More on EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 217
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Network & InfrastructureVirgin Media’s foray into 5G signals start of Vodafone era
Vodafone signs up MVNE Digitalk to support MVNO growth strategy.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone Hungary stumps up €135m to extend licences
Secures 15-year extensions to 900MHz and 1800MHz concessions. Supreme Court rules NMHH acted “lawfully” in blocking Digi Communications from participating in 2020 multiband auction.
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Network & InfrastructureICASA digs heels in over spectrum auction rules
Regulator stands firm against legal action taken by MTN, Telkom. VdSA proves unlikely ally.
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Public AffairsRegulations hit Vodacom customer tally
Vodacom Tanzania indicates impact of regulator’s fraud reduction scheme. Another 1.1 million SIM cards due for disconnection imminently.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Africa
Vodafone launches Africa.Connected campaign to bridge the digital divide, while Joosub clears things up regarding Ghana in Q3 results.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: A1 stable; NZ changes abound
Developments from around Vodafone’s soft-power network: results stability for A1; Elisa works Vodafone Business ties for SD-WAN delivery; changes afoot for Vodafone New Zealand.
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Innovation (R&D)Vodafone ups the ante on drone innovation
Dutch, German, and UK trials flag recent progress in autonomous and unmanned flight. Ericsson emerges as important co-pilot.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Europe: Italian 3G sunset
End of road for Italian 3G network; 5G used to combat COVID-19 in Spain; Turkey enterprise unit digitises cement mix.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Associates & JVs
Teoh junior faces TPG ire after assault conviction; INWIT’s Ferigo bemoans 5G rollout barriers.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Group: VPC targets supply chain sustainability
Telecom Italia adds weight to open RAN support scheme; VPC joins other operators in arrowing in on supplier carbon emissions.
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Financial & PerformanceBudget 2021: BT benefits but won’t move investment dial
Chancellor Sunak eyes investment-backed build-back. Short term tax break to bolster BT infrastructure expansion. However, gains will be “offset in later years”, and no movement on BT’s number one priority — business rates relief.
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PeopleBT’s HR chief admits bumps in Better Workplace plan
Pandemic holds up plan to concertina down to 30 regional hubs, although some movement is expected in 2021. HR Director recognises the need to maintain hybrid working practices even after the pandemic has subsided.
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Network & InfrastructureHoward Watson eyes 2027 as open RAN opportunity
Huawei 5G kit replacement in line with 2027 deadline an opportunity for urban commercial open RAN deployment. BT expects to stick with dual key vendor policy, but hopes to see more choice. Huawei kit still being rolled out as BT juggles network plans with government demands.
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Suppliers & SCMBT calls on supplier base to zero in on emissions
Operator moves into new territory to firm up green credentials, and aims to galvanise suppliers to cut indirect (Scope 3) emissions. Incentive behind new call illustrated by latest CDP report. Major BT suppliers underline their sustainability commitments.
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Network & InfrastructureMBNL embraces machine learning for predictive maintenance
JV working with Kortical, Blue Prism, and Greenhouse Intelligence. Algorithms predict mast cooling system failures to prevent overheating and outages.
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Partnerships & AlliancesBT taps OneWeb for rural coverage leg up
Talks confirmed, but nothing advanced. Back from brink, state-backed OneWeb offers BT space-based alternative to cable. 0.6% of UK households still without “decent” broadband connectivity, according to Ofcom.
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Partnerships & AlliancesBT activates go-to-market accelerator
Scheme provides immediate growth opportunities to participating scale-ups. Operator supports UK-wide sustainability push via provision of smart energy services. Possible application of green-tech in healthcare sector being explored.
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Innovation (R&D)Testbeds and Trials: many roads to 5G for BT
Two private networks in the West Midlands to be switched on, powering manufacturing modernisation in the region, underpinned by BT infrastructure. BT/EE powers two projects in state-backed 5G Create funding call.
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PremiumCanonical hails BT progress on 5G core
Deployment of fully cloud native core appears to be in full swing with open source developer.
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Partnerships & Alliances‘Techmaker’: DT’s South Korean 5G JV surfaces
New venture’s executive team to build 5G innovation pipeline from South Korea to Europe. JV initially aims to build go-to-market around 5G in-building solutions, and then spread to import and development of other systems. Working name chimes with mandate to commercialise Asian 5G tech in western markets.