All articles by Richard Agnew – Page 39
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone boosts takings from Partner Markets allies
Soft-power federation increases contribution to the Group, amid footprint expansion. Relationship formed upon exit from New Zealand appears one significant driver. Africa and Americas gaps cloud Vodafone’s ‘global’ credentials.
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Public Affairs
Telefónica sacks security execs in fraud probe: reports
ElevenPaths’ partner relationships under scrutiny as Group looks into dealings within managed security services unit. Report ties investigation with Govertis takeover in 2020, and senior executive reshuffle flagged in February.
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Products & Services
Vodafone remote access re-platforming delivers flexibility-on-demand
Supporting 100,000+ primarily Europe desktop and application users. Microsoft and Nutanix facilitate GDC’s “journey to hybrid cloud scenario”. Pandemic pressure-tests wisdom and capability of 2019 refit.
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People
Co-founder of Vodacom’s IoT.nxt resigns
CEO of South African IoT startup steps down in what appears abrupt decision. Move comes despite repeated talking-up of IoT.nxt’s progress and potential by parents Vodacom and Vodafone. Statement highlights new leadership will steer IoT.nxt’s “journey of globalisation” under Vodacom’s stewardship.
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Network & Infra
Liberty: VodafoneZiggo tower sale is ‘work-in-progress’
CEO Mike Fries sees Dutch joint venture’s assets as undervalued. Partner appears aligned with Vodafone’s eagerness to extract cash from site networks across Europe. Broader discussions over VodafoneZiggo collaboration may be tied in with tower question.
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Network & Infra
DT quietly setting up new fibre company in Germany
GlasfaserPlus comes into being amid accelerating fibre drive by Srini Gopalan.
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Premium
Q3 FY20–21: Top team turn bullish as growth returns, just
Nick Read and Margherita Della Valle claim Group set for acceleration after sneaking back into growth territory during quarter. European macro and M&A questions continue to overhang claims of confidence in regional prospects, however. Amid continued talk of yet more in-country consolidation, “pragmatic” Vodafone will “always examine opportunities to ...
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Strategy & Change
Deutsche Telekom blockchain spinout beamed back to mothership
trust2core’s work on enterprise blockchain application development to continue from within T-Labs. Group said to be expanding focus on blockchain services.
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Partnerships & Alliances
‘Techmaker’: DT’s South Korean 5G JV surfaces
New venture’s executive team to build 5G innovation pipeline from South Korea to Europe. JV initially aims to build go-to-market around 5G in-building solutions, and then spread to import and development of other systems. Working name chimes with mandate to commercialise Asian 5G tech in western markets.
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People
DT’s tech and M&A chiefs earn contract extensions
Thorsten Langheim (USA & Group Development) and Claudia Nemat (Technology & Innovation) both pick up new five-year deals. CEO Höttges underlines stability and momentum for the Group.
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Network & Infra
DT moves goalposts on German infrastructure mega-projects
Headline FTTH and cell site expansion roadmaps reworked. COVID-19 disruption, regulatory barriers, and bad weather cited as contributors. First signs emerge of the Group’s new, pandemic-influenced medium-term planning, due to be laid out later in 2021.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone NZ pivots to improve post-sale performance
Former Vodafone OpCo jumps on CX/digital transformation train in a big way, in bid to raise profitability. Quadruple IT stack legacy of time in Vodafone Group one area of inefficiency to be removed. Two of top team shuffled out amid commercial reset, including long-time Vodafone exec Antony Welton.
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People
Enterprise CTIO Karonis to exit BT
Former EE technology boss signs off after decade-long stint spanning mobile operator’s 2016 integration into BT. Exit adds to list of executive changes at Enterprise and within BT’s broader tech and innovation functions.
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Network & Infra
Deutsche Telekom wraps up Austrian tower spinout
Another building-block added to multi-layered platform Group is bringing together in European tower space.
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Network & Infra
EE ploughs ahead on Scottish rural 4G plan
Operator’s backing for S4GI not-spot scheme shows through in latest on-the-ground progress. ESN involvement appears to have created efficiencies, helping EE to build case for expanded involvement. Middleman challenges evident in slow pace of S4GI roll out.
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Content & TV
Deutsche Telekom preps move into edge-based TV
Group putting connectivity and cloud together with plan for rollout of personalised, low latency-reliant TV services layer. Another sign of rampup of capabilities for a big Magenta commercial push ahead of Euro 2024.
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Premium
T-Sys looks to take campus offering to next level
Ericsson relationship expanded to cover markets beyond Germany. Move appears to align with bubbling private network initiatives at Europe and US NatCos.
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Premium
Partner Markets: Vodafone’s scale-up substitute
Federation spanning 46 markets across the globe, with operators in New Zealand, Oman, and eastern Europe among recent adds.
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Strategy & Change
Vodafone centralising national tech functions for Europe platform union
In-country tech leadership to be extracted and taken over by Group, as part of broader, homogenisation-focused regional reorg. Top Group execs in London hope move will address longstanding frustration with fragmentation and bring efficiencies and speed. Some in OpCos might continue to have other ideas…
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M&A
Vodafone’s Read coy on Spanish M&A possibilities
“Pragmatic” Vodafone will “always examine opportunities to enhance and strengthen our business”, says Group Chief Executive.