All Mike Fries articles – Page 3
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PremiumVodafone 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 & InfrastructureLiberty 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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PremiumH1 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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PeopleSievert 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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PeopleGroves 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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PremiumVM 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 & ChangeElsewhere 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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PremiumVantage 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 refashioning VM–O2 post-merger. The ...
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Strategy & ChangeCornerstone 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 & InfrastructureLiberty: 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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PremiumVirgin 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.
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Network & InfrastructureVirgin Media preps Lightning for post-JV world
Liberty Global confident of JV clearance, and anticipates Telefónica talks on ambitious and aggressive fixed-line rollout. Liberty’s Sky relationship appears key, with prospects for collaboration heightened by a friendly face at the helm. Meanwhile, Virgin Media appears to be finally embracing PIA from Openreach for cheaper fibre rollout.
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M&ALiberty CEO puts two-year timeframe on VodafoneZiggo IPO
Fries cautiously tells analysts to watch out for some “activity” at its Dutch JV in the next 24 months. VodafoneZiggo burnishes its IPO credentials with target-busting financials for FY20.
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Strategy & ChangeLiberty likes idea of VodafoneZiggo listing
Vodafone partner’s CFO argues that an IPO would command “premium valuation” in comparison with incumbent KPN. Bracken casts Vodafone as “wonderful partner”, and that the JV has done a “great job” in cutting costs and increasing revenue. Talks enthusiastically about VodafoneZiggo as “national FMC champion”. ...
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone in “no rush” to deploy XGS-PON
Cornaglia says GPON fibre architecture is “probably sufficient” to meet bandwidth needs until 2025. Executive sees some promise in TWDM-PON technologies in longer term, but high costs and system instability causes for concern.
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M&AVestager: Brexit complicates O2-VM competitions ruling
European Competition Commissioner signals openness to allowing CMA to oversee the review of O2’s proposed merger with Virgin Media History, and the appeal of the EC being able to reassert its views on market consolidation, may still point to Europe asserting its prerogative however. O2 and Virgin Media see ...
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M&AFries and Álvarez-Pallete: two minds on UK JV
While Telefónica and Liberty said to be on same page on O2–Virgin Media integration, respective chiefs hinted at varying concerns and strategic priorities linked to the progress of the JV.
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PeopleSchüler plays down top-job rivalry at Virgin–O2
Virgin Media’s Schüler keeps his cool on competing with Telefónica’s Mark Evans for CEO role.
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M&AFries on VM-O2 merger: don’t mention the tax breaks
Liberty Global anticipates substantial opportunities for savings by injecting Virgin Media tax losses into O2, but Fries wary that such behaviour may not chime with goal of creating new UK “national champion”.
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