Michelle Donegan
Michelle Donegan is an experienced telecoms writer and has been contributing as a reporter and news analyst for TelcoTitans since July 2020.
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Content & TVCloud-based Vodafone TV platform rolls into Germany
Platform launch is one of multiple moves in German TV revamp. Start of migration appears to be happening several months behind schedule. Rollout solidifies Group strategy for TV technology platform.
- M&A
Telefónica sells infra biz to American Tower
Telxius finds a home at US infrastructure giant. Transaction expected to wipe €4.6bn off Telefónica net debt.
- Innovation (R&D)
BT explores edge to “level up” latency for UK gamers
As BT’s edge strategy evolves, gaming emerges as potential use-case. BT’s Neil McRae shares latest thinking about edge business cases. Consumer edge applications more advanced than enterprise services.
- Products & Services
DT’s tooz JV surfaces with smart-glasses dev kit
Tools available in China first, Europe and other markets later this year. Product development progress for smart-glasses startup after three years.
- Interview
Avidan puts strategy in motion at Deutsche Telekom IoT
Avidan brings entrepreneurial mindset to DT IoT as he seeks to transform the business and meet growth ambitions. Major strategic initiative, IoT Hub, planned for commercial launch in early-2021. Hints are made at “inorganic activities” in future, but current initiatives driven by organic efforts and strategic partnerships.
- Interview
Deutsche Telekom backs GSMA scheme to sort network security headaches
DT CSO Thomas Tschersich is a leading proponent of GSMA and 3GPP scheme. NESAS aims for more secure mobile networks and efficient security testing. Geopolitical climate heightens awareness about the security assurance scheme, and DT exec insists it could be an apolitical solution to concerns.
- Suppliers & SCM
Deutsche Telekom plans early‑2021 IoT Hub launch
Open IoT Hub platform architecture is ready for lift-off in Q1 2021. Launch marks new phase in DT IoT growth strategy. DT IoT wants to work with more ecosystem partners in IoT Hub.
- Strategy & Change
BT builds up Data & AI Solutions biz
Data & AI Solutions business searches for revenue gold in BT Group’s data hills. BT researchers tap data for better customer experience, while Openreach data scientists reduce cost of fibre rollout.
- Strategy & Change
T‑Systems exits Malaysia
T‑Systems sold its business in Malaysia to investors last month after major customer Shell moved IT operations to India, TelcoTitans has learned.
- Public Affairs
Vodafone takes political heat over customer complaints
Ministers scold eir and Vodafone Ireland for poor customer service during pandemic. Following meetings, outage disrupts VfIr data services.
- Interview
Interview: Telekom Security CEO Thomas Fetten charts growth course
Thomas Fetten gets to work on focusing T-Sec portfolio and charting course for growth, while looking for M&A, JVs, and partnership opportunities. Key growth areas include industrial control, cloud, and consulting. Regional focus is Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for now; geographic expansion planned for next phase.
- Partnerships & Alliances
T-Systems’ and OVHcloud’s first GAIA-X offering takes shape
GAIA-X project gathers pace, as T‑Systems and OVHcloud share details of first commercial services to be launched early next year. Deutsche Telekom remains strong supporter of GAIA-X. Largest cloud providers pledge support for project’s principles, but there are signs of regulatory headwinds ahead.
- Products & Services
T-Systems re-morphs movement data analytics biz
Deutsche Telekom shuttered subsidiary Motionlogic in May, and has now added Motion Data products and services to IoT portfolio.
- Products & Services
Telefónica’s alarms JV turns up sales volume
Telefónica’s home security JV in Spain shows signs of customer growth after initial launch was hindered by pandemic.
- Strategy & Change
CFO Werner in box seat on Telekom’s data strategy revamp
Telekom Deutschland’s money man overseeing data-driven modernisation programme, including effort to meld siloes through over-riding data lake. Data strategy seen as key to growth, efficiency, and customer experience goals.
- Products & Services
TPG woos eco-conscious consumers with felix sub-brand
Carbon-neutral sub-brand signals fresh start for newly merged TPG Telecom. TPG steps up customer acquisition push with green and unlimited data offers and gets busy on convergence. Australian sub-brand follows Vodafone playbook.
- Suppliers & SCM
Deutsche Telekom to harness machine learning-based buying
DT’s finance and human resources shared services unit builds process mining expertise with Celonis. By 2025, DTSE aims to have machine learning-based recommendations for “Procure-to-Pay” process.
- Financial & Performance
BT Global braces for more COVID‑19 headwinds
Precipitous revenue declines continue for Global as pandemic makes its presence felt, but mitigation measures and ongoing transformation ease the pain on profit levels. Growing underlying strength of division offers hope beyond an anticipated tough second half.
- Consumer (B2C)
Legacy IT hinders BT Consumer brand meld
Siloed IT for BT, EE, and Plusnet creates cross-selling challenge. Vendor selection process for IT overhaul has been going on four years and is not yet complete.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Deutsche Telekom demos flying base stations in stratosphere
DT reveals strategic investment in UK startup developing hydrogen-powered, remote-controlled aircraft to deliver broadband connectivity. Operator takes on Alphabet, SoftBank, and SpaceX with rival system in the stratosphere.
