquisition to provide BT access to on-demand software engineering teams to support development projects, with connected healthcare solutions first up. BT’s Harmeen Mehta hopes such partnerships will alleviate skills shortage pressures and drive her digitalisation agenda.
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Public AffairsSwiss court orders DT to seize $12.7m in assets
Ruling says funds due to Airport Authority of India. Convoluted case sees Deutsche Telekom caught in the crossfire as a result of minority stake in Devas Multimedia. Long-running legal disputes date back 17 years.
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Public AffairsViasat’s Inmarsat takeover hits political debris
US satellite operator’s planned acquisition of UK rival (and Deutsche Telekom partner) prompts national security concerns as critical infrastructure given state protection. New foreign takeover law affords Whitehall power to intervene, which looks increasingly likely.
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Content & TVTelefónica ally Atresmedia enters Movistar Plus+ fray
Spanish media group reportedly interested in buying part of Movistar Plus+. Move pits Atresmedia against Vivendi, which is also seeking to build up Spanish media assets. Telefónica taking advice as pressure mounts on pay-TV business in Spain.
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Public AffairsEU operator heavyweights want media players to pay their way
Top brass at Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone get shirty (again) over network investment “burden”. Sign off on open letter accusing video streaming, gaming, and social media groups of ‘piggybacking’ unfairly. Urgently call on European legislators to introduce rules for a “more proportionate” way of divvying up ...
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Public AffairsVodafoneZiggo suspends employee over transgressive behaviour
Dutch JV “shocked” by revelations. Investigation launched amid multiple reports of unacceptable behaviour.
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Network & InfrastructureDT lays siege to Vodafone Germany’s cable MOB redoubt
Vodafone just can’t catch a break, with even German stronghold tormented by reinvigorated DT in aggressive housing association fibre overbuild play. Double whammy as new laws tear open cushy supply agreements. Vodafone banks on client ennui to minimise imminent damage. DT dismissive, even derisive, of Vodafone’s defence.
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Suppliers & SCMAssurant tools up for T-Mobile in store repair deal
Assurant recruits 2,000 technicians and managers to lead same-day repairs service at T-Mobile stores. Contract comes with substantial investment requirements, but upsides anticipated in the coming year. Sprint migration also completed.
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Network & InfrastructureTelcos turn to youth to help UK fibre buildout
Industry steps up efforts to attract more people in tight labour market and keep fibre rolling. “Unprecedented” demand gives candidates the upper hand. Signs of progress on gender diversity and hiring more women in traditionally male-dominated roles. BT, Openreach, and Virgin Media O2 tout apprenticeship plans.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVivo gets ball rolling on Ânima learning JV
Brazilian operator’s Board clears path to creation of new company focused on digital courses. Vivo confirms 50:50 split with partner Ânima Educação. Some bureaucratic hurdles still to overcome.
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Suppliers & SCMBT hives off logistics to ‘simplify’ supply chain
Expanded partnership with GXO Logistics sees warehousing and transport requirements handed over, along with 300 BT employees. Procurement chief Cyril Pourrat deems it a milestone in Group simplification programme. Unions typically concerned.
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Partnerships & AlliancesTelefónica deepens Oracle on-prem cloud ties in Spain
Operator unveiled as host partner for Oracle Cloud Madrid Region. Highlights (again) importance of using in-country data centres to ensure compliance with national data sovereignty regs and help business continuity. Telefónica Tech to offer Oracle Cloud Infrastructure services and boost PaaS offering.
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PremiumBT people moves: BT Federal fills out
Mike Barthlow appointed CEO at BT’s US public sector division, with senior reports changed in parallel. BT’s healthcare focus tightened with a new HealthTech Incubator under Harmeen Mehta’s Digital domain and strategic health programme lead named at Enterprise. Openreach Service Delivery changes as Olly Kunc ships out.
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Public AffairsAlierta era scandal still haunting Telefónica
Telefónica pays €6m into court to cover potential civil liabilities linked to trial of disgraced former advisor Rodrigo Rato. Newspaper speculation portrays Rato’s co-defendant, former Telefónica counsel Sánchez de Lerín, as “the man with the briefcase of secrets” linked to the telco. Rato litigation an ongoing hangover from earlier ...
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OperationsNewgate St: BT has left the building
Facilities management partner completes “decommissioning” of the Group’s former HQ, ending long historical association with St. Pauls location.
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M&ATelefónica mulls Movistar Plus+ options as Vivendi circles
Vivendi reportedly interested in buying part of Movistar Plus+. French media group seeking approval to increase Prisa stake to 29.9%. Telefónica seeking advice as pay-TV customers drain away in Spain.
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Suppliers & SCMChipset shortages delay Openreach provisioning
Ongoing chipset shortages lead to Ethernet product delays at Openreach, adding to problems flagged last year. Semiconductor supply and demand imbalance set to last at least another twelve months. Supply chain problems a recurring theme at BT, too.