All articles by Michelle Donegan – Page 9
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Network & InfraSafaricom Ethiopia sources locally made towers for network rollout
Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia hailed a “new era” for the country’s telecom sector as it prepares to install the first homegrown towers that come with same quality but lower price than imported equivalents.
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Products & ServicesVodafone’s TOBi chatbot gets a generative AI makeover from Microsoft
Vodafone reveals early progress with applying GenAI to advance customer experience transformation as part of strategic tie-up with Microsoft.
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Financial & PerformanceVodafone fades as Vi 2.0 resets finances to drive India network comeback
Vodafone passive, lets stake plummet, as Indian JV financially engineering 4G/5G comeback. Work in progress, with $20bn+ debt, and further government lifeline and bank borrowing on horizon. Read more…
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Consumer (B2C)BT delays Digital Voice switchover, revamps all-IP rollout plan
BT needs more time to complete the switch to digital landlines but hopes Digital Voice customer conversions will go hand-in-hand with full-fibre upgrades.
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Financial & PerformanceOpenreach to invade Project Gigabit, snap up altnet misfires
FY23–24: Closing in on infill Project Gigabit contracts, also eyeing altnet misfires. Line loss the new reality despite strong fibre build and take-up momentum. TelcoTitans BTwatch predicts altnets will step up, not roll over. New CEO Kirkby makes clear Openreach not for sale (yet). Read more…
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Financial & PerformanceVodafone CEO: “No remedies needed” for UK merger
FY23–24: Some done and more to come in Group CEO Margherita Della Valle’s reshaping of the European footprint. With approval for Spain sale, M&A focus turns to completing Italy and UK deals — with the latter looking likely to cause headaches despite the CEO’s optimism…
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Financial & PerformanceVodafone Germany to lose half of TV customer base as new tenant laws take effect
Vodafone’s largest and last standalone European market braces for a slump in performance this year while revamping operations in an attempt to revive growth. Tenant bundling law change set to accelerate longer term trend of customer losses at misfiring major OpCo.
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Financial & PerformanceSafaricom dials down Ethiopia spending plan as loss drags Group profits
FY23–24: Safaricom slashes five-year investment target for Ethiopia, commits to tightened spend to weather challenging macro environment, but remains positive on progress and outlook.
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Strategy & ChangeAmerican Tower eyes US expansion of Power as a Service in efficiencies pursuit amidst M&A hiatus
ATC looks to ship high ROI ‘Power as a Service’ learnings to US market, having proven benefits in Africa, and to transfer US automation credentials to other geographies. Hunt for global efficiencies may also lead to monetisation of sub-scale assets, with focus on operational excellence meaning “nothing compelling” to buy, for now…
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Consumer (B2C)EE’s £6m bricks-and-mortar retail investment brings more customers, better connections
EE’s newest Experience store opened in Bristol, with nine more to follow in the next year as part of £6m retail investment.
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Network & InfraVodafone kicks off mega RAN tender for Europe and Africa
Tender puts vendors on tenterhooks as Group starts procurement process for radio networks covering its 170,000-site footprint, while trials complete in Italy with Nokia in tow.
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M&ACellnex wants in on MásOrange integration, Spanish tower consolidation
Chief Executive Marco Patuano considers American Tower and Cellnex as likely consolidators in fragmented Spanish tower infrastructure market, as number of MNO customers shrinks. Read more…
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M&AVodafone insists imperilled Portugal deal ‘not life or death’
Vodafone Portugal’s acquisition of market minnow Nowo looks set to be denied, but OpCo CEO Luís Lopes is unphased and remains confident of prospects regardless.
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Network & InfraOpenreach targets 30m full-fibre premises, nexfibre calls for altnet ramp-up
At Connected North in Manchester, Openreach optimism was juxtaposed by altnet consternation about the state of the UK fibre market.
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PeopleVodafone veteran Colman Deegan appointed CEO of Zayo Europe
Former CEO of Vodafone Spain takes helm at fibre infra player Zayo Europe.
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Financial & Performance‘Revitalised’ Vi completes mega fundraise
Vodafone‑backed Indian operator completes an INR 180bn FPO, commits to “significant” capex boost to enable network upgrade. 4G and 5G services to benefit in bid to present true challenge to Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio. Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla claims a “turning point” in Indian telecoms and introduces a ...
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Partnerships & AlliancesTomorrow Street adds AI and automation smarts to Vodafone’s scaleup accelerator
Newest members of VPC/Technoport Luxembourg hub: Emplay, Squirro, and Workato.
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M&AVodacom Tanzania snaps up rival Smile as Saudi investors cut losses
It’s all Smile(s) as Vodacom completes acquisition of small Tanzanian operator with attractive spectrum holding and 4G network presence. Vodacom Tanzania acquired local rival Smile for TZS 68.8bn (£22m/€25m) just two years after Saudi investors spent $235m+ on a rescue deal. The deal delivers access to Smile’s 800MHz and ...
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Financial & PerformanceVi to get £197m top up from Vodafone partner Aditya Birla
Vi makes inroads into reducing debt pile with proposed cash infusion from Aditya Birla and thumbs up from shareholders for INR 200bn equity offering.
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Public AffairsEnforced M-PESA spinout delayed by Safaricom $575bn tax exposure
Tax complication delaying spinout of transformational and potentially highly valued African mobile-money pioneer; Central Bank Governor keen to make faster progress on resolution, amidst desire to navigate its local dominance. Read more…