More Latest Insight
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Network & Infrastructure
UK gov pares back Shared Rural Network targets in strategic rethink
Building Digital UK scales back plans for further rural 4G coverage expansion after hitting initial Shared Rural Network targets early. Strategy shift comes after discussions with local communities and interest groups, with BDUK aiming to maximise coverage while delivering “best value for public money”.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone, SpaceMobile pick Luxembourg for European SatCo HQ
Group further embeds itself in Grand Duchy with local headquarters.
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Network & Infrastructure
VM O2, VodafoneThree firm up €401m spectrum deal to redress the ‘imbalance’
Following VodafoneThree’s merger completion, VM O2 outlines the spectrum it plans to acquire.
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Network & Infrastructure
UK energy provider plots £3.9bn dive into data centres
Apatura announces plans to construct 550MW data centre in North Lanarkshire, with hopes of winning government backing through AI Growth Zone initiative. Site is one of several that the energy business is developing across Scotland’s central belt.
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Strategy & Change
Orange outlines plan to simplify French operations
Orange France’s proposed reorganisation project, dubbed “Regain”, seeks to boost profitability and improve efficiency as competitive pressures intensify in its home market, but job cuts are not part of the plan.
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Suppliers & SCM
BT’s buying boss wants AI to move faster, looks to startups to lead the way
BT Sourced head Cyril Pourrat reflects on missed expectations around ‘speed of execution’ on AI deployments, but remains confident that the tech delivers when embraced by colleagues.
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People
Magyar Telekom selects CEO of wireless infra carve-out
Hungarian operator names wholesale expert Sándor Markovics CEO of planned tower spin-off after shareholders voted for the creation of the new unit at a recent EGM.
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Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: risks and rewards of AI at scale
Latest from Vodafone as group technology and data chiefs discuss progress, risk, and potential of AI at scale; leadership change in Luxembourg; critical comms deal with Airbus; and more….
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People
Orange Egypt crowns enterprise chief as new CEO
Egyptian operator appoints Hesham Mahran as CEO from 1 August, replacing long-time leader Yasser Shaker, who is moving to head up Orange’s Middle East and Africa division.
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Network & Infrastructure
Project Reach: Freshwave, Neos seek digital infra ‘blueprint’ to power up UK rail
Freshwave and Neos Networks firm up collaboration with Network Rail and UK mobile operators to upgrade fibre and wireless infra along key UK rail routes, with funding from the likes of DigitalBridge, Infracapital, and SSE Group. Work to begin imminently, with pair hoping to develop business model “blueprint” for future deployments…
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Operations
Vodafone’s plan to keep up with AI through democratisation, value-hunting
DTW Ignite: Vodafone execs discuss AI adoption at scale, raising concerns that the technology is moving ‘too quickly’, but confident that the group’s overriding strategic direction will enable it to keep ahead of the curve.
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People
Telefónica Peoplewatch: post-reshuffle ripples
The latest strategic and senior changes at Telefónica, including the group’s home market operation and pay-TV business Telefónica Audiovisual Digital, following on from the group’s dramatic management overhaul in March. Leadership switches also seen at Telefónica Foundation, Telefónica Chile, and FiBrasil…
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Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica leads Spain’s bid for EU-backed AI Gigafactory
Telefónica and MasOrange are part of a consortium hoping to win a concession for a large-scale AI data centre in Spain through a €20bn European Union programme aimed at building up the region’s AI infrastructure.
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Network & Infrastructure
UK’s Freedom Fibre bails out of second Project Gigabit deal
UK altnet becomes latest to cancel rural fibre contract with Building Digital UK, leaving the organisation needing to find another supplier to cover more than 8,500 un-connected premises …
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Network & Infrastructure
‘Fabulous’ ESN ‘back in delivery’, ticks off first milestones with EE, IBM leading the charge
CCW 2025: Home Office’s John Black, EE’s David Salam, and IBM’s Andy Doggett share a progress report on the UK’s Emergency Services Network, with optimism the prevailing mood. Early milestones checked off, infrastructure in progress, and EE looking for partners and suppliers…
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M&A
TalkTalk ‘scopes out banks’ in strategic review amidst debt struggles
Troubled UK provider reportedly scoping out candidates to manage a strategic review of its business, including potential to sell remaining units PXC and TalkTalk Consumer.
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Financial & Performance
CityFibre closing in on existential £2bn funding — report
Leading UK fibre altnet reportedly close to securing long-anticipated new equity and debt refinancing, to support operations, organic expansion, and M&A consolidator credibility in overcrowded fibre sector. CityFibre says further details to come “shortly”…
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Products & Services
T-Mobile preps Starlink direct-to-device service for launch next month
It’s all systems go for T-Mobile’s direct-to-device satellite service launch next month, as the operator doubles down on a new “best network” campaign and woos customers from rivals AT&T and Verizon.
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People
Switch of leadership at Vodafone’s Luxembourg scaleup hothouse
Tomorrow Street appoints a new CEO, with Kenneth Graham exiting for a wider Vodafone Procure & Connect post.
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Financial & Performance
Mixed results fuel Telefónica’s search for stability
Q1 FY25: Quarter’s numbers highlight inconsistency across Telefónica’s international empire, and reliance on Spain and Brazil for growth — fuelling question of whether new leadership team needs to go beyond existing work on Hispam assets when considering future shape of group…