All articles by Richard Agnew – Page 38
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M&ANabiax mulling sale of ex-Telefónica data centre bundle
Business set up through Asterion–Telefónica partnership reported to be assessing demand for set of eleven data centres in Americas. Move appears to shift focus of Nabiax, and its commercial tie-up with Telefónica, towards Spain. Centres were picked up in 2019 and 2021, as part of Telefónica’s trimming of Hispam ...
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MarketingBT recalibrates ad strategy with in-house reshuffle
Operator joining up ad capabilities across Consumer, Enterprise, and Global. Establishes new Media Centre of Excellence to share learnings.
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Venturing & InvestmentsTelefónica partner Asterion fills infra fund number two
Investment manager with close links to Telefónica completes set up of a new €1.8bn pot. Five European markets in sights for energy and telecoms opportunities. Madrid-based business has various ex-Telefónica staffers on team and a history of deal-making with Group.
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Content & TVTelefónica ally Atresmedia enters Movistar Plus+ fray
Spanish media group reportedly interested in buying part of Movistar Plus+. Move pits Atresmedia against Vivendi, which is also seeking to build up Spanish media assets. Telefónica taking advice as pressure mounts on pay-TV business in Spain.
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Network & InfraDT lays siege to Vodafone Germany’s cable MOB redoubt
Vodafone just can’t catch a break, with even German stronghold tormented by reinvigorated DT in aggressive housing association fibre overbuild play. Double whammy as new laws tear open cushy supply agreements. Vodafone banks on client ennui to minimise imminent damage. DT dismissive, even derisive, of Vodafone’s defence.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVivo gets ball rolling on Ânima learning JV
Brazilian operator’s Board clears path to creation of new company focused on digital courses. Vivo confirms 50:50 split with partner Ânima Educação. Some bureaucratic hurdles still to overcome.
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OperationsNewgate St: BT has left the building
Facilities management partner completes “decommissioning” of the Group’s former HQ, ending long historical association with St. Pauls location.
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Financial & PerformanceVodafone’s Q3 deciphered: glad-handing activists; German misfire; IoT, Africa fintech blossom
Management seeks to seize back agenda amid growing City pressure for urgency on asset sales. CEO Nick Read assures Group will be “proactive” in finding returns-focused deals. German user experience misstep takes gloss off solid set of numbers. Price rises planned across Europe, in response to rising costs.
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PremiumTesla back at the wheel for HT Mostar
NatCo sticks to familiar script in choosing enabler for network management upgrade.
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Financial & PerformanceVantage tweaks schedule after ‘annoying’ builder delays
TowerCo’s build-to-suit programme hit by labour and material supply crunch. Management responds with move to simplify supply and logistics. Execs assure headline operational and financial goals remain in reach.
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Suppliers & SCMBT partner Versed AI on swerving supply chain strife
With volatility biting businesses, University of Cambridge spinout attracts investment from range of backers with interests in sourcing sustainability and transparency, including fund linked to eBay creator Pierre Omidyar.
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Venturing & InvestmentsSafaricom energy ally Circle Gas lands big Japanese backer
Deal with conglomerate Marubeni Corporation comes with prepaid LPG startup planning to expand beyond Safaricom-supported deployment in Kenya and into new markets in Africa and Asia.
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OperationsBT considers use of AI to expose vendor malpractice
Operator considering application of video analytics software from partner Vyntelligence to identify “incorrect behaviours” in supplier plants. Idea reflective of operators’ concerns over hidden ESG and security nasties in their vast international supply chains.
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OperationsT-Systems reboots India growth plan
DT’s enterprise division re-commits to plan to hire thousands of new tech staff. Local digital boss Anant Padmanabhan promoted to lead services unit T-Systems ICT India. India back in vogue for DT’s management as it seeks fresh talent for digital transformation.
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OperationsVantage drafts MOWEA for mast turbines
TowerCo indicates cleantech R&D tie-up is ready for wider deployment. Deal initially focuses on a small subset of sites in main market Germany, but wider national and international rollout mooted if system checks out.
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OperationsBT and TalkTalk footing the YouView bill as losses mount, Arqiva exits
Latest accounts show the TV platform’s shareholders now down to six, with the two operators keeping the venture afloat. R&D budget remains high at £16m, compared to revenue of just £9m. Telcos remain coy on paying subscribers for their TV services.
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OperationsAI not ready for bot-to-bot negotiation — BT’s Brown
Director of Procurement Strategy & Transformation says AI needs more training, but bot-to-bot purchasing “will come”. BT already implements AI tech to help select prospective vendors and optimise supply chain monitoring.
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Partnerships & AlliancesBT ties with SES on ‘multi-orbit’ data and IoT
Global division looking to satcomms to expand mining sector presence and boost search for growth. Tie-up bridges various in-vogue areas of enterprise IoT, satellite, not-spot coverage, and cloud productised services. Deal appears precursor to broader revamp of BT’s ecosystem at intersection of wireless and satcomms.
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Venturing & InvestmentsDT backs wireless asset tracking startup MonoLets
Group continues to build out IoT ecosystem with cash injection into US connected-label startup. hubraum flags system as potentially “really useful” add to DT’s IoT armoury.
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Strategy & ChangeDeutsche Telekom reveals new CTO; Choi switches to R&D
Head of Technology & Innovation Claudia Nemat making a New Year refresh of her top team. Open RAN point man Abdurazak Mudesir takes over as CTO as Group increases bet on network disaggregation. Current CTO Dr. Alex Jinsung Choi moves to a potentially more free-wheeling position overseeing R&D and ...