More TelcoTitans Insight – Page 319
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Venturing & InvestmentsTelefónica Innovation & Venturing Roundup: Group profits from Altiostar
One Wayra investment exceeds crowdfunding target while another enters Asia-Pacific; Hispam startup accelerator launches innovation call in Peru; Group makes tidy profit from Altiostar divestment.
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PremiumBT people moves: Openreach appoints new Northern Ireland boss
Garret Kavanagh named Director, Northern Ireland after Openreach pledges investment and team expansion in the country. Regional changes in England and Wales see Liz Needleman add Midlands to her North of England brief. Former Enterprise CFO Graham Ritchie takes CEO spot at consultancy Ricardo.
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Network & InfraTelefónica Argentina and Sion buddy up on provincial fibre
Argentinian OB to lean on third-party infrastructure to extend connectivity to harder-to-reach communities. Movistar looking at expanding reach of its city-centric FTTP footprint.
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PremiumUnited Group agrees to buy Wind Hellas
Wind Hellas to be combined with broadband and pay-TV provider Nova. Deal creates emboldened converged rival for Vodafone Greece. A new owner for Vodafone’s mobile and fibre network-sharing partner. United Group’s telecoms buying spree continues across Southeast Europe.
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M&AFiBrasil straight into M&A action with Phoenix Fiber buy
Vivo said to have been collaborating with the Phoenix fibre unit since March 2019. Deal brings in a further 170,000 premises, with 310,000 to come.
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Network & InfraVodacom starts TowerCo separation sequence
Operator looking to install managing executive, and then fuller leadership team, to drive tower separation plans outlined in May. Plan to explore stake sale reiterated. Initial focus on biggest market South Africa.
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Venturing & InvestmentsAfrican energy startup borrows $100m for scale-out plan
Safaricom partner Circle Gas secures nine-figure loan to drive expansion in African (and potentially Asian) markets. Targets include Nigeria and neighbouring markets of Kenya and Tanzania, where startup is already present. Capital needed for investment-heavy distribution platform.
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InterviewInterview: New HQ beckons for Jansen’s “better BT”
As BT prepares to move into a new-era head office in Aldgate, Technology HR boss Mark Murphy speaks to TelcoTitans about the Group’s physical and virtual makeover. Technology reorganisation, facilities facelift, and move to ‘smart working’ viewed as key to refreshing how BT does business. Organic and inclusive approach ...
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M&AAussie antitrust tsar seeks change after TPG–Vodafone merger
Rod Sims, Chair of Australia’s competition commission, expresses “serious concerns” about market health after TPG–Vodafone merger. Sims wants bigger powers to block further anti-competitive M&A.
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B2BVodafone’s Read wants Europe to ‘do a Spain’ on digital
Group CEO makes reference to €3bn budget for digitalisation of small businesses. Move chimes with existing Vodafone Business strategy to focus on SMEs.
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Partnerships & AlliancesArqit CEO lets slip mixed feelings about BT links
Startup boss concedes that its partner is also a QKD competitor, which “changes the addressable market somewhat”. He also tellingly describes BT as “very cautious” at a time when terrestrial QuantumCloud on cusp of commercial rollout.
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PeoplewatchVodacom Tanzania names Mdlalose CEO
Former Vodacom SA CFO takes the reins from Madrid-bound Hendi. Well-travelled Mdlalose looks to settle into Tanzanian challenge.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Group: Microsoft CEO namechecks Vodafone
Vodafone leans in to European cloud initiative; Microsoft’s Nadella highlights 365 tieup upgrade.
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Network & InfraTelefónica gets nod for Colombian open RAN trial
Two Telefónica projects advance to a testing phase in Colombia’s Regulatory Sandbox initiative. Open RAN project builds on Internet para Todos rollout in Latin America. SOC targets real-time network experience monitoring.
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OperationsVivo Empresas gets hiring to accelerate digital sales
B2B unit to ramp up commercial activity through New Talents scheme. Hybridised work schedule on offer to applicants.
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Venturing & InvestmentsWayra-backed Optimus Price exceeds crowdfunding target
AI retail startup raises more than €450,000 on CrowdCube. Optimus Price adds to Wayra’s retail tech activity.
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M&ACityFibre eyes fresh cash injection
Press reports suggest Openreach challenger will announce fresh funds through stake sale and bond issue.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodafone quietly steps into Gaia-X club
UK operator joins Deutsche Telekom, Orange, and Telecom Italia at the European cloud and data initiative. Gaia-X now has 300 members. T-Sys’s Adel Al-Saleh says scale, not US hyperscalers, are critical to the success of Gaia-X.
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PremiumVodafone people moves: Technology splits and board changes
Group board changes include Ahuja’s departure. Vodafone networks exec and TIP Chair Tenorio picks up Lime Micro chairmanship. Vodafone Spain continues leadership overhaul in Consumer, Enterprise, and Technology divisions.
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Venturing & InvestmentsIntel said to offload former DT investment Replay Technologies
One report suggests Verizon is buying part of Intel’s sports technology arm.