Spain Telecoms News

Round‑up of recent activity among Telefónica-backed startup and venturing ecosystems.

Innovation (R&D)
Beefing up blockchain
Telefónica accelerates its blockchain activity with launch of TrustOS platform, the Blockchain Activation Programme, and membership of the Hyperledger community.
Innovation (R&D)
Telefónica Alpha taps NHS for patient data
O2 UK catches heat for a Group‑led project, with negative press coverage underlining the PR risks associated with data‑driven projects in sensitive sectors.
Enterprise (B2B)
Telefónica Empresas adds BMC Helix to cloud offer
Partnership with IT support management specialist expected to bolster Telefónica’s portfolio of cloud‑based scalable solutions for the enterprise market.
Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica role in network-sharing coalition to be limited
Telefónica attempts to muscle in on Orange‑Vodafone sharing deal prompts a revision of plans to protect synergies while minimising risk of regulatory interference.
Public Affairs
New emission-reduction programme launched by Telefónica
Sustainability strategy flagged at UN’s COP25, including energy consumption requirements.
Partnerships & Alliances
Telefónica España renews Euskaltel deal
Telefónica España renewed its wholesale mobile agreement with Euskaltel Group, parent of regional quad‑player Telecable.
Innovation (R&D)
Telefónica España opens DEKRA V2X lab
Telefónica España, the Andalusian local government, and vehicle testing and inspection expert DEKRA opened the doors to a new research and development laboratory for 5G vehicle‑to-everything (V2X) technology.
Enterprise (B2B)
Telefónica España wins EUIPO contract
Telefónica España will provide fixed telephony services to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) after it won a contract worth €2m.
Innovation (R&D)
5TONIC presents 5G-enabled emergency response solutions
5TONIC, the research and development laboratory co‑germinated by Telefónica Group and IMDEA Networks Institute, presented a 5G‑enabled emergency services solution that aims to reduce incident response times to increase the chances of survival.
M&A
European Commission slows Telefónica España’s Prosegur acquisition
Telefónica España’s planned acquisition of a 50% stake in Prosegur, the Spanish security alarm business, has slowed ahead of regulatory approval from the European Commission (EC).
Recruitment
T-Systems Iberia ups employee numbers
T‑Systems Iberia (T‑Sys IB) was said to have gradually increased the number of employees based at its business innovation centre (BIC) in Granada.
Strategy & Change
BT completes Spanish retreat
BT Group exits Spain after selling its ICT services business to Portobello Capital.
Public Affairs
Vodafone Spain ordered to pay €18m to former ONO CFO
Vodafone must reportedly pay upwards of €18m to Carlos Sagasta, former Chief Financial Officer at ONO. VfS acquired ONO in 2014 and has fought legal cases against its board since.
Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone Spain and Huawei launch Andalucían 5G project
VfS flagged the start of a 5G pilot project in Andalucía alongside network partner Huawei Technologies.
Operations
Telefónica opens Digital Operations Centre in Madrid
New integrated facility set to link in with Group restructuring, and support ongoing enterprise business drives.
Enterprise (B2B)
Telefónica takes Huawei to 5G core in Spain
Home operation gives vote of confidence to embattled Chinese supplier but wants less reliance on Huawei. Procurement of another 5G core expected during 2020; Affirmed Networks and Mavenir Systems reportedly in contention.
Products & Services
Movistar Living Apps extend AURA on 800,000 STBs
Telefónica talks-up connected home capabilities with new apps from partners, but with limited reach. ‘Home‑as‑a‑computer’ a technological focus for the Group, although commercial demand unproven, and early gloomy indications of Movistar Home performance. Latest announcement bolsters Microsoft position as key AI partner for Telefónica.
Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica España takes 92% of state fibre funding
Telefónica España receives 92.2% of Spanish government grants for extension of broadband across the country, taking 65 of the 125 projects available. Adamo, Euskaltel, MásMóvil, and Orange receive funding for the remainder. Telefónica handed €6m fine for a breach of the General Law of Telecommunications related to its service ...
Strategy & Change
Telefónica sells flagship Barcelona real estate
Telefónica Group sold its Catalonia Square building in Barcelona for €100m to Spanish entrepreneur Daniel Maté.
Products & Services
Movistar Car free for a month
Movistar is offering free activation and a month’s subscription to its Movistar Car service as part of seasonal promotions.
Products & Services
Movistar+ TV now Chromecast-compatible
Telefónica España confirmed that content from its Movistar+ pay‑TV platform can now be ‘cast’ to television sets via Google Chromecast.