More from Infrawatch – Page 57
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Partnerships & Alliances
DT teams with Cellnex for European tower expansion
Two groups firm up relationship following a long courtship. Dutch unit T-Mobile Infra to be DT’s anchor investment in new Digital Infrastructure Vehicle. Move releases DT to join European TowerCo gold rush, but while keeping options open on future ownership of its own infrastructure assets.
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People
Vantage Towers CEO says he’s no Vodafone lackey
Vivek Badrinath emphasises operational and strategic independence from Vodafone. CEO claims Europe is 20 years behind the USA in commercialisation of towers. Newspaper interview used to defend upcoming listing on Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
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Suppliers & SCM
Openreach deploys EXFO technology for fibre rollout
Rollout speed gains stressed as key motivator for purchase.
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M&A
Telefónica sells infra biz to American Tower
Telxius finds a home at US infrastructure giant. Transaction expected to wipe €4.6bn off Telefónica net debt.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone bulks up Vantage Towers with Cornerstone
Vodafone UK and Telefónica UK give each other freedom to “commercialise” their 50% stakes in Cornerstone JV. Transfer of Vodafone’s shareholding to Vantage Towers to take place within weeks. Important (and long-awaited) addition to Vodafone’s European TowerCo ahead of upcoming IPO.
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Network & Infrastructure
Glasfaser Nordwest brings fibre build in-house
Deutsche Telekom-EWE joint venture launches Glasfaser Nordwest Connect subsidiary to complete the last metres of FTTH builds. Brings formerly outsourced operations in-house, leaving the bulk of the work to “expansion partners”. FTTH network nearing launch in select areas.
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People
Openreach seeks people power to fuel full-fibre
BT infrastructure division announces 5,300 new jobs for 2021, although 2,800 of them will be created within subcontractors. Capacity needed to increase weekly rate of full-fibre premises passed from 40,000 to 50,000.
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Network & Infrastructure
INWIT ties up loose ownership end
Telecom Italia sells remaining direct stake in TowerCo, co-controlled with Vodafone, to Canson Capital Partners.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT calls for alternatives to fibre in rural Wales
Connecting the most challenging premises not viable under the USO. Openreach, backed by government infrastructure committees, wants to look beyond FTTP for gigabit access.
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Network & Infrastructure
Government backpedals on fibre: industry on its own
Improbable goal of universal gigabit coverage abandoned by UK government. £5bn investment plans massively watered down in latest Spending Review. BT critical of retreat. Regulatory environment and sketchy plans for gigabit BDUK could play into Openreach hands.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Enterprise: full fibre rollout takes on public sector sites
IDNet migrating analogue voice to Hosted Communications; Smart Messaging adds Google RBM.
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Network & Infrastructure
Movistar launches Peru InfraCo post political storm
Telefónica in Peru is establishing a new entity to support fixed-line rollout in remote areas, and is seeking partners. Prior to announcement of new intentions, the award of a new licence to the operator by a government in turmoil sparked suspicions of impropriety.
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M&A
Cellnex open to Telxius grab
TowerCo CEO cheerfully talks up prospect of acquiring stake in Group’s infrastructure business. Idea of Telefónica-Cellnex tie mooted previously — and never totally quashed. Telefónica’s weakening debt profile may prompt inorganic action around infrastructure.
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M&A
Vi cashes in from Indus Towers–Infratel merger
Vodafone’s loss-making JV in India gets a much-needed cash boost from sale of Indus stake. Vi reportedly in talks with private equity investors to raise more funds.
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M&A
Telxius prepares subsea business for sale — report
Telefónica TowerCo Telxius reportedly poking investors to see who bites. €2bn valuation for 100,000km-long submarine cable arm. Telxius’s terrestrial portion has seen continued growth, potentially readying for a pivot.
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Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica links with Allianz on FTTP infrastructure
50:50 wholesale JV targets rural and semi-rural areas with fibre rollout. Majority of $5bn investment to be raised by bank loans. “Non-consolidated structure” reduces Group exposure.
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Network & Infrastructure
Orange CEO open to pan-European TowerCo idea
Stéphane Richard sees “interesting opportunity” in possible tie-up with Deutsche Telekom or Vodafone. CEO wants to do “something smarter” with tower assets than selling masts to accumulator Cellnex.
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Network & Infrastructure
Deutsche Telekom takes rain-check on full-fibre target
Rethink on mix of German next-gen deployment will see Group need a year more than expected to get up to full roll out speed.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Telefónica Infra-Tech: Cisco partnered for Galician 5G
ElevenPaths ups game in Galician region; Telefónica flags renewed connected-car focus.