All Public Affairs articles – Page 3
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M&A
Spain buys 3% of Telefónica, more share purchases likely
Madrid initiates process of regaining primary shareholder status in Telefónica, as national interests surrounding telco ownership continue to rise back up the agenda in Europe, prompted by phase of operator vulnerability to outside takeovers and broader climate of geopolitical risk.
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Public Affairs
Germany’s fibre players question viability of Gigabit Strategy goals
Amidst the jostling at FTTH Conference in Berlin, altnets and incumbent Deutsche Glasfaser, GigaNetz and Telekom raise doubts that ‘fibre everywhere’ can be achieved by 2030, more upbeat on demand. Read more…
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Public Affairs
Telefónica ‘in talks’ with SEC on ‘historic fine’ over Chinese ties in Venezuela
Final amount of penalty is currently unknown, the report from El Confidencial says. Probe was launched after President Maduro invited Chinese suppliers to help build 4G networks.
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M&A
CMA concerned Vodafone-Three could access O2 and EE secrets
As expected, the UK merger is headed for tougher scrutiny in a longer investigation following an initial review by the Competition and Markets Authority.
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Public Affairs
Telefónica’s Rao adds to calls for German auction rethink
O2 Germany’s CTIO helps maintain pressure as BNetzA considers next move on spectrum rights.
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Public Affairs
Phones 4u trial: O2, Telefónica slapped on costs, appeal in pipeline
P4u still pursuing UK MNOs over collapse, despite losing trial and first appeal. Has been super squirmy for many involved, including adjacent revelations. Legal costs in near-decade battle top £100m for P4u, EE, O2, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica — with judge spotting defendants nearly £9m for dubious antics…
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Public Affairs
Union 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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Network & Infrastructure
Deutsche Telekom wades into ‘trench warfare’ over fibre duct access
Group continues to refute accusations it is trying to hinder altnet fibre buildouts.
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Public Affairs
Netomnia: 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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Strategy & Change
Vi attempts to convince investors with massive fundraise plan
Vodafone’s Indian JV makes progress on fundraising plans at long last, but questions remain about debt and dues as deadlines loom. Is INR 450bn/£4.3bn/€5bn enough to recuperate the flailing operator?
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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 Affairs
DT ‘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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Marketing
Telefónica seeks more time to resolve DT logo clash
Spanish group seeks to extend year-long suspension of IP rights dispute surrounding its 2021 ‘T’ logo refresh.
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Public Affairs
Telefónica 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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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
CityFibre takes lion’s share of UK’s latest £460m Project Gigabit tranche
Altnets continue to own Project Gigabit, with CityFibre even more dominant, extending first mover advantage over Openreach/BT and nexfibre/VM O2. Read more…
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Public Affairs
BT 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…