Richard Agnew
Richard Agnew is Group Editor at TelcoTitans and Market Mettle.
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Partnerships & Alliances‘Techmaker’: DT’s South Korean 5G JV surfaces
New venture’s executive team to build 5G innovation pipeline from South Korea to Europe. JV initially aims to build go-to-market around 5G in‑building solutions, and then spread to import and development of other systems. Working name chimes with mandate to commercialise Asian 5G tech in western markets.
- People
DT’s tech and M&A chiefs earn contract extensions
Thorsten Langheim (USA & Group Development) and Claudia Nemat (Technology & Innovation) both pick up new five‑year deals. CEO Höttges underlines stability and momentum for the Group.
- Network & Infrastructure
DT moves goalposts on German infrastructure mega‑projects
Headline FTTH and cell site expansion roadmaps reworked. COVID‑19 disruption, regulatory barriers, and bad weather cited as contributors. First signs emerge of the Group’s new, pandemic-influenced medium-term planning, due to be laid out later in 2021.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone NZ pivots to improve post-sale performance
Former Vodafone OpCo jumps on CX/digital transformation train in a big way, in bid to raise profitability. Quadruple IT stack legacy of time in Vodafone Group one area of inefficiency to be removed. Two of top team shuffled out amid commercial reset, including long-time Vodafone exec Antony Welton.
- People
Enterprise CTIO Karonis to exit BT
Former EE technology boss signs off after decade-long stint spanning mobile operator’s 2016 integration into BT. Exit adds to list of executive changes at Enterprise and within BT’s broader tech and innovation functions.
- Network & Infrastructure
Deutsche Telekom wraps up Austrian tower spinout
Another building-block added to multi-layered platform Group is bringing together in European tower space.
- Network & Infrastructure
EE ploughs ahead on Scottish rural 4G plan
Operator’s backing for S4GI not‑spot scheme shows through in latest on-the-ground progress. ESN involvement appears to have created efficiencies, helping EE to build case for expanded involvement. Middleman challenges evident in slow pace of S4GI roll out.
- Content & TV
Deutsche Telekom preps move into edge‑based TV
Group putting connectivity and cloud together with plan for rollout of personalised, low latency‑reliant TV services layer. Another sign of rampup of capabilities for a big Magenta commercial push ahead of Euro 2024.
- Strategy & Change
Vodafone centralising national tech functions for Europe platform union
In-country tech leadership to be extracted and taken over by Group, as part of broader, homogenisation-focused regional reorg. Top Group execs in London hope move will address longstanding frustration with fragmentation and bring efficiencies and speed. Some in OpCos might continue to have other ideas…
- M&A
Vodafone’s Read coy on Spanish M&A possibilities
“Pragmatic” Vodafone will “always examine opportunities to enhance and strengthen our business”, says Group Chief Executive.
- People
Osborne to become Vodafone’s deal-making wingman
Ex-UK Chancellor likely to be involved in future Group acquisitions after agreeing to join M&A chaperone Robey Warshaw.
- M&A
Caching out: Vodafone’s long-range storage play exited
Group’s corporate venturing portfolio continues to dwindle as Caringo, an investment made back in late‑2000s, gets absorbed by storage peer.
- Strategy & Change
Vodafone said to be considering Ghanaian switcheroo
Possible offload to Vodacom said to be under consideration. Deal would chime with Group leadership’s bid to consolidate Africa and Europe power bases while improving financial position. Political complications likely to be a factor.
- Financial & Performance
Go-to-market stasis hits Talkmobile numbers
Vodafone UK’s in‑house MVNO yet to report uplift from u‑turn on customer acquisition and implementation of new platform.
- Strategy & Change
EXCLUSIVE: Vodafone splits IT, networks to advance TechCo vision
New bifurcated tech network division of responsibilities. Group and OpCo trickle‑down. Groundwork for delayed TechCo strategy and build‑out. Promoted Scott Petty lays out vision of 5G‑based telco resurgence, but warns Vodafone could become M&A prey if data monetisation puzzle remains unsolved. Further insight into Vodafone’s thinking behind 2025 tech ...
- Strategy & Change
BT seeks to electrify procurement with Faraday subsidiary
Managers for strategic procurement categories being recruited, including network, connectivity, and marketing. Data science remains prominent. New subsidiary’s standalone status emphasised, evidencing detachment and perhaps also ambition.
- Network & Infrastructure
Deutsche Telekom’s four-play makes an impression
Operator’s long-planned Access 4.0 platform goes into operation in Germany, on schedule — but with a small footprint and plenty of work to do to realise Group’s full ambitions for softwarised system.
- M&A
BT Cornwall quietly put into liquidation
Business blighted by falling-out between BT and its local public sector partners to be wound up. Another marker of troubled public-private partnership approach to council contracts confined to past.
- Venturing & Investments
Telekom Innovation Pool: below the surface
Vehicle nearing decade in operation. Now an increasingly active player within Deutsche Telekom’s broader innovation and investment strategy. Reach extending beyond Group’s walls and into new international markets.
- Innovation (R&D)
BT’s Pelipod stashes smart-locker growth
2016 logistics acquisition reports strong top-line increase but remains loss-making. Investment continuing to focus on development of its IoT-enabled boxes. Report follows mid‑2020 takeover by BT’s Procurement department.
