All Liberty Global articles – Page 10
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M&A
DT half-way out of Romania (maybe)
Agreement “in principle” reportedly struck between Orange and Romania’s government to take over Telekom Romania’s fixed-line business. Mobile arm still up for sale, as DT struggles to find full escape velocity from underperforming market.
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People
Schüler plays down top-job rivalry at Virgin–O2
Virgin Media’s Schüler keeps his cool on competing with Telefónica’s Mark Evans for CEO role.
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Premium
Q2 FY20 first take: Telefónica distracts as reality bites
Another social pact unveiled as COVID-19 and currency falls combine to wipe €1.5bn off reported revenue, and shred profitability. Cash generation a priority as strict — and seemingly permanent — spending and investment restrictions are put in place. Telefónica Infra ambition emerging as plans for new wholesale fibre networks ...
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Profile
Profile: John Malone, Cable Cowboy
Eccentric billionaire Malone will push Vodafone hard for expansion, probably through acquisition, but any conflict at VodafoneZiggo seems to be reasonably contained so far.
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M&A
EU: Vestager nod set to prompt regional consolidation race
Vestager distracts from four-to-three merger demands by highlighting potential for creation of pan-European big beasts. But is this feasible in any imminent iteration of Europe, beyond cross-border infrastructure ventures envisaged by Orange?
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M&A
Fries on VM-O2 merger: don’t mention the tax breaks
Liberty Global anticipates substantial opportunities for savings by injecting Virgin Media tax losses into O2, but Fries wary that such behaviour may not chime with goal of creating new UK “national champion”.
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M&A
VodafoneZiggo-Telenet merger has ‘logic’, says Liberty
Vodafone’s co-parent in Netherlands JV notes potential synergy benefits of a Belgian-Dutch cableco combination, but indicates deal would be more complex than it first appears.
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Premium
BT to face bona fide converged challenge from VM–O2
Liberty Global and Telefónica Group creating a UK “connectivity champion” that will leapfrog Sky to become a close second competitor to BT Group. BT confident in its lead in the convergence race, and upbeat on consolidation opportunities, but Spanish fibre know-how and comparable digital portfolio could present new threat. ...
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People
Swantee lands at Warburg Pincus
Former EE and Sunrise CEO Swantee picked up by Warburg Pincus, conveniently timed as Swiss cable operator UPC looks for buyer. Exec joins a slew of ex-telco CxOs with private equity advisory roles.
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M&A
O2 and VM: cash in the attic and a new shop front
While building a strong UK competitor is the headline motivation behind the plan to merge O2 UK and Virgin Media, for Telefónica the deal is a shining opportunity to get its Group finances in order. Structure of the JV suggests a key opening for Telefónica to bring its strong ...
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Network & Infrastructure
Virgin Media pressuring BT on mobile backhaul
Key BT wholesale rival is on the front foot as mobile operators shop around for 5G backhaul.
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Premium
Vodafone Alumni people movements, April 2020
Ex-Vodafone names moves into government, games, and rivals, including ex-CEO Colao to Italian government COVID-19 task-force.
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Premium
Deutsche Telekom starts legal action over Vodafone’s Unitymedia deal
DT and cablecos Netcologne and Tele Columbus file ‘actions for annulment’. Dominance of TV services for the housing market remains a thorn in DT’s side.
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Public Affairs
Vodafone drops Unitymedia brand as legal action looms
German OpCo appears sanguine over legal challenge to Unitymedia merger approval. Hannes Ametsreiter hails new era with “one network, one brand, one tariff”.
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Strategy & Change
Openreach rivals in expansive mood
Liberty Global reignites M&A talk around Virgin Media. CityFibre CEO in bullish mood after being freed from Vodafone shackles. Sky reportedly keen on full-fibre infrastructure investment.
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Strategy & Change
Telefónica hits ground running with restructuring plans
Hispanoamérica expected to be put on a par with Partners Program operators as Group prepares for sale and encourages local independence. Latin American billionaires float a majority stake acquisition of local assets, with Telefónica a minority shareholder, but individual OB sales still a prospect. Morgan Stanley working on Telefónica ...
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Premium
Swisscom defects to FreeMove, leaves Vodafone’s Partner Markets
Vodafone’s once-powerful Partner Markets organisation lost another member in the form of Swiss incumbent Swisscom.
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Premium
BT takes a hit as Virgin Mobile swaps EE for Vodafone
Virgin Media to end MVNO agreement with BT Enterprise, as Vodafone UK swoops. Liberty Global CEO ominously described current £200m-a-year deal with BT as “big number”, but BT unwilling to accommodate new demands to maintain contract.
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Premium
Vodafone preps “delicate” Unitymedia TV switchover
Big but “delicate” migration project in pipeline. Vodafone TV spread continues as Group seeks to iron out tech ecosystem. Liberty’s Horizon platform out of contention as Group TV enabler.
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Premium
Hungary latest to receive Vodafone TV service
Vodafone Hungary set to become the latest in a string of European OpCos to launch OTT TV service.