Telecoms News UK

Organic growth in key metrics puts Group broadly on track to hit guidance for the year, although Mexico a drag. Management maintaining focus beyond near‑term for 5G and digital transformation. Services beyond connectivity slowly feeding MNC growth.

Partnerships & Alliances
Juniper extends Telefónica Fusión Red role to UK
Juniper is taking a strategic partnership role in the UK, building on its work in Telefónica Group’s home market. Potential noted for Juniper to expand its influence on additional markets, and reinforce existing deployments across the Telefónica footprint.
People
Telefónica Europe People Moves, October-November 2019
Latest people movements include: Hans Jordan, Mattias Karlsson, David Blázquez, Daniele Sidoti, Jon Angus, Kirsty King, Markus Lloyd, Catherine Marks, Duncan Morris, Hiran Ravat, Helen Roberts, Victor Aloi, Gary Stewart.
Public Affairs
Ofcom re-shapes 5G auction plans as MNOs share access
Ofcom confirms intention to offer frequencies in the 700MHz and 3.6GHz-3.8GHz bands in spring 2020, but with a change in auction structure. Industry commitments on rural coverage said to have enabled regulatory rethink. Degree of uncertainty remains due to UK elections and Brexit developments.
Products & Services
O2 UK joins 5G party
O2 a 5G latecomer, but aiming to get up to pace with the market by the end of 2019. 5G launch features Huawei RAN in high‑profile sites, despite operator claims that Ericsson and Nokia are principal partners.
Partnerships & Alliances
MDS supplies UK portal for direct partners
Telefónica UK (O2 UK) and its long‑time partner MDS Global flagged the joint development of a new Partner Insight Portal, which aims to provide direct sales partners of O2 UK with customer and business intelligence data.
Innovation (R&D)
O2 UK’s smart ambulance trial creates remote consulting room
Telefónica UK (O2 UK) provided connectivity for a smart ambulance at Millbrook Proving Ground in September 2019, as part of a trial which it claims “has the potential to revolutionise patient diagnosis, transport and treatment”.
Partnerships & Alliances
O2 UK piloting ‘Shop in-Shops’ at NEXT outlets
Telefónica UK (O2 UK) is piloting a new “experimental store format” in partnership with British fashion and homewares chain NEXT plc in four of the latter’s stores.
Enterprise (B2B)
Church of England strikes Cornerstone deal
Telefónica UK and Vodafone UK infrastructure-sharing joint venture Cornerstone reached a new agreement with the Church of England, with the aim of using Church‑owned sites to boost mobile coverage in both rural and urban locations.
Public Affairs
Labour promises nationalised free broadband for all — BTwatch’s first take
Considerable speculation and debate on the future of UK communications infrastructure and the sector was sparked by a new Labour Party policy. In its Manifesto for the upcoming UK General Election, Labour is committing to the nationalisation of major elements of BT Group that relate to the provision of ...
Operations
T-Systems retains UK outpost, despite challenges
Descent into loss blamed on contract and organisational restructuring. Questions pervade over management’s true interest in UK market.
Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone UK sub-leases 2.6GHz spectrum to StrattoOpencell
OpCo claims UK first following introduction of spectrum-sharing rules.
Network & Infrastructure
Openreach extending local reach
Local authority deals quickly pivoting to FTTP as momentum gathers, with BDUK gainshare in support. Challenge of full-scale fibre illustrated by significant cost per home passed for remote fibre installations.
Network & Infrastructure
Virgin Media sweeps in with gigabit ‘can do’ claims
DOCSIS 3.1 upgrade providing Virgin Media with a clear opportunity to declare itself a key partner in the government’s pursuit of gigabit speeds. Management bullish on the prospect of taking the fight to Openreach, beyond Virgin’s traditional footprint. Sky in a position to play off Virgin and Openreach, as ...
Network & Infrastructure
Openreach talks-up full fibre, as government moves on…
Openreach following through with full‑fibre commitment to distinguish its infrastructure capabilities from rivals. Government putting up more money, but appears open to gigabit alternatives for quicker wins. Openreach tempts government with 2025 win if conditions are right, but appetite for headline‑grabbing grand plan appears to be waning.
Suppliers & SCM
Qualitest secures 5G and ESN testing role
ESN collaboration proving an opportunity to expand remit to 5G for software-testing company Qualitest.
Suppliers & SCM
Avanti highlights relationship with BT Group in recent results presentation
Avanti discussed its relationship with BT Group, and promoted HYLAS 4 satellite in recent results presentation.
Innovation (R&D)
InLinks used to monitor air quality in Birmingham and Bradford
BT Enterprise is working with Bradford Council and scientists in Birmingham to employ its InLinkUK kiosks’ integrated sensors to measure air quality.
Content & TV
PHABRIX flags role in HDR trials with BT Sport
Broadcast test and measurement solutions provider PHABRIX flagged its role in nine months of high dynamic range (HDR) technology trials conducted by BT Sport.
Content & TV
Timeline Television selects Tedial’s MAM platform for BT Sport’s facilities
Production facilities specialist, and existing BT Sport broadcast partner, Timeline Television selected media asset management (MAM) provider Tedial’s Evolution MAM platform to handle and orchestrate media processing and workflow archiving at BT Sport’s facilities in Stratford and the BT Tower in London.
Content & TV
BT demos 8K, but easing focus on technology
Amidst showcase of new network and broadcast technology, BT Sport stressed the importance of customer experience over technology bragging rights. Value of 5G emphasised for more efficient and agile production capabilities.
Public Affairs
Plusnet faces further negative publicity over billing issues
Plusnet, BT Consumer’s budget-brand internet service provider (ISP) subsidiary, faced further negative publicity over billing issues, after its system failed to take payments from hundreds of customers for a period of up to four months.