All articles by Neal Doran
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT bolsters cloud security with Zscaler deal
Zscaler doubles down on its BT relationship with ‘world‑first’ managed services partnership featuring its Zero Trust Exchange platform.
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M&A
Vodafone ‘not well managed’ suggests disgruntled Xavier Niel
Vodafone minority shareholder Xavier Niel has cast doubt on Vodafone management’s strategic vision in a Sunday Times profile that followed the sale to Swisscom of the Vodafone Italy business he has long coveted.
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Network & Infrastructure
Blue Planet: Re-making telcos as platform heroes
Blue Planet is calling on operators to build new platforms that rise above the existing tangle of legacy technologies and unlock the revenue and innovation opportunities promised by a fully automated ‘no ops’ future.
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M&A
CMA concerned Vodafone-Three could access O2 and EE secrets
As expected, the UK merger is headed for tougher scrutiny in a longer investigation following an initial review by the Competition and Markets Authority.
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Network & Infrastructure
Comms industry looks off-planet for next-gen networks
Non‑terrestrial network technology is set to be in demand as commercial space exploration gathers steam, while public‑private projects building a presence in space may provide additional benefits for Earth‑based connectivity.
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Interview
Netomnia: capex inefficiency is blocking consolidation opportunity
Speaking to TelcoTitans, Netomnia founder and CEO Jeremy Chelot suggests too many altnets are banking on unachievable take-up goals, and that playing fast and loose with investor money has resulted in a block on viable valuations for consolidation.
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Weekly Briefings
Infrawatch Weekly: fibre switching ‘hijacked’, Cellnex asset squeeze, CityFibre gets acquisitive
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including Netomnia’s takedown of Openreach and VM O2 on fibre switching delays; Cellnex plans for a future focused on delivering returns; fibre rollout progress in Europe and Latin America; and a potential spark for accelerated altnet consolidation in the UK.
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Public Affairs
Phones 4u trial: O2, Telefónica slapped on costs, appeal in pipeline
P4u still pursuing UK MNOs over collapse, despite losing trial and first appeal. Has been super squirmy for many involved, including adjacent revelations. Legal costs in near-decade battle top £100m for P4u, EE, O2, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica — with judge spotting defendants nearly £9m for dubious antics…
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Events
Special Report: AWS telco commitment takes generative AI up a level at MWC
TelcoTitans explores the backdrop and impact of Amazon Web Services at Mobile World Congress 2024, where the dynamically different event presented a microcosm of the new telco industry. Featuring insight from senior AWS figures on critical new technologies, the cloud platform giant is setting out its stall to support the sector as it crosses into its techco future…
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Network & Infrastructure
Rakuten nabs a position at DSIT’s 5G diversity test centre
The UK government is upping its efforts to create a diverse 5G supplier ecosystem with Rakuten Symphony solutions procured for its £80m testing facility, and network security a key driver…
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M&A
Vodafone lines up Italy escape, taking €8bn in Fastweb cash
Margherita Della Valle’s M&A-led rationalisation programme marches on; Italy set to become second major European market Vodafone exits under new CEO’s regime… but how does the Swisscom deal compare with the Iliad proposal Vodafone turned down?
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Products & Services
CTO Petty backs XR as Vodafone and Qualcomm target 5G enterprise
MWC: Vodafone’s CTO Scott Petty sees telemedicine and manufacturing as key areas where XR apps can help build new business cases that leverage 5G investment.
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Public Affairs
“Who the hell is giving these companies money?” — Höttges warns of investment crisis as big four unite
In a “historic” coming together of the heads of Europe’s four biggest operators, calls were made for changes in regulation, spectrum, and merger policy to support future investment. The EC appears open to change on all fronts, but not always as the operators wish.
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Network & Infrastructure
Liberty flags AWS partnership, taking NaaS ‘to the next level’
Latest from Liberty as busy Group talks up AWS, VodafoneZiggo collaboration on APIs set to go live commercially later in the year; tees up more to come at next week’s MWC…
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Network & Infrastructure
UK’s £1bn 4G ‘not spot’ programme slammed by national auditor; ‘5G SA for all’ doubts
Behind schedule Shared Rural Network a mess but not quite a fail, and another example of government mismanagement. Ofcom slapped for unfit-for-purpose market definition and data. MNOs on hook for cost overruns, and better updates…
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT rolls out AWS AI programming tool after trial success
CodeWhisperer platform said to be automating 12% of software development work in early deployments as BT Digital commits to a suite of generative AI tools for product development.
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People
BT Consumer's Allera backs Kirkby after missing out on top job
Consumer CEO suggests he had plans to “do something really quite interesting” had he been picked for the Group’s top job, but backs Kirkby to bring telco nous to the role.
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Network & Infrastructure
Virgin Media O2 fibre NetCo carve out coming for Openreach (and ISP clients)
Potential number-two NetCo to be created by VM O2 and owners Liberty Global and Telefónica, with the aim of creating a scale wholesale fibre challenger; open to M&A consolidation; nexfibre remains arms length…
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Network & Infrastructure
Connectivity gaps in the spotlight as UK preps for automated vehicles
New study will explore the infrastructure needs for the deployment of connected autonomous vehicles in line with government 2025 goals, with connectivity at the core.
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M&A
TalkTalk confirms wholesale stake sale plans, ties Consumer to exclusive access deal
TalkTalk confirmed exclusive talks are ongoing with a potential new equity partner for its wholesale business, Platform X Communications, as it refinances its £1bn debt facilities.