Public affairs – Page 55
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Network & Infrastructure
TDE gives Ericsson half a nod for 5G RAN
Swedish NEP unsurprisingly bags 5G RAN update from Germany’s incumbent. Huawei’s RAN fate remains uncertain.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vivo launching 5G DSS in Brazil, semi-committing to Huawei infra
Telefónica’s NatCo to launch 5G network on refarmed spectrum this week, as COVID-19 holds up frequency auctions. DSS employed but workaround deemed“not ideal”. Vivo VP gives tentative green light to Huawei, despite increasing regulatory threat to Chinese-backed networks. Host of new digital ...
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Premium
TMUS and Dish set aside differences (for now)
Ergen shows TMUS he will not be easy to deal with.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Telefónica Group: Green initiatives and TV studio launch
Telefónica recognised for green credentials, and maintains progress in TV content creation.
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Public Affairs
Telco execs to share private comms in Phones 4u case
Senior management at Telefónica, BT, DT, Orange, and Vodafone may be required to hand over their phones for inspection as discovery continues in the lawsuit examining alleged operator collusion in the downfall of Phones 4u.
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Products & Services
Rapid uptake for DT COVID tracing app
Contact tracing app sees more than 15 million downloads in first weeks, and took 50 days and €20m to develop. T-Systems’ new Digital Solutions unit said to be responsible for DT’s contribution to development, while DT contact centres will manage manual test result communications. German authorities muse whether a ...
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Suppliers & SCM
Lords pressures BT on Huawei human rights record
Lords pushing to raise obligations of infrastructure owners to police the supply chain in a way that goes beyond current modern slavery legislation. Government recognised concerns as legitimate, but prioritising improving UK infrastructure rollout. Proposed amendments could put exclusion of Huawei from fixed infrastructure on a faster track than ...
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Financial & Performance
Jio turns into Vodafone Idea’s worst digital nightmare
Massive Google investment underscores both Jio’s domination and its ambition to develop wide range of popular digital services. Who’s Who of foreign investors, which includes digital-savvy Facebook, now accounts for nearly a third of Jio Platform equity. Vodafone’s long-term outlook in India looks even more perilous than before, after ...
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Network & Infrastructure
UK retreats in face of unrelenting US Huawei-NGN pressure
Trump admin tactics force hand of NCSC on restricting Huawei in networks. Ability of UK security to assess and monitor Huawei deployments undermined when simultaneously trying to secure a threadbare alt supply chain. At least that’s the mainstream story.
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Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica snookered with 5G allocation battles ahead
Threat from Orange and Vodafone palling up on rural network sharing could be exacerbated if the pair are allowed to align mid-band 5G spectrum allocations.
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M&A
VHA starts new slate as TPG Telecom
Berroeta keeps CEO role post-merger; Teoh watches on closely as non-executive Chairman. Mobile and fixed network “synergies” a priority. Vodafone brand sits alongside slew of TPG sub-brands.
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Suppliers & SCM
O2 supply chain cracks as German rollout goals missed
Indian plant closures and unavailability of field engineers blamed for failure to meet revised 4G rollout targets.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Group, July 2020: CAT rules in favour; enterprise tool Onit deploys for BT legal
Long distance truck win; Legal continues to transform.
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Premium
Government eyes open infrastructure as 2025 plan stalls
DCMS looking at encouraging greater sharing across utilities and telecoms infrastructure, and encouraging Openreach to make use of rivals’ assets. UK government beating drum of infrastructure investment as part of the pandemic response, but references to 2025 Gigabit network deadlines fading into background.
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Network & Infrastructure
US forces UK hand on Huawei, Germany resists
Reports that tightened US sanctions may be a game changer on Huawei security pave the way for a UK government U-turn on its approach to the vendor. In Germany, leaked DT contract details underline willingness of Huawei to hedge operator risks with stockpiled supplies and financial guarantees.
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Financial & Performance
ONS data errors reshape UK telecoms landscape
The Office for National Statistics new methods marks change for the past 20 years’ price decline, but promise more accurate inflation and GDP readings. Change backs telcos’ claims that they are meeting demands of ‘more for less’ in tougher circumstances than assumed.
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Premium
Ofcom go ahead for Openreach race to switch off copper
Ofcom provides a degree of clarity on Openreach’s obligations ahead of relaxation of regulation, once fibre covers an exchange. However, a wait-and-see approach on determining what will constitute a fully fibre-enabled exchange means Openreach is stepping on the accelerator at its own risk.
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Public Affairs
SA preps plunger for 4G/5G spectrum blockage
Vodacom’s long wait for more network resource in its home market appears to be coming to an end, although false starts have been seen before in SA.
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Public Affairs
Regulatory questions posed over DT’s Romanian exit plan
Possibility of regulatory pushback to a deal raised by national competition head. European Commission would also want to have a close look.
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M&A
EU: Vestager nod set to prompt regional consolidation race
Vestager distracts from four-to-three merger demands by highlighting potential for creation of pan-European big beasts. But is this feasible in any imminent iteration of Europe, beyond cross-border infrastructure ventures envisaged by Orange?