All articles by Richard Agnew
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M&A
French telco trio unveil their SFR consolidation pitch
Orange, Bouygues, and Iliad confirm a long-rumoured move for troubled rival SFR, but a reported to have been knocked back by latter’s parent Altice.
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M&A
‘We need to get on with it’: nexfibre boss wants to see altnet acquisition action
Fibreco chief suggests some investors will have to swallow losses on altnets as the industry goes into consolidation mode.
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Analyst Briefings
Telefónicawatch Analyst Briefing: Group vs Gloop as strategy unveil nears
With less than a month to go before Telefónica’s big strategy reveal, the Group continues to appear set for a battle to push through the new agenda, whether with unions and government on cost-cutting plans in Spain, or European decision-makers on consolidation. Exec Chair Marc Murtra has been in Brazil, meanwhile, to raise support for the new plan. Read more…
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People
Deutsche Telekom Peoplewatch: Telefónica and Vodafone tap DT talent pool
The latest strategic and senior changes at Deutsche Telekom see ripples continue to fan out from the recent promotion of Dr. Abdurazak Mudesir to become Group Head of Technology & Innovation, and new top tech execs brought in at Telekom Deutschland and Deutsche Telekom IT. Two former DT execs, meanwhile, re-appear in senior roles at Vodafone and Telefónica.
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People
Telefónica Peoplewatch: new era dawns at O2; Innovation Digital goes ‘cutting edge’
The latest strategic and senior changes at Telefónica, including news that long-serving Germany chief Markus Haas is stepping down after nearly a decade in the job, and just months after signing a new deal…
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People
Alpen Glasfaser’s bureaucracy navigator departs
Magenta Telekom and Meridiam’s Austrian fibre joint venture changes management team structure after exec brought in to build pipeline with municipalities steps down.
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Analyst Briefings
Telefónicawatch Analyst Briefing: Murtra wants a New Deal on new deals
The latest news and developments from around Telefónica, as Executive Chair Marc Murtra reiterates call for European authorities to free telcos to merge, and gain scale against global rivals. Unions, meanwhile, begin to take an interest in what the operator’s coming strategy refresh could mean for its workforce in Spain. Read more…
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Analyst Briefings
Deutsche Telekomwatch Analyst Briefing: DT cuts loose on Europe regs, goes B2B shopping
Deutsche Telekom strengthens its Europe division by finally jettisoning poorly performing and positioned outlier Telekom Romania Mobile. But regional execs want even more gains from the regional market, reiterating calls for a philosophical rethink on how regulations are designed and implemented, and a ‘liberation’ of telcos from outdated ex ante restrictions. Read more…
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M&A
DT goes converged-only in Europe after OTE Romania exit wrapped up
OTE’s departure from Romania is officially complete, following recent regulatory green lights and formalisation of deals with buyers Digi and Vodafone. Group is now nearly exclusively focused on its home market after a near-15-year regional rollback. Parent DT has also now reached full fixed-mobile nirvana in Europe.
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People
DT picks out Poland tech chief to fill key German CTO vacancy
T-Mobile Poland’s Alexander Jenbar selected to take on pivotal home-market technology job at DT, overseeing mega-initiatives around AI, 5G, and fibre.
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Venturing & Investments
DT adds security and AI scaleups to investment stable
Group’s investment arm T.Capital buys into Mondoo and Nscale, creating strategic tie-in for B2B arms Telekom Security and T-Systems.
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Strategy & Change
Unions want input into Telefónica’s strategic reorg
Employee representatives are said to be seeking information on the likely impact of Telefónica’s upcoming strategic review on its workforce, and pushing for the new plan to include a tech-focused refresh of HR practices.
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People
Ex-Vantage chief to lead MásOrange-Vodafone Spain fibre JV: report
Operators said to be putting pieces in place for formal debut of new fibre joint venture Surf, with appointment of CEO.
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Analyst Briefings
Telefónicawatch Analyst Briefing: strategy refresh date set
The latest news and developments at Telefónica as a second strategy update in two years is put in the Group’s schedule for early-November. Read more…
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Financial & Performance
DT resets on cost and consumers, after German jolt
Q2 FY25: Enlarged, US-driven telco titan remains on track for near- and mid-term goals. But with DT experiencing a slowdown in competition-hit home market, and with macro worries pervading, execs indicate they may now push harder on cost reduction and AI-led transformation.
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People
Magenta Telekom boss freshens team with new finance, HR chiefs
Austrian operator’s recently-appointed chief exec Thomas Kicker draws on parent Deutsche Telekom’s talent pool to fill CFO and CHRO vacancies.
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Financial & Performance
Headlines: DT keeps poise despite German stumble
Q2 FY25: Group remains on track for key annual and mid-term targets despite drop in form in home market.
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Financial & Performance
Guidance: DT jolted, but still in the comfort zone
Squall in Germany insufficient to blow DT supertanker off course, especially with T-Mobile US continuing to perform strongly and expand through M&A.
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Financial & Performance
Spend: DT's Höttges previews ‘audacious’ new AI goals
Q2 FY25: Group Chief Executive indicates fresh, high-level talks are taking place within DT on an ambitious revamp of AI savings targets. How far to raise the bar remains an open question among top execs, though.
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Analyst Briefings
Deutsche Telekomwatch Analyst Briefing: marginal gains
The T-Mobile CEO succession plan is confirmed; DT’s management again backs AI to squeeze more out of its business, operationally and commercially; Group makes progress on tidying around the edges of its business, with a Romanian exit now secured and the minority BT Group stake regaining some value. Read more…