All Nick Read articles – Page 7
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PeopleVantage Towers CEO says he’s no Vodafone lackey
Vivek Badrinath emphasises operational and strategic independence from Vodafone. CEO claims Europe is 20 years behind the USA in commercialisation of towers. Newspaper interview used to defend upcoming listing on Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
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Content & TVCloud-based Vodafone TV platform rolls into Germany
Platform launch is one of multiple moves in German TV revamp. Start of migration appears to be happening several months behind schedule. Rollout solidifies Group strategy for TV technology platform.
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M&AVodafone abandons Egypt exit talks
Long-awaited deal falls through, with STC apparently failing to reach an agreement with minority-owner Telecom Egypt. Vodafone Group CEO Nick Read remains philosophical after trekking to Egypt for talks with the President.
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PeopleVodafone UK’s Jeffery jumps ship, and may not be last
Group loses another exec from layer below CEO Read’s increasingly thin top leadership. Home-market custodian and Read contemporary Nick Jeffery likely to have seen development opportunities limited in tightly-controlled upper echelons. Resultant vacancies in Group Operations and Strategy briefs pose a challenge in terms of introducing new voices.
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PeopleColao dismisses Ferrari driving seat rumours
Unexpected departure of Ferrari’s CEO sets the rumour mill in motion, with former Vodafone boss Colao mooted as one potential successor. Reports said to be baseless by source close to Colao.
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PremiumVodafone Q2 FY20–21
Cost-cutting props up performance during COVID-19-hit quarter and CFO indicates she is preparing to step up efficiency plans further. Lag in delivery of leadership’s “Phase Two” plans, including Tech 2025, muddying attempts to assure stakeholders of a brighter future. Lots of talk of “underlying” strength as Group’s leadership seeks ...
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PremiumHeadline numbers: weathering the storm, for now
Key numbers relatively solid, reflecting telecoms sector’s cushioning from worst of pandemic disruption. Cost-cutting props up earnings, offsetting top-line weakness. Results preceded latest coronavirus response measures, which will have exacerbated drag on roaming revenue. Government support measures and resumption of international travel cited as key to maintaining solidity.
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PremiumEurope: Read stresses asset line-up is not settled
Vodafone leadership considering next phase of Group strategy, and indicates M&A moves could form part of new medium-term plan. Group open to solutions in markets not generating sufficient return on capital employed. Germany’s importance to Vodafone on display again; commitment to other markets less obvious.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone hits open RAN trail in rural Ireland
Modest rollout of 30 sites planned initially, supporting 4G. Supplier partners include Comba Telecom, HP, Parallel Wireless, Supermicro, and VMware. Operator keen to include automation vendors in the open RAN ecosystem.
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PeopleVodafone facing brewing storm over van Boxmeer appointment?
Controversy over the use of ‘beer promo girls’ continues to hang over Jean-François van Boxmeer, who is on the verge of taking up the reins as Group Chairman. Vodafone says it is satisfied as to its new Chairman’s integrity.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone UK unveils plans to kick-start open RAN
OpCo commits to 2,600-site rollout; suppliers in evaluation stage. VfUK aims for at least 20% of UK sites based on disaggregated architectures, but not until 2027. Timeline dovetails with Huawei kit removal roadmap. Investment geared towards encouraging more participation from operators, suppliers, and government to get open RAN ball ...
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M&AVodafone UK’s partner puzzle remains unsolved
Could O2 + Virgin Media = Three for Vodafone UK? Fixed–mobile convergence is a riddle to be solved.
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M&AMÁSMÓVIL CEO calls Vodafone link a “bluff”
Spenger scoffs at recent media reports that MÁSMÓVIL was in consolidation talks with Vodafone. CEO pointedly adds, however, that mergers eliminate “unnecessary infrastructure costs”.
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PeopleVodafone Spain’s Coimbra to step down after eight years
End of era for Spanish business that has struggled to adapt to new realities over the past decade.
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Public AffairsRead rails against states flouting EU law
Group CEO used a sponsored posting on the Politico website to demand, once again, a level playing field for Europe’s telecoms players, while bemoaning steps taken by several EU governments to sidestep European competition legislation. Article does not suggest Read’s bid for a reset of regulatory relations in Europe ...
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M&AVodafone linked with Spain’s MÁSMÓVIL again
Group reportedly in acquisition talks with Spain’s fourth largest operator. MÁSMÓVIL subsequently denies discussions after only recently agreeing to private equity buyout.
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M&AVodafone decries Italian broadband plan
Italy’s plan to create a single national broadband network moves closer, but deal still has some hurdles to overcome and Vodafone CEO Read signals he is opposed. Beyond broadband network, project might include 5G, edge computing, cloud and data centres, creating further strategic complexity for Vodafone’s Italian interests.
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PremiumVodafone Q1 FY20–21
What ‘new normal’? Leadership pressing on with long-running efficiency and asset sale plans regardless of coronavirus disruption. Hints of bottlenecks owing to top duo’s workload. Group Finance’s €1bn cost-cutting plan “proceeding very well”. Footprint retrenchment not necessarily done, with some OpCos still appearing stuck on the margins. Currency weakness ...
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PremiumVodafone Q1 FY20–21 headline performance: Germany and the rest
COVID-19 blow cushioned: strength in Germany and Portugal, with mixed performances elsewhere. Currency weakness turning Read’s focus on Africa sour.
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PremiumVodafone Q1 FY20–21 spend: no obvious change of course, post-COVID-19
Any post-COVID-19 spend strategy changes appear to either be being kept under wraps, or subjugated by leadership focus on keeping the business on track.