All Middle East articles
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Weekly Briefings
Orangewatch Briefing: execs bang M&A drum; high hopes on IPCEI and AI
In this issue, we report on presentations by Orange’s leadership at the AGM, with Group CEO Christel Heydemann and new Orange France CEO Jérôme Hénique taking the floor.
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Strategy & Change
Hénique signs off from Orange MEA on a high note
France-bound Jérôme Hénique discusses the challenges of managing Orange’s sprawling Middle East & Africa business, and asserts the importance of a division that has contributed significantly to Orange’s results in recent times, delivering double‑digit revenue growth for eight consecutive quarters.
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Weekly Briefings
EMEA Infrawatch Briefing: tower sell-offs, DC deployments, orbital experiments
Cellnex CEO Marco Patuano says the TowerCo is one step closer to selling its Swiss business and French data centre assets. Meanwhile, IHS Towers forks off Rwandan unit to newly formed tower player. In the space sector, several players look to get D2D services off the ground, while others tinker with new space comms solutions.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Saudi satco Arabsat takes next LEO steps with Telesat deal
MEA-focused satellite operator to integrate LEO services using Telesat’s Lightspeed constellation, as part of multi-orbit strategy aimed at improving services, efficient.
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M&A
TAWAL is possible suitor for DT’s latest tower spin-outs
Acquisitive Saudi tower group TAWAL is still keen on M&A in central and eastern Europe and has Deutsche Telekom’s newly carved out masts in its sights.
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Weekly Briefings
EMEA Infrawatch Briefing: resilience under the microscope; TowerCos face up to ‘land banks’
Power outage in parts of Europe and the aftermath of USA’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs give digital infra players food for thought on data sovereignty and resilience. Meanwhile, TowerCos come face-to-face with land aggregation firms after expressing concerns that the latter could stockpile land assets.
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Network & Infrastructure
Lease aggregators defend role in telecoms infra as TowerCos call for regulation
As land access continues to be contentious for telecoms infrastructure, lease aggregators seek distance from bad actors that engage in speculative buying and opportunistic pricing.
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Financial & Performance
Tariff turbulence: Orange’s Heydemann scents opportunity in uncertainty
Operator’s CEO says turbulent geopolitical scene is raising B2B client concern over data sovereignty and security, although thinks it is too early to say whether these fears will crystallise into higher investment.
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Weekly Briefings
Orangewatch Weekly: shining a light on network evolution
This issue explores technology advances in telecoms, from cloud native through to generative AI and even all-photonic networks.
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Financial & Performance
What has the past week revealed about telecoms tariff exposure?
Analysis: Following the past week of international markets grappling with the USA’s now-paused ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, TelcoTitans mined the global data for impact on top telcos, vendors and digital infra players…
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Weekly Briefings
EMEA Infrawatch Briefing: data centre strategy roadmaps; InfraCos seek to cut overlap
Latest on EMEA Infra: several digital infra and telecoms players adjust data centre strategies, aiming to capitalise on rising demand for AI and cloud services; FibreCos forge fresh access deals with goal of reducing overbuild; wireless infra players still up for sharing; more…
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Strategy & Change
GCX revives FLAG brand in digital infra-focused strategic rethink
International data centre and submarine cable operator revives FLAG marque to house infrastructure assets, with plans to invest further in cables across “more geographies” and create new “customer-tailored” propositions…
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People
Orange names new B2B boss for France following Fleutiaux exit
Wassila Zitoune-Dumontet has been promoted from her former role as Chief Operating Officer.
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Weekly Briefings
EMEA Infrawatch Briefing: TowerCos continue M&A pare-back; telcos plot data centre expansion
TowerCos across Africa and Europe still exercising restraint around M&A, with focus placed on increasing tenancies and driving organic-build out instead. Meanwhile, Orange and Vodafone Spain said to look at expanding data centre estate, while opening up IT capacity to third-parties…
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Financial & Performance
Africa’s Helios Towers still prioritising tenancy over build; seeks to maintain FY24 ‘momentum’
One year into Africa-focused TowerCo’s ‘lease-up’ strategy pivot: CEO Tom Greenwood says group is confident in reaching colo and cash targets, with further tenancies on existing towers within grasp. M&A remains no-go…
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Network & Infrastructure
Orange preps major data centre expansion project
Group looks to scale its existing asset base while opening up its infrastructure for third-party usage, with former TOTEM CEO Nicolas Roy becoming architect of new data centre strategy.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Orange, Eutelsat widen satellite services partnership
European pair to combine for Middle East and African satellite services, filling rural gaps and bolstering terrestrial infra.
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People
stc’s CEO joins Telefónica board as new shareholders reset pecking order
Long-anticipated boardroom rejig sees stc boss Olayan Alwetaid confirmed as telco’s representative in Spain, following recent stake increase — but Spanish government expand its influence over decision-making in parallel.
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M&A
Saudi tower consolidation rolls on as state fund completes TAWAL buy
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF completes combination of existing tower assets with those of TAWAL, creating new player with 30,000-mast portfolio. Move marks another step towards achieving objectives of country’s Vision 2030 strategy…
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone scales IoT ambitions with Saudi Arabia’s Mobily
Vodafone Business IoT continues effort to drive international growth with Middle Eastern deal, tapping e& links. Move drives unit towards goal of reaching new markets with IoT as it closes in on 200 million devices connected…