More Latest Insight – Page 236
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People
1NCE recruits Rook to lead expansion plans
Former T-Mobile and Vodafone IoT lead Ivo Rook takes Chief Operating Officer title at Deutsche Telekom investment 1NCE. IoT platform provider and DT strategic partner 1NCE targets “global” expansion, leveraging Rook’s broad industry experience.
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Strategy & Change
Vodafone ponders risk of depopulated city centres
Operator flags potential threat from fewer people living and working in cities. Population changes affect network planning and investment returns. Analysts say Vodafone not alone in thinking about potential impact.
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Products & Services
Safaricom to implement advertising on M-PESA platform
Operator hopes to open additional revenue streams for its biggest earner. Parent Vodacom will apply lessons from similar offering with Alipay in South Africa.
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Premium
Vodafone Iceland buying built on VPC support
Partner Market ally Vodafone Iceland relying on centralised spend processes imported from Luxembourg.
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People
Europe B2B head exits as DT targets change
Dominique Leroy’s DT Europe continues to build out its enterprise-focused activities as SVP, B2B Ralf Nejedl announces his departure.
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Premium
Equinox takes off as legal challenge looms
Openreach touts better-than-expected FTTP offer take-up. Equinox aimed at accelerating full-fibre adoption, but altnets could spoil the party with legal action.
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Carrier Services settles with ClearX on data delivery
Group’s international connectivity unit aligns with Israeli blockchain firm to “streamline” delivery of data services. Colt Technology Services and PCCW Global part of “pioneering” work. ClearX expects data services platform to go live Q1 2022.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Openreach: Ofcom lays down the law
Copper exchange stop-sell progress; Ofcom lays down USO law.
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Premium
H1 FY21–22: Openreach enters fibre build phase two
Lonely position as sole BT unit posting positive results for the half year. CEO Clive Selley confident of future return on investment: FTTP rollout moving ahead of expectations; uptake supported by Equinox pricing deal and growing consumer demand.
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M&A
Spain shields Telefónica as KKR’s TI bid makes waves
Spanish government reinforcing restrictions that would halt hostile bids for Telefónica until 2023. Europe’s telco sector awash with bid speculation as KKR pursues TI, and Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries is linked to a BT bid.
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Operations
Jansen hopes to get BT on front foot with new HQ
BT’s new HQ opens after more than a year of delays. Jansen aims to remove “hierarchical” business format.
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M&A
Reliance denies interest in acquiring BT stake
BT share price jumps on report that Indian conglomerate eyeing a move for UK incumbent. Reliance quick to dismiss the article as “completely speculative and baseless”, but City still excited.
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Financial & Performance
Telefónica adds €750m to growing sustainable bond bank
Group takes total financing raised through sustainability-linked bonds to €3.25bn over two years. Funds ringfenced for legacy network upgrades and rural connectivity builds in Germany, Spain, and (potentially) Brazil.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodacom secures provisional spectrum as auction wait goes on
ICASA manages to fend off further litigation with new interim spectrum allocations. WOAN licensing timetable is put on hold until next year. Auction now scheduled for March 2022.
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Vodafone, Telefónica launch fixed-broadband TIP group
Operators co-chair new TIP project group targeting FTTP access technologies. Vodafone cementing leadership at TIP.
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Premium
Vodafone joins European telco call for open RAN help
Group signs off on Analysys Mason report recommending that European policymakers financially stimulate the region’s open RAN ecosystem. Report also backed by Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telecom Italia, and Telefónica. Wibergh says “Europe needs to urgently prioritise open RAN” to avoid slipping further behind Asia and USA.
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Premium
BT targets financial services with Cloud Control
BT’s Cloud Control for Financial Services aims to help firms take a ‘controlled approach’ to adopting cloud. Move builds on company’s pre-existing partnerships with public cloud providers.
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Premium
Vodafone extends VMware Telco Cloud to 5G SA
Aims to accelerate delivery of “new digital services” across Vodafone’s European footprint. Builds on Vodafone’s previous selection of VMware Telco Cloud infrastructure as its NFV platform.
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Premium
H1 FY21–22: Jansen trusts BT Global plan, despite setbacks
CEO focuses on the strategy, rather than current performance, to paint a picture of a viable future for the MNC-focused digital solutions unit. NPS remains a bright spot for Global, highlighting material gains from the BT transformation plan. Declining margins suggest work still to be done on recovery.
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT renews Middle Eastern partnerships
Long-running R&D tie-up gets extended, with BT’s engagement with Etisalat and Khalifa University stretching a further five years. BT Applied Research MD Tim Whitley among those involved.