More from TelcoFutures – Page 12
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Strategy & Change
Embrace the era of “never normal” — Teradata CTO Stephen Brobst
Telcos must learn from financial services peers and embrace disruption as a welcome driver of innovation. Resilient telcos that use data-driven insights to innovate will thrive, while brittle players that oppose disruption will atrophy.
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Strategy & Change
Telcos must build trust as foundation for data services
Operators currently assume an unfounded bond of trust with customers, but can still build role as valued brokers, believes VM O2’s CDO. Fostering an improved reputation for trustworthiness and delivering privacy-by-design can lead to new revenue streams, according to Vodafone Business data chief. Ex-Deutsche Telekom veteran calls on operators ...
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Strategy & Change
Telcos seek security in the cloud as 5G grows
Telefónica’s Patricia Diez Munoz acclaims 5G security credentials, but edge deployments and multi-vendor environments bring new challenges. Neil McRae of BT positions security at the fore of cloud-native transformation and calls on vendors to finally ditch legacy attitudes to security, and the days of “stupid passwords”.
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Partnerships & Alliances
M-PESA gets interoperability boost in Kenya
Airtel, Telkom, and Safaricom customers granted access to M-PESA till payments. Central Bank of Kenya says first phase will “deepen digitalisation” for businesses. Airtel Money and T-kash equivalents still some way off.
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Venturing & Investments
UK’s rebranded BII embarks on new impact investing
British International Investment (BII) embraces broader digital strategy.
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Venturing & Investments
DT invests in Helium’s distributed network
Telekom Innovation Pool joins $200m funding round in decentralised IoT network operator. Crypto token incentive model sees growth in recent years. Liberty Global among fellow participants.
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Network & Infrastructure
From castles to classrooms: Wales tests rural 5G case
Project explores 5G value for rural communities with focus on agriculture, education, tourism, and transportation. EE 5G network connects sites in Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire. 4G and 5G are considered key to closing rural broadband gaps in Wales, but policymakers can do more to encourage investment.
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Network & Infrastructure
Euro giants put O-RAN security and sustainability in spotlight
European open RAN MoU group drawing focus towards the potential for targeted and measurable energy efficiency gains through adoption of open disaggregation, supporting critical operator goals. Security review suggests an open architecture, drawing on IT security protocols and built on a zero trust methodology should prove more secure than ...
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Network & Infrastructure
T-Mobile US plugs ‘5G-as-a-platform’
5G Forward package of initiatives aimed at helping developers of all sizes gain access and experiment on operator’s network. Unveils brand new 24,000-square foot Tech Experience 5G Hub facility. New strategic partnerships with Disney and Red Bull to develop “new 5G-powered experiences”.
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Public Affairs
Álvarez-Pallete lambasts regulators for being stuck in the past
If WhatsApp et al are not regulated, then neither should Telefónica, he says. Álvarez-Pallete accuses Spanish regulator of dragging its feet over reforms.
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Innovation (R&D)
DCMS launches ‘open’ R&D network to overhaul UK innovation
UK Telecoms Innovation Network aims to build transparent, open hub for public and private R&D opportunities. Seeks to fix supply chain diversity issues in UK telecoms and export technology abroad. Interoperable network tech among the priorities.
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Strategy & Change
5G will give B2B its 4G moment — Geldmacher at REACH forum
It’s time for telecom operators to get in front of enterprise CIOs and start working on joint initiatives. 5G will change B2B services to the same extent 4G revolutionised B2C.
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Suppliers & SCM
DT to judge suppliers on their climate ambition
German operator looking for early win as it turns attention to vast — and growing — problem of supply chain emissions. Hardware vendors will be first to come under environmental spotlight as DT tweaks its RFP scoring system. Move comes following joint project with buying partner Orange.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone continues 5G drive with German standalone launch
Vodafone Germany first to launch SA network in country. Claims more than ten million customers can already access services from home. Partners with DAZN to test 5G mobile streaming of the German Bundesliga. Moves continue notable European 5G ramp-up for Vodafone in 2022.
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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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Products & Services
M-PESA not threatened by talk of central Kenyan e-money
A central digital currency would not step on M-PESA toes, says MD Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, but cooperation key to finding efficiencies in a market dominated by Safaricom’s e-money offering. M-PESA at 15: 51 million users in seven markets; Kenyan strength; Super App prospects on the horizon, as is competition.
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Operations
DT outlines ‘digital experts’ upskill target
2021 Annual Report sets 17% digital workforce target within three years. Places emphasis on in-house digital upskilling; recruiting outside digital talent seen as “challenging”. Overall FTE headcount drops 4% year-on-year, but Group still manages to hire more than 8,000 employees outside the USA with focus on IT and technical ...
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Interview
GSOA: The 5G and broadband view from space
Aarti Holla-Maini, Secretary General of the Global Satellite Operators Association, shares priorities for satellite sector and the challenge of speaking as one voice for a diverse membership.
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Strategy & Change
Mehta puts BT Digital “on steroids” to power transformation
Chief Digital & Innovation Officer Harmeen Mehta relishes opportunity for dramatic change at BT, as she sets about untangling digital architecture. Google-powered Digital Brain to bolster AI and data platform. Digital jumps on cost savings bandwagon, with £500m contribution expected. Talent and recruitment drive incoming.
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Suppliers & SCM
TelcoX research finds hyperscalers ascendant but not entrenched at Vodafone
TelcoX ‘voice of the customer’ insight into how Vodafone employees perceive Techverse and Dataverse suppliers. Vodafone remains work in progress for AWS and Google. Opportunities for vendors to sharpen their differentiation. Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE retain significance despite tough externalities. Vodafone executives aligned on value of data, held ...