All Patrick Drahi articles
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M&AFrench telco trio unveil their SFR consolidation pitch
Orange, Bouygues, and Iliad confirm a long-rumoured move for troubled rival SFR, but a reported to have been knocked back by latter’s parent Altice.
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Analyst BriefingsOrangewatch Analyst Briefing: Regulation spotlighted, MásOrange diversifies, and change beckons in France
In this issue, we report on Christel Heydemann’s view of the current regulatory landscape in Europe during an event organised by the Financial Times.
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Financial & PerformanceAltice France clears €8.6bn in debt and opens door to SFR sale
Embattled French group firms up major business restructure seeing founder Patrick Drahi reduce his stake, group of creditors gain a 45%-holding, and former Vodafone CEO Nick Read join Board of Directors as part of a governance rejig.
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Analyst BriefingsEMEA Infrawatch Analyst Briefing: fibrecos hit the accelerator; digital divestments develop
Latest on EMEA digital infra: French operators progress copper-to-fibre migration; German government mulls regulatory changes to speed up fibre rollout to flats; TDF becomes latest subject of French tower divestments; fibre players GlobalConnect and XpFibre reportedly up for sale…
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Analyst BriefingsFrancewatch Analyst Briefing: Unions revolt as Orange presses ahead with Regain
The inaugural edition of the Francewatch briefing, where we explore the latest developments at Orange France, rivals including Altice France, Bouygues Telecom, and Iliad, local infracos, and the diaspora of French telecoms players…
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Analyst BriefingsOrangewatch Analyst Briefing: MásOrange’s grand plans, 2G sunset in France, and OpenAI in Africa
From finalising the French 2G sunset and expanding its OpenAI partnership for African markets, to navigating a complex competitive landscape in Spain, Orange Group is again making significant strategic moves. We break down the key developments in this essential briefing for Orange insiders.
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Financial & PerformanceBT vs. Vodafone: UK has a new largest telco for the first time this century
BT Group’s resurgence under Allison Kirkby has pushed its market cap beyond that of Vodafone for the first time in 25 years, but there are plenty of caveats to both operators’ performance, and the real winner could be Sunil Bharti Mittal…
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M&ACellnex ‘not exposed’ to looming telco M&A in France, says CEO
Marco Patuano underlines towerco’s strong market position in France, and said it would be a critical partner in any MNO consolidation moves.
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M&ABouygues, SFR move to offload wireless infra JV to Phoenix Tower
French telco duo enters exclusive discussions with tower group on sell-off rural wireless infrastructure assets, aiming to further ease debt burdens…
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Financial & PerformanceOrange ‘ready to engage’ in M&A talks in France — Heydemann
H1 FY25: Orange remains convinced of need for consolidation in France, although potential sale of SFR remains up in the air ahead of a court decision on Altice France debt restructuring plan.
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M&ASFR sale speculation: Blackstone is latest name in frame
Bloomberg reports that US asset manager Blackstone is exploring a joint bid worth up to €30bn, and is talking to other potential interested parties, including SFR’s competitors.
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Financial & PerformanceOrange France steers a steady course as competition intensifies
Q1 FY25: Orange clearly does not wish to offer cutthroat prices despite aggressive plays from domestic rivals.
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Analyst BriefingsOrangewatch Weekly: shining a light on network evolution
This issue explores technology advances in telecoms, from cloud native through to generative AI and even all-photonic networks.
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Financial & PerformanceBT Q3 Highlights: is the tanker beginning to turn?
Q3 FY24–25: 12-months in and CEO Allison Kirkby continues to impose herself on the Group with yet more executive changes, but the needle on KPIs has scarcely twitched. Management remains optimistic about prospects at Consumer and Openreach, but latest Business reboot smacks of overseas defeat, as Q3 trading update builds on now-familiar ‘wait and see’ mantra…
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Analyst BriefingsBTwatch Weekly: ‘in transition’ BT ends year on a high
Latest from BT as new Wholesale MD lays out her priorities; Sprinklr tie-up bears first fruit; asset-light international strategy picks up; and BT walks away unscathed from landmark £1bn+ class action case…
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Analyst BriefingsBTwatch Weekly: earnings add to Kirkby’s optimism
Latest from BT as CEO Allison Kirkby uses drab half-year results to cast vision for the future; Business prepares for Global divestment; Openreach beats fibre expectations; BT riled as Vodafone–Three merger nears…
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M&ABT welcomes Bharti’s ‘long-term’ thinking as Altice ousted
CEO Allison Kirkby says Bharti ‘recognises long-term value’ of BT Group as it picks up a 24.5% stake, but what does Bharti bring that Altice didn’t?
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Analyst BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: TowerCos face churn, altnets’ £800m losses, TalkTalk rapped
Latest from the digital infra scene in the Europe and beyond, including another £16m on the £800m UK altnet losses pile; £6bn datacentre boost; European TowerCo consolidation mooted, and plenty more…
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Analyst BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: fibre routes to retail; TalkTalk’s latest rejig; Asia’s infra ownership overhaul
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including TalkTalk’s last-minute refinancing, investment boosts for the satellite sector, Japan’s moves towards greater infrastructure sharing, and plenty more…
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Analyst BriefingsDeutsche Telekomwatch Weekly: Europe ‘not so anti-growth after all’
After several major, US-side buyouts this year, Group indicates some M&A budget could be portioned out to Europe too, as regional performance remains solid and DT prepares fresh medium-term strategy.