All Public Affairs articles – Page 3
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Public AffairsUnion demands 12% wage hike at Deutsche Telekom
Negotiations on 2024 collective wage agreement likely to run until May, if not longer.
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Public AffairsNetomnia: UK’s One Touch Switch ‘hijacked’ by BT, VM O2 as scheme delayed again
Altnet CEO Jeremy Chelot tells TelcoTitans that the UK’s One Touch Switching hub is unviable under current governance, with BT and Virgin Media said to be dragging feet and over-complicating proceedings. A new date has been set, but concerns remain. The alternative? ‘I’ve built it, and it took me three weeks’…
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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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Public AffairsDT ‘withholding payments’ on giant outsourcing deal, amid dispute
ISS, DT’s facilities management supplier in Germany, flags it could take a €80m hit to cash flow this year after the seeing place a halt on certain deal payments. The move comes amid ongoing contractual disagreement between the two groups and is the latest in a long line of headaches ISS has faced since taking on the FM job.
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Public AffairsTelefónica bests Millicom in Costa Rica sale lawsuit
Millicom pulled up in New York for arbitrary and opportunistic behaviour; nine-digit compensation mooted; fallout appears localised with newer partnership elsewhere…
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Public AffairsEuropean 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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Public AffairsUK: 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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Public AffairsBT begins ‘robust’ defence in £1.3bn overcharging class action
BT takes to the courtroom to face groundbreaking “overcharging” lawsuit — argues no case, but presented as fleecing elderly for whom time of essence; with another class action in the works…
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Public AffairsTelefónica wants Chile to have a 5G auction rethink
Criticism of Subtel’s terms ramps up, as operator claims that scoring system, prohibition of third-party infra usage, and regulatory obligations grant advantage to 5G entrant Claro. Auction follows several others in Telefónica’s markets over last year, as Group looks to acquire new spectrum while reducing financial exposure in Latin America.
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Public AffairsTelefónica’s Álvarez-Pallete takes soapbox to Davos, repeats call for EU refresh
Telefónica’s CEO says deregulation and investment “agenda” needed to drive innovation and increase EU telcos’ competitiveness. Comments come hot on the heels of similar messaging from other industry execs. Entrance of SEPI and stc as Group shareholders not a distraction from new three-year strategy…
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Public AffairsRumours linking Safaricom’s M-PESA outage to Kenyan tax agency denied
Kenya Revenue Authority accused of being responsible for M-PESA service disruptions, but labels rumours as “fake news”. Find out more about the allegations and the impact of disruptions…
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Public AffairsBT polishes digital image in battle for tech talent in India
BT Digital seeks to dispel legacy perception to woo bright candidates as it competes for technology skills in the country.
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Public AffairsUK industry reacts to Ofcom’s mid-contract price hike crackdown
Defensive reactions from BT, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone to populist proposal to eradicate uncertain mid-contract price hikes; TalkTalk pushes back on Openreach and Ofcom…
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Public AffairsO2 Germany’s Haas adds weight to plea for more mobile spectrum
O2 Germany says tests show upper 6GHz band is well‑suited for mobile communications.
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Public AffairsDigi reportedly reaches deal for Orange–MÁSMÓVIL remedies
Bloomberg report indicates that a provisional deal has been agreed that could pave way to approval of contentious Spanish transaction.
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Public AffairsTelefónica ‘switches gears’ on Spanish job cut scheme
Operator to implement ERE incentivised early-retirement plan for first time in eight years, with plan framed as necessary due to “functional excess” of workers. Unions already seeking protections for those affected. Move marks continuation of Spanish personnel cost-cutting drive.
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Public AffairsMagyar Telekom hails end of Hungary’s utility tax
Parliament adopts act to repeal tax that cost Magyar Telekom about €20m in FY23.
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Public AffairsTelefónica to ‘firm up’ Spanish job cut plans with unions
Operator to negotiate new incentivised early-retirement plan with the UGT and CCOO, continuing its efforts to reduce personnel costs and simplify structurally.
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Public AffairsPhones 4u trial: UK MNOs cleared of collusion; appeal possible
Tough ruling for administrators who bet tens of millions on winning vast damages with collusion claim. O2, EE, Vodafone and then-parents Telefónica, Deutsche Telekom and Orange may have dodged biggest hits, but reputational damage could linger. Read more on ruling, backstory, next…
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Public AffairsHöttges sounds alarm over EU telco vulnerability to foreign takeovers
Sharing dais with Orange and LGI, DTAG chief rails at litany of EU failings. Inflexibility and inertia dashing innovation and investment, with Vodafone and others now targeted for ”slaughter” by PE, oligarchs. Read more…