Brazil Telecoms News

Telefónica claims to have met its FY19 guidance, frowing by 3.2%. 2020 stability promised, but Covid-19 means all bets are off.

Strategy & Change
Telefónica steps up response to coronavirus crisis
Group‑wide commitments made to maintaining network capacity in light of changing demand. Cisco and Microsoft partnerships enabling additional enterprise customer support. Consumer benefits include temporary free content and information access, and leeway on data use. Cooperation with public administrations and local rivals seen across the Telefónica footprint.
Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica to trial 5G open RAN
New vendor pack picked for fresh, Europe-based 4G/5G testing round. Open RAN to meld with UNICA as network cloud/virtualisation efforts spread out. O‑RAN Alliance enters picture. No word on timing for open RAN go‑to-market.
Financial & Performance
Regional performance: Group savours European stability
FY19 results the first since a tightened focus on four major markets. Volatility in Hispam business seen as justification for focus on key regions.
M&A
TIM and Telefónica plot to carve up Oi
Ever‑closer Brazilian operators exploring ways to consolidate in the mobile market without falling foul of the authorities. Determining the shape of a final deal, and clearing hurdles from Oi stakeholders, could be a drawn‑out process, and distressed fourth‑placed player still open to other offers.
Venturing & Investments
Telefónica-backed startup and venturing ecosystems, March 2020
Round‑up of recent activity among Telefónica-backed startup and venturing ecosystems.
Strategy & Change
Telefónica hits ground running with restructuring plans
Hispanoamérica expected to be put on a par with Partners Program operators as Group prepares for sale and encourages local independence. Latin American billionaires float a majority stake acquisition of local assets, with Telefónica a minority shareholder, but individual OB sales still a prospect. Morgan Stanley working on Telefónica ...
Partnerships & Alliances
Vivo and TIM follow through with network-sharing deal
Partners progress on merging legacy networks, and expanding 4G to more rural areas through a multi‑operator core.
Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica|Vivo, TVF launch Terra Fibre FTTP
Telefónica|Vivo’s first fibre deployment franchise partner TVF launched a Terra Fibra-branded fibre‑to-the‑premise (FTTP) offering in a second city during late‑2019.
Network & Infrastructure
Vendors jockey for position as Brazil’s 5G auctions near
Huawei awarded 4G equipment contract, paving the way to become Telefónica’s biggest partner in the Brazilian market. Ericsson set to mount a response.
Suppliers & SCM
Telefónica picks Comtech for LatAm remote backhaul
Telefónica Group agreed a multi‑year programme with US‑based Comtech Telecommunications to help it manage the backhaul requirements of its 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile networks in Argentina and Brazil.
Network & Infrastructure
Vivo looks for FTTP partners to boost regional coverage
New franchise model aims to extend FTTP footprint by one million homes by end‑2021. Three franchisees already signed up.
Enterprise (B2B)
Vivo selling 1,909 towers to Telxius for €140m
Telefónica|Vivo agreed to sell 1,909 tower sites to Telxius Torres Brasil for BRL 641m (€141m).
Products & Services
Vivo brings carrier billing to Brazil
Telefónica|Vivo was the first operator in Brazil to offer carrier billing for Globoplay, a major local video-streaming platform.
Financial & Performance
Vilá quietly confident in Telefónica’s steady progress
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.
People
Telefónica Latin America People Moves, October-November 2019
Several digital and data role changes at Vivo follow recent reputational woes at the Brazilian operating business. Telefónica Mexico brings in new senior management following recent CEO switch. Latest people movements include: Tomás Bermani, André Dias, Claudio Ikeda, Luiz Gustavo Paguetti Roque, João Paulo de Oliveira Prado, Cristiano Yazbek ...
Products & Services
Vivo launches RCS on Google’s platform
The latest attempt to breathe life into RCS will see Telefónica offer brands an opportunity to interact with customers more directly. Google’s backing for the technology is helping to bring traction to the Latin America region.
Strategy & Change
Vivo updates BSS to improve service to enterprises
Ongoing work with NEC’s Netcracker will see Telefónica|Vivo upgrade its systems for selling to, and supporting, enterprise customers.
Enterprise (B2B)
Telefónica Brasil signs ‘Golden Arches’ contract
Another major enterprise win for Vivo Empresas’ in 2019. McDonald’s franchise holder will adopt SD‑WAN technology.
Suppliers & SCM
Ezentis trumpets latest Telefónica contract wins
Ezentis maintained its drumbeat of deals, highlighting its ongoing infrastructure management relationship with Telefónica across Latin America.
M&A
Vivo interested in Oi spectrum as asset sale speculation bubbles up again
Telefónica|Vivo appears to be circling Brazil’s distressed fourth‑placed operator Oi more closely as speculation on the sale of its assets bubbles up again.
Strategy & Change
Telefónica accelerates transformation as market worries
Accelerated transformation unveiled to ease investor worries prompted by Latin American turbulence and uncertainty on prospect of profit from digital transformation. Mast monetisation expected to provide €360m profit boost, with action to be taken within coming year. While Telxius expansion a clear path to raising funds, other options are ...