All articles by Richard Agnew – Page 36
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Strategy & Change
Leroy 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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Premium
T-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&A
Deutsche 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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Q4 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 & SCM
The 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 & Change
New 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 & Infrastructure
Ethiopia 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 & Alliances
Prosegur 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 & SCM
BT 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 & Change
Cornerstone 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 & Infrastructure
O2 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 & Infrastructure
Double-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 & Services
Vodacom 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 & Change
Vodafone’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&A
BT absorbs Local Business agent Fourfront
Reseller relationship brought in-house in small transaction. BT says no shift in strategy for SME go-to-market.
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Premium
Spend: investment taps kept open, despite pressure
New TDE CEO Gopalan to search behind sofa for capex and opex savings for fibre push.
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Headline data: COVID covered
COVID-19 impacts figures but massively outweighed by Sprint deal and tempered in Europe by NatCo resilience. Group juggernaut rolls on as all key forecasts comfortably surpassed. Höttges goes NSFW to stress DT’s outsized strength versus atrophying European rivals.
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Premium
Guidance: all levers set to growth mode
Earnings growth expected from both US- and Europe-side businesses. Sprint-boosted revenue base forecast for further expansion. TMUS to fuel revival from cash flow dip.
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Premium
FY20: Deutsche Telekom taxis for cash flow take-off
DT expects post-Sprint upwelling of cash flow to begin during current fiscal year, laying basis for next phase of investments. Europe now conquered, says Group CEO as he sets sights on American leadership too. Group’s top line passes €100m with further growth expected in FY21.
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Premium
Q4 FY20: New Telekom CEO wants to muscle-up on fibre
Gopalan gets top-level billing in Q4 session as leadership shows confidence in new CEO to up DT’s domestic game. Group resets fibre mega-project goals. Apparently more sustainable FTTH plan puts ultrafast as central plank of future go-to-market strategy. New entity GlasfaserPlus emerges within Gopalan toolset. First signs emerge of ...