More on EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 179
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Strategy & Change
TMF’s Willetts: maintaining vendor status quo “dangerous”
Speaking to TelcoTitans, Nik Willetts, CEO of industry body TM Forum, outlined his perceptions of the state of digital transformation in the telecoms sector. Procurement-led vendor management needs to evolve towards partnership for digital acceleration. Hyperscalers can remain more friend than foe as operators seek new ways to differentiate ...
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Premium
Elsewhere in Deutsche Telekom Europe: Cosmote’s FTTP update
Cosmote provides FTTP rollout update and flags new 5G R&D programme; Macedonian NatCo implementing smart city services in Skopje.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Systems Solutions: OVHcloud’s IPO
IPO to fuel Europe’s “cloud champion”; T-Sys’s Spanish unit reveals new HQ; sustainability concerns presented as commercial opportunity.
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Financial & Performance
BT highlights cost-cutting progress as Drahi waits in wings
Group confirms it has achieved its headline £1bn savings target well ahead of original March 2023 deadline. Announcement is an attempt to display strengths ahead of this week’s Q2 results and in the face of potential Altice takeover bid before the end of the year.
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Public Affairs
Vodafone Pass reviewed following EU judgement
ECJ goes further than expected by consumer group. VfD may be forced to provide the same terms and conditions through EU. Other European OpCos could be affected.
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Venturing & Investments
Vi can live long and prosper, insists CEO
Takkar welcomes government four-year moratorium on AGR dues and spectrum fees. Confident that relief package paves way for private investment. Vodafone rules out (again) cash injection into JV. Floor pricing issue still to be resolved.
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Premium
Safaricom to debut 5G in 2022
Kenyan operator extending 5G trials to “additional towns”; commercial launch slated for 2022. Operator looking to further boost mobile data revenue. Rival Airtel on 5G scene too.
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People
BT’s new function to commercialise network assets
Recently-formed BT Networks seeks new revenue streams, with initiative led by finance and procurement veteran Paul Crouch. One of many efforts to identify commercial opportunities from existing assets and infrastructure as competition hots up.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vivo picks up Brazilian 5G spectrum
Brazilian operator among 15 participating in spectrum bidding. Long-awaited auction includes frequencies across a handful of 5G-friendly bands. Interest from new entrants poses competitive impact questions, with new national MNO now in the mix. Vivo opting for multi-vendor approach to its standalone core.
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Premium
Telefónica people moves: Group seeks strengthened government relations
Juan Montero takes over public policy and competition remit, with reshuffled reports in support. A direct swap on the Group’s Board sees María Rotondo Urcola fill Sabina Fluxà Thienemann’s shoes. Vivo names a successor for its vacant CIO spot. VM O2 builds out a marketing team to grow its ...
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Network & Infrastructure
EE says “delays elsewhere” have impacted ESN delivery
Mobile operator “committed to ESN contractual obligations” as Home Office announces revised timetable for the UK’s LTE-based emergency services network. Unveils ESN Coverage Extender prototype from Parallel Wireless as part of ongoing preparations for nationwide shutdown of Airwave.
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Operations
Restructuring and legacy write-down hurt T-Systems UK
Deutsche Telekom’s UK enterprise IT unit records a loss on revenue slowdown. Figures also blunted by impairment of Managed Infrastructure unit.
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Network & Infrastructure
Portugal 5G spectrum auction finally ends after 200 days
Vodafone Portugal is second-biggest spender after NOS. Auction ushers in Dixarobil and Nowo as new entrants.
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Operations
Unions eke out concessions on Vodafone Spain cuts
Operator firms up yet another business overhaul. Deal made to outsource remaining retail outlets rather than close them as part of job cull. Terms agreed for voluntary redundancies and retirements.
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Strategy & Change
BT picks advisors to patch takeover vulnerabilities
Robey Warshaw testing BT defences ahead of the end of restrictions on a full takeover bid from major shareholder Altice. Jansen’s ambitious strategy coupled with share price volatility may also be contributing to need for additional City counsellors.
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M&A
Telefónica’s El Salvador sale under review by regulator
$144m deal cannot go ahead without authorisation. SC has 90 business days to reach a decision.
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Financial & Performance
Hrvatski Telekom continues to eye regional M&A
Croatian operator sees an uptick in business during summer months, leading to raised forecasts. Management remains keen on building HT into a regional telco/IT business, saying dealmaking opportunities are being monitored.
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Network & Infrastructure
DT said to be closing in on partner for fibre JV
Report names Brookfield, CDPQ, and IFM as among potential investment partners. In the region of €6bn could be injected into Telekom Deutschland’s FTTP funding pot.
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Products & Services
Government considering BT’s emergency comms proposal
UK Home Office in discussions with BT over introduction of 888 emergency comms and tracking system. 888/Walk Me Home working titles for platform that could act as “deterrent to criminals”. £50m public funding required. Christmas 2021 launch possible.
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Public Affairs
UK government defends Ethiopian mobile investment
Vodafone and CDC investment in Ethiopian mobile operator crops up in parliamentary debate on Tigray humanitarian crisis. Investment deemed to be “right” and long term. CDC emphasises role as impact investor with a lot of patience. Vodacom agrees to fund Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia.