All Mike Fries articles
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Strategy & ChangeLiberty exec predicts ‘end of an era’ for altnet funding
Chief Development Officer Andrea Salvato warns altnets of rocky macro period, set to shake up challenger funding.
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Financial & Performance
Q1 FY22: Telefónica facing challenges with a spring in its step
Strong start to FY22 saw cross‑examination on prospect of a quick upgrade on guidance for the year. VM O2 the odd one out as three of Telefónica’s core markets show strengthening operational performance and clear vision for market evolution. Telefónica Tech building momentum, but strategy of buying short‑term growth ...
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Financial & Performance
VodafoneZiggo ‘prioritises customer experience’, reports “solid” Q1
Preliminary Q1 FY22 results show 37,000 mobile contract additions, taking VfZ beyond five million SIMs. Suffers inevitable impact of losing F1 rights in 2021, though damage appears contained. VodafoneZiggo pledges to supply all customers with 1Gbps connection by the end of the year.
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People
Fries outstrips Read on earnings front
Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries took home $62m in FY21, putting him ahead of peers at fellow large telcos including Vodafone’s Nick Read.
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Strategy & Change
Liberty’s Fries hints at VodafoneZiggo talks
CEO Mike Fries said Dutch JV partners are at an “inflection point”. Wholesale opportunity could arise in the UK as VM O2 extends its reach.
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Network & Infrastructure
Liberty Global’s Fries hints at UK fibre consolidation
CEO outlines plan to create a separate ‘light NatCo’ for new fibre JV. Liberty Global and Vodafone at inflection point over VodafoneZiggo. Despite fibre plans, Fries says HFC technology will be around for a long time yet.
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Network & Infrastructure
VM O2 seeks partners for £1bn fibre rollout
Telefónica and Liberty Global said to be contacting investors soon. Move would underpin aim to turn JV into “national fixed–mobile champion” to rival BT. Reports say VM O2 wants to bring fibre to seven million extra homes.
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Profile
CEO Lutz Schüler relishes challenger role at VM O2
After Virgin Media O2’s first 100 days, Schüler is raring to go head‑to‑head with BT on full fibre, wholesale, and B2B. Reportedly in talks with Sky on fibre investment. Determined merger integration won’t slow VM O2 down. Big believer in “data and digital” for delivering what customers want; hints ...
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M&A
Liberty CEO: call me, Nick, if you want to sell VodafoneZiggo
Mike Fries says Liberty “open-minded” on possibility of transaction with co‑parent Vodafone. Management of Dutch JV conducting “strategic review” around issues including infrastructure and content ownership.
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M&A
Vodafone Group’s Dutch and British tower partners look to cash in
Liberty CFO says group “not in love with” tower ownership and keen to unlock value in Belgium, Netherlands, and UK. Telefónica hands Goldman Sachs reins to examine prospective Cornerstone share sale.
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Network & Infrastructure
Liberty sees UK–Dutch tower separation “sooner than later”
CFO says group “not in love with” tower ownership and keen to unlock value. Virgin Media O2 and VodafoneZiggo assets in focus.
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Financial & Performance
H1 FY21: Telefonica seeks rationality at its core
Core markets showing progress as the worst effects of the pandemic begin to recede. Steady move towards converged services across all markets reflects continued pursuit of a valuefocused strategy as digital services begin to proliferate. Spanish flagship leading the way on strategy, but still experiencing a tough competitive market. ...
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People
Sievert ranked highest paid US telco CEO
T‑Mobile US CEO overtakes previous US telecoms front‑runner Mike Fries. Sprint takeover turbo charges DT executive compensation in FY20.
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People
Groves comes up inside track to lead VM O2 marketing
Former Tesco Mobile CMO to lead on VM O2 brand and marketing as two prime candidates depart. Veteran Groves set to push for a more holistic approach to customer experience across the merged business.
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Network & Infrastructure
VM O2 bites bullet and pledges fibre future
A future upgrade of VM O2 fixed infrastructure will see coaxial cable edged out and fibre deployed throughout the operator’s footprint. Switching to XGSPON instead of DOCSIS 4.0 pricy, but manageable within modest budgets and with multiple longer term benefits. Pragmatic approach to fibre is partly driven by the ...
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Vodafone Group: Group shells out €20m in fines
Dutch copycat in Ireland ‘ not on cards ’; sustainability front and centre with green network boost; Group shells out €20m in privacy fines .
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M&A
Vantage may be set for new Cornerstone allies
Indications that O2 UK’s Cornerstone stake seen as non‑strategic by prospective new co‑parent Liberty Global, and could be jettisoned in name of post‑merger “ national champion ” plan. Sale would raise cash for higher strategic ambition of fibre expansion. Liberty’s Fries shows willingness to get hands‑on in ...
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Strategy & Change
Cornerstone exit could be early item on VM-O2 agenda
Indications made that prospective JV’s Cornerstone stake seen as non-strategic, and could be jettisoned in name of “national champion” Grand Plan. Sale would raise cash for higher strategic ambition of fibre expansion. Liberty “gearing up” for talks with partners to team up on Gigabit rollout. Fries showing willingness to ...
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Network & Infrastructure
Liberty: VodafoneZiggo tower sale is ‘work-in-progress’
CEO Mike Fries sees Dutch joint venture’s assets as undervalued. Partner appears aligned with Vodafone’s eagerness to extract cash from site networks across Europe. Broader discussions over VodafoneZiggo collaboration may be tied in with tower question.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Virgin Media’s foray into 5G signals end of BT era
All Virgin Media subscribers expected to leave BT network by early‑2022. BT highlights “healthy pipeline” of new MVNO business opportunities.
