All Mike Fries articles – Page 2
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Financial & PerformanceVirgin Media O2 scopes out investment partners for 2025 NetCo launch
Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries says it is looking to finalise financing details this year to bring VM O2’s NetCo online. NetCo progress and fibre build-out puts a cheery note on VM O2’s further weakened performance in Q2, which prompted tweak to financial forecast…
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone hands VM O2 a spectrum bonus to win merger support
Following more than a year of talks, Vodafone wins Virgin Media O2 round to its proposed Three merger with an extended network sharing agreement and approval-dependent spectrum transaction. Questions remain about MBNL future, BT response, and CMA viewpoint…
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Weekly BriefingsTelefónicawatch Weekly: infra strategies boosted in Germany and UK
O2 Germany seeks to reduce site visits for technicians with fresh network analysis tools, while Liberty Global, the Group’s partner on Virgin Media O2 joint venture, analyses M&A possibilities in fixed segment. Read more…
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M&ALiberty mulls M&A opportunities for Virgin Media O2’s NetCo
Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries still “looking actively” at possible altnet acquisitions, noting potential for VM O2’s planned FibreCo spin-off to serve as a vehicle for consolidation in the UK’s fibre market.
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Strategy & ChangeBT CEO prioritises scale as asset monetisation talks re-emerge
As BT considers options for BT Global, where scale was never achieved, CEO Allison Kirkby will use the same measure in discussions about potential portfolio changes elsewhere.
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PeopleVodafoneZiggo appoints Sky’s van Rooyen as new CEO
Stephen van Rooyen named CEO at Vodafone−Liberty joint venture, set to join in September.
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Financial & PerformanceVodafone CFO open to another Vantage Towers sell-down
Luka Mucic uses Group’s FY23−24 earnings call to tease further Vantage Towers sell-down, pitching TowerCo disposal as evidence of value-creating potential for new Vodafone Investments division. Exposure has been reduced in India, while VodafoneZiggo will stay in the family…
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Financial & PerformanceInfra investors line up for stake in Virgin Media O2’s new NetCo
Q1 FY24: Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries says Boston Consultancy Group and Deloitte hired for financial and project planning, as investors appear interested in fibre spin-out plans. Despite confidence in fibre growth opportunity, VM O2’s fixed customer base declined in an overall uneasy quarter for the operator…
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M&AVodafone ‘not well managed’ suggests disgruntled Xavier Niel
Vodafone minority shareholder Xavier Niel has cast doubt on Vodafone management’s strategic vision in a Sunday Times profile that followed the sale to Swisscom of the Vodafone Italy business he has long coveted.
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Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: Oz modernisation mix step, Indian rejuvenation?
Latest from Vodafone, including TPG transformation stunted by failed asset offloads; Vi’s funding update raises more questions than answers; and a €1bn Berlin fibre build. More from across the Group’s footprint, from Cape Town to Canberra, Berlin to London…
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Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: net-sharing, consolidation and deal-making in UK and Europe
Latest from the UK and Europe’s digital infra scene, including interviews and OpEds from Fibrus and nexfibre; big talk from Liberty’s CEO; and DigitalBridge’s Marc Ganzi teasing M&A to come. Plus much more from altnets, European infra players, and investors…
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Network & InfrastructureLiberty eyes network-sharing deals in a “couple of markets”
MWC: Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries says network-sharing holds potential as part of broader need for telcos to up their partnering game and “return to profitable growth”.
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Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: M&A, network milestones, and what next for VodafoneZiggo?
Latest in Vodafone: Liberty goes Dutch to prompt Vodafone review; a problem, a solution, and a proposal for M&A in UK, Portugal, and Italy respectively; Turkish DCs set for big investment through new JV; and much more across Europe, Africa, India…
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Strategy & ChangeLiberty builds Benelux HoldCo in pursuit of VodafoneZiggo−Telenet synergies
Liberty Global continues to dance around an unblinking Vodafone, which is said to be considering strategic implications of new Benelux holding company established to optimise stakes (adding potential tax efficiencies, management synergies and financial freedoms)… move also features fixed-mobile convergence, opportunistic infra monetisation, regional and other investor bait…
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Weekly BriefingsDeutsche Telekomwatch Weekly: T-Mo seeks ways to keep Big Mo
Deutsche Telekomwatch Weekly Briefing: T-Mobile US kicks off FY23 reporting from around the Deutsche Telekom world, and shrugs off handset sales slowdown to post further big growth in earnings and cash flow. And much more…
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Weekly BriefingsTelefónicawatch Weekly: Group spending spree goes on shares, spectrum, and sports…
Telefónicawatch Weekly Briefing includes: laying out nearly €3bn on O2 Germany stake increase and Spain sports streaming rights. Chile’s upcoming 5G auction set to see more cash splashed.
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Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: NetCo-ServCo splits, fresh SatCo investment, tower M&A among hot topics
Liberty Global mulls over European NetCo-ServCo split; AST SpaceMobile secures big MNO/Google investment; Actis expands tower portfolio; CityFibre could now be preeminent UK fibre challenger in possible tipping point for fibre NetCo/wholesale business models. 20+ stories condensed in one weekly update…
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Strategy & ChangeLiberty eyes infra ‘gold’ through NetCo-ServCo split
February strategy update could see group pave way towards separation of European businesses along lines of infra and retail, says CEO Mike Fries. Liberty envisaging a “series of transactions, structures, and strategies” for next phase of business, following recent years’ portfolio strengthening.
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Public AffairsTelefónica’s Álvarez-Pallete takes soapbox to Davos, repeats call for EU refresh
Telefónica’s CEO says deregulation and investment “agenda” needed to drive innovation and increase EU telcos’ competitiveness. Comments come hot on the heels of similar messaging from other industry execs. Entrance of SEPI and stc as Group shareholders not a distraction from new three-year strategy…
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Network & InfrastructureDella Valle defends cable’s customer potential against FTTP’s economics advantage
Vodafone chief downplays lower costs linked to FTTP, stressing that HFC-based networks can meet customer needs and support positive customer experience.