All articles by Richard Agnew – Page 35
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OperationsVodafone banks on the Nile for flow of efficiencies
Group Annual Report sheds light on shared services transformation under the _VOIS division. Egypt emerges as the Group’s largest territory by headcount. CFO Della Valle points to _VOIS “role efficiencies” as it de-siloes, standardises, and harmonises operations.
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Financial & PerformanceDT’s top team drops €4m on shares
Leadership puts money where its mouth is following ambitious mid-term strategy update. German operator seeking to boost T-Share perceptions and align with T-Mobile US’ rising valuation.
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PremiumQ4 FY20–21: Vodacom turns to M&A to turbo-charge change
Fibre expansion back on as Vodacom steps up diversification plans. Operator negotiating potential strategic partnerships across infrastructure assets, as it develops own take on Vodafone’s leaner and lighter TechCo vision. South African group-within-a-group being offered greater freedom by Vodafone than increasingly tightly-controlled businesses in Europe. One question, as it ...
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Strategy & ChangeGopalan puts Telekom on high fibre diet for FTTP gains
FTTP opportunities and cost burden unsurprisingly top of agenda at Capital Markets Day. New TDE Chief Executive unveils multi-faceted plan to free cash and resource for pivotal mega-project. FibreCo JV, vendor rejig, and bigger capex pot among plans to fuel FTTP “acceleration”.
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Strategy & ChangeDeutsche Telekom: Capital Markets Day
Capital Markets Day presentations show Group continuing to flourish thanks to big, correct calls over last decade. Group seeks to boost T-Share perceptions and better align itself with T-Mobile US’ rising valuation. Leadership puts money where its mouth is with bulk share buyup following ambitious mid-term strategy update. Höttges ...
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Strategy & ChangeLeroy not rocking boat with FY24 goals
New regional CEO Dominique Leroy marking predecessor Srini Gopalan’s homework, and gives it an ‘A’. Similar plan laid out for Europe in next cycle, to maintain modest forward movement in revenue and earnings through service quality and efficiency improvement. Centralisation and cloudification of systems key targets in segment’s “next ...
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PremiumT-Systems turnaround match goes to a replay
Patience again called for as T-Sys presents COVID-19-afflicted medium-term figures. Chief Al-Saleh wins postponement of positive cash flow target to FY23 as he seeks to realign T-Sys for new normal. More cost cuts coming in IT, infrastructure, and staff as T-Sys seeks to meet expanded savings target. DT wants ...
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M&ADeutsche Telekom pondering Dutch M&A options
Group appears cold on possibility of buying out junior partner in T-Mobile Netherlands when options open up in January 2022. New tie-up or sale flagged as likelier outcomes.
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PremiumQ4 FY20–21: Vodafone Group goes off thrift script in Read ‘phase two’
FY20–21 presentation sees reins eased off investment, but to an unknown degree, and with a focus on select target areas within leadership’s comfort zone. Increasingly dominant German operations to get a capex boost, along with ever-expanding central functions. Announcement of strategy tweak falls on stony ground, with City appearing ...
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Suppliers & SCMThe Nucleus Option: Vodafone bets big on Google
Vodafone promises data-driven business revolution by shifting to cloud-native data management and analytics platforms. Group sees “hundreds” of opportunities for business improvement in both commercial and operations spheres. Deal will come with Hotel California concerns surrounding Google hookup. Roadmap unclear for huge undertaking. Questions yet to be answered over ...
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Strategy & ChangeNew home for DT’s eastern European and Russian IT units
Internal IT functions brought within domain of Technology & Innovation Head Claudia Nemat. Potentially consolidation-focused move comes with Deutsche Telekom IT in midst of transformation and efficiency drive.
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Network & InfrastructureEthiopia tender win: gov talks up Vodafone’s ‘quality’
Safaricom-led consortium emerges as sole new entrant in damp squib of an auction. Group’s rare move into new market muddied by competitors’ apparent wariness regarding risks in Ethiopia. Only two bidders emerge for new licences. Fears of incumbent’s political heft added to suitors’ macro uncertainties. Plan for an Ethio ...
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Partnerships & AlliancesProsegur wants to take Telefónica JV international
Overlapping LatAm markets being eyed for expanded partnership between Telefónica and connected security partner Prosegur. Movistar Prosegur Alarmas JV said to be maintaining growth in Spain, despite lockdown.
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Suppliers & SCMBT buys into blockchain-based vendor monitoring group
Tech-led transformation of telco’s procurement operations continues via adoption of IBM-backed Trust Your Supplier system. Group joins Vodafone, DT, and Verizon in backing new scheme. Move support category-aligned setup of standalone ProcureCo in Dublin.
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Strategy & ChangeCornerstone exit could be early item on VM-O2 agenda
Indications made that prospective JV’s Cornerstone stake seen as non-strategic, and could be jettisoned in name of “national champion” Grand Plan. Sale would raise cash for higher strategic ambition of fibre expansion. Liberty “gearing up” for talks with partners to team up on Gigabit rollout. Fries showing willingness to ...
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Network & InfrastructureO2 to expand small cell footprint beyond London
Long-running project in capital seen as having progressed to point where template can be expanded to other UK cities. Move sets up contest between O2’s site and tech enablers.
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Network & InfrastructureDouble-take as Telefónica forms Malaysian security tie-up no.2
Deal with TM ONE, Telekom Malaysia’s business-to-business unit, follows shortly after tie-up with rival Axiata. Telefónica Tech driving Group operator outreach programme with security at tip of spear.
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Products & ServicesVodacom eyeing M-PESA’s biggest money transfer yet?
M-commerce froth suggests possible eight-figure valuation for M-PESA. High-profile friends could add further appeal. Joosub showing signs of monetisation interest, possible temptation.
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Strategy & ChangeVodafone’s hardball negotiator displays softer side
VPC’s Wilson says hard-wired, monolithic vendor deals stifling telcos and moving towards collaborative partnerships. Spend mix change seen as in post. Accenture held up as key strategic ally and early adopter of new model. Reality-check acknowledged: old school procurement seen as problem rather solution.
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M&ABT absorbs Local Business agent Fourfront
Reseller relationship brought in-house in small transaction. BT says no shift in strategy for SME go-to-market.