All articles by Richard Agnew – Page 41
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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 ...
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Financial & PerformanceBT OnePhone reports pre-buyout sales jump
Double-digit growth reported by converged comms business ahead of BT’s recent deal to secure full ownership. Despite expansion, question mark continues to hover over payout for stake add-on.
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OperationsOpenreach turns to video AI to cut install snags
Infra provider claims install quality, efficiency, and consistency gains from roll out of video analytics software from partner Vyntelligence.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodafone’s Omani partnership finally goes live
High-profile Partner Markets ally opens up services and stores. Debut comes followed prolonged setup process. Operator stresses “digital-first” credentials. Group executives welcome debut.
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Public AffairsEthiopia presses pause on third licence contest
Regulator initiates another stoppage after interested parties request delay over RFP “concerns”. Move adds to sense of turbulence around Safaricom’s planned entrance into the country during 2022.
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Suppliers & SCMDeloitte ‘in line for Deutsche Telekom auditing role’
Report indicates operator is close to concluding a prolonged and politicised auditor selection process. Deloitte now seen as in pole position to replace incumbent PwC.
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M&AGroup’s Central America withdrawal complete
El Salvador’s Superintendencia de Competencia gives Group green light to exit the market through transaction announced with General International Telecom in autumn. No conditions attached to approval, unlike earlier deal with América Móvil that ended up collapsing. Deal is final of five regional sales by Group.
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Financial & PerformanceBT’s M&A chaperone boosts takings
Boutique advisory firm Robey Warshaw reports a 50% jump in sales from corporate deal-making tasks. Partner of BT and Vodafone appears primed to benefit from industry’s new wave of consolidation.
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Products & ServicesSafaricom to seed DigiFarm agri services in Ethiopia
Kenyan operator gives a hint of digital services that will form part of its line-up when it debuts in Ethiopia next year.
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Strategy & ChangeDT wants another turn on Greek “rollercoaster”
CFO of Greek NatCo OTE’s parent division reminisces on challenges DT has faced in the country since ill-timed 2008 entrance. German operator remains “committed” to the country and optimistic regarding digitalisation opportunities. Call made for action on tax, regulation, and bureaucracy to improve return-on-capital, however.
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InnovationVodafone seeks a bit of tech stardust with Nova platform
New “innovation management ecosystem” promises financial and business support to execs with bright ideas. Focus appears both internal and external, with customers and partners of Vodafone expected to become involved. Move forms part of broader reset of Vodafone’s platforms and services strategy.
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Financial & PerformanceTalkmobile revamp takes a knock from COVID-19
Vodafone UK’s bid to refresh side-business Talkmobile gets bogged down as economising customers and intense competition hit revenue. OpCo still sees inhouse MVNO as a useful defence mechanism against low-cost mobile rivals.
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PremiumFamilyMode relaunch now pegged for early-2022
TMUS partner Smith Micro confirms deal has finally been struck on a new SafePath 7-based FamilyMode 3.0 product. Agreement enables TMUS to tidy up a range of legacy Sprint and T-Mobile family safety offerings.
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PremiumVodafone wants rapid 5G start after escaping Portugal auction shackles
Portuguese OpCo debuts 5G after long delay in securing rights. Little potential for ARPU uplift on show as operators begin 5G commercial race.
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Network & InfraSpaceMobile confirms slippage on BlueWalker 3 launch
Deployment of prototype satellite rescheduled for next summer. SpaceX-supported launch is precursor to integration and testing programme with Vodafone and other partner MNOs.