More on EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 166
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PremiumVi overhauls national backbone
New 300G/400G network being launched, with assistance from Ciena.
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Public AffairsOfcom details O2 UK ‘carelessness’ in billing investigation
Regulator publishes 74-page document highlighting the extent of O2 UK feet-dragging in its investigation as to why the operator overcharged customers during a seven-year period. Demands O2 UK review its processes and systems to ensure accuracy and completeness of responses to information requests in future. Restates view that £150,000 ...
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OperationsAI not ready for bot-to-bot negotiation — BT’s Brown
Director of Procurement Strategy & Transformation says AI needs more training, but bot-to-bot purchasing “will come”. BT already implements AI tech to help select prospective vendors and optimise supply chain monitoring.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Group: Cisco & Vodafone selected as SFHA commercial associates
Vodafone’s M&A chaperone boosts takings; named commercial associate by Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, along with Cisco.
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Strategy & ChangeDT’s Leroy backs Greek digitalisation plans
Head of Europe Dominique Leroy joins the campaign trail to promote Greek investment via OTE minority subsidiary. €3bn full-fibre investment plan in action to support national digital transformation. Bureaucracy remains a sticking point.
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Network & InfrastructureGroup to sell Spanish copper amid infrastructure tidy-up
Cinco Días report claims private equity firm Macquarie will take over sections of legacy infrastructure from Spanish incumbent, boosting its network assets in the country. Telefónica’s focus remains on hitting a 2025 target for completing its fibre network. While Macquarie comes in, KKR exits Telxius as Telefónica and Pontegadea ...
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PremiumBT people moves: ESG key in New Year changes
Digital impact and sustainability manifesto brings a number of new roles to further ESG agenda. Fibre build challengers Borderlink and Hyperoptic poach ex-BT and Openreach staffers to drive regional FTTP rollout plans. Healthcare remains a key focus for Digital and Enterprise developments.
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PremiumAuction fate unknown as Telkom mulls interdict U-turn
Spectrum auction may still go ahead, despite initial Telkom protests. Vodacom and MTN unite with South African regulator to fight deferral. Telkom offers to withdraw its interdict, provided rivals are open to an “expedited review” of its complaints. Any delay would represent a sixth postponement of the auction, currently ...
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Partnerships & AlliancesBT ties with SES on ‘multi-orbit’ data and IoT
Global division looking to satcomms to expand mining sector presence and boost search for growth. Tie-up bridges various in-vogue areas of enterprise IoT, satellite, not-spot coverage, and cloud productised services. Deal appears precursor to broader revamp of BT’s ecosystem at intersection of wireless and satcomms.
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Venturing & InvestmentsGroup adds network software duo to Innovation Pool
DT invests in Teridion for multi-cloud WAN connectivity via TIP vehicle. New partnership and minority stake in Israel-based WAN specialist aimed at improving internet connectivity performance for enterprises. Deal adds another prong to DT’s SD-WAN approach. TIP also adds software-based comms player SignalWire to portfolio, with carrier services arm ...
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PeopleOpenreach’s McTighe emerges as frontrunner for Ofcom chair
Mike McTighe, Chairman at Openreach, reportedly on the shortlist to oversee regulator. Drawn-out search for Lord Burns’ successor sees another BT-affiliated name on the cards.
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Suppliers & SCMSafaricom lauds TIBCO for service and network advances
Kipkirui says microservices and cloud-native APIs from longstanding partner is key in helping OpCo to become an “insights-led, tech-driven company”. Adds that Safaricom has been able to maintain “maximum value” from capex invested in TIBCO. OpCo aims to migrate entire TIBCO BPM stack from on-prem to public cloud by ...
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PeopleBT’s new growth oriented Division X names leader
Former Sierra Wireless SVP Marc Overton appointed MD, Division X as BT Enterprise seeks solution-selling in high-growth verticals. Adjacent markets targeted by new unit, with Overton’s IoT specialism among the target technologies.
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Public AffairsVodacom, MTN pick sides in South African auction saga
Operators unite with South African regulator as rival Telkom requests further delays. Any success for Telkom would represent a sixth postponement of the auction, currently set to take place by the end of March.
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Partnerships & AlliancesO2 Germany teams with Westenergie Breitband for fixed access
German operator signs up seventh wholesale partner. New deal with E.ON-owned provider also facilitated by Vitroconnect.
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PeopleTelefónica shuffles and slims security unit leadership
Telefónica Ingeniería de Seguridad takes on parent’s corporate leadership model. Changes to chairman and a handful of directors, with Group executives swapped for Tech names.
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OperationsVi selling majority stake to Indian government in bid to stay afloat
The state is set to receive a 35.8% stake in Vodafone Idea. Share prices drop around 20% in the wake of the news. Stake will be exchanged for easing of the struggling JV’s considerable debt. Government “do not want to run company”, insists Vi CEO
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Africa: Safaricom expands Lipa Mdogo Mdogo
Safaricom brings China’s Transsion into device financing fold; SODAQ teams with IoT.nxt; new Vodacom buddy Dark Fibre Africa goes on cost-cutting drive.
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PremiumOpenreach gets good marks for independence
Ofcom monitoring unit warns BT and Openreach to stay vigilant. Stakeholders raise concerns about PIA, defective poles, and lack of clarity on Openreach’s build plans. Equinox pricing offer deemed free from BT influence, as Ofcom defends its approval to Competition Appeal Tribunal in challenge brought by CityFibre.
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PeopleDT moves AI beyond the lab with new lead
DT’s new head of AI, Jan Hofmann, signals broadening approach. Predecessor Claudia Pohlink takes on new role at Deutsche Bahn. Emphasis increasingly placed on AI-infused voice technology as a business enabler. Nemat giving thought to AI implications for society and suggests there should be a ‘Hippocratic Oath’ for AI ...