All Political articles
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M&A
CriteriaCaixa becomes largest Telefónica shareholder with 5%
CriteriaCaixa exerts its muscle at Telefónica as CaixaBank gradually fades away.
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Network & Infrastructure
UK gov pledges satcomms R&D investment for ultra-rural homes
Spring Budget adds £160m to LEO connectivity funding pot days after warnings that UK SatCos require fresh funding to stay afloat. BT, Vodafone, VM O2 have named their partners, and early trials are beginning to emerge…
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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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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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Public Affairs
European Commission bending to Big Telco calls for consolidation — report
Draft policy paper shows EC ready to make big changes in telecom rules to allow its big players to scale, invest and better face other (typically US) service providers, according to reports.
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People
e& CEO Hatem Dowidar to take seat on Vodafone board
It’s a happy Valentine’s Day for Vodafone and e& as the partners obtain regulatory approval to get together in the board room.
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Public Affairs
UK: Lords maul government on digital exclusion, call for greater altnet role
Locally-focused altnets are seen as a valuable tool in bridging the Digital Divide by peers tasked with assessing the costs and consequences of digital exclusion.
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Network & Infrastructure
ETNO in existential crisis as Europe weighs response to global business threats
ETNO’s recent State of Digital Communications report portrayed the big beasts of European telecoms as open to change, but hamstrung by regulation and pondering long-term impact of letting infrastructure go.
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Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: antitrust and security scrutiny, home and away
Huge week for Vodafone as M&A activity ramps up: Italy leaves Iliad reeling; Spain progresses; UK gets underway; and Emirati investors dodge security scrutiny. Plus, much more around the Group in Europe, Africa, elsewhere…
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Network & Infrastructure
UK MPs push for rural roaming fix as gov scheme progress lags
The UK parliament is exploring alternatives to the Shared Rural Network as all MNOs except EE struggle to deliver on 4G coverage commitments.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT’s spectrum wish list: more frequencies, fewer fees, and care on sharing
BT’s spectrum policy lead lays out spectrum desires, including more bandwidth, with reworked licencing fees to better reflect need for network investment, and a nuanced approach to shared access…
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M&A
Emirati position in Vodafone found to present ‘material’ national security risk
Government investigation into e&’s 14.6% stake and strategic relationship agreement with UK operator group raises prospect of deal rethink, boardroom reshuffle, but Vodafone bullish in response…
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M&A
No go for Vodafone Portugal’s Nowo acquisition for now
A setback in the Group’s M&A plans, as local media reports say Portugal’s competition authority has rejected Vodafone’s proposed remedies for its acquisition of rival Nowo Communications.
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Network & Infrastructure
EE ‘finalises’ first phase of Shared Rural Network; rivals play catch up
EE hits threshold for geographic 4G coverage, but rivals some way off in the run up to Ofcom’s summer 2024 assessment of MNO compliance with SRN commitments. Find out more…
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone Turkey targets fibre; wants Türk Telekom breakup
Engin Aksoy calls for BT/Openreach-style model in Turkish market to enable full-fibre investment, competition.
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Network & Infrastructure
It’s crunch time for BT’s Huawei core swap out
Will BT start 2024 nursing a Huawei hangover?
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Network & Infrastructure
UK MNOs reach Elizabeth Line, but full London Underground coverage years away
UK MNOs take 4G to four Elizabeth Line stations, transported by neutral host Boldyn, but uninterrupted below-ground coverage may now be slipping into 2026. Find out more…
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Strategy & Change
Post-peak Openreach workforce reduction underway
‘Natural attrition’ at heart of plans to right-size Openreach for its lean full‑fibre future; find out more on the details…
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Strategy & Change
Safaricom fosters digital, engineering talent in youth employment drive
Safaricom develops ‘engineering talent pipeline’ to equip itself and wider Kenyan technology ecosystem with talent in digital and engineering spheres. Read more…
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Consumer (B2C)
Wound-up Ofcom ‘demands answers’ from UK’s dominant ISPs as One Touch Switching delayed again
The UK’s fixed-connectivity scheme remains in disarray, with regulator demanding answers from BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media O2. Will it deem delays anticompetitive, and how will it act forcefully?