All articles by Richard Agnew – Page 38
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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 & Infra
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 & Infra
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 & Infra
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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Premium
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 ...
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Strategy & Change
Q4 FY20: Group thinks out of the box
DT’s new Head of Europe argues that the bloc’s fragmented market is ripe for change. Romania and Netherlands remain in DT’s M&A spotlight. FY20 results show Europe holding steady for DT, despite pandemic. Share buybacks increase holdings in Hrvatski Telekom, Magyar Telekom, and OTE.
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Strategy & Change
Q4 FY20: T-Sys not for sale despite another FY of drag
Höttges wants to keep T-Sys in the DT family despite ongoing wait for the enterprise division to meet positive cash flow ambition. Pandemic-induced order entry and revenue drops laid out in FY20 results. Impact of crisis cushioned by efficiency measures and majorly tightened capex.
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Strategy & Change
Q4 FY20: TMUS highlights DT’s ‘positive headache’
Group leadership relaxed on quandary of when to push button on re-acquisition of majority control in powerhouse NatCo. TMUS on track with Sprint integration, emphasising huge cash flow potential DT could tap into for expansion across Group.
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M&A
Telefónica’s Cerdán has more M&A deals up sleeve
Medium-scale buyouts remain on radar for Telefónica Tech CEO. Bold talk on deal-making forming route to growth goals. Reported souring of Govertis transaction hasn’t put Telefónica off.