All articles by Richard Agnew – Page 44
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OperationsUnions eke out concessions on Vodafone Spain cuts
Operator firms up yet another business overhaul. Deal made to outsource remaining retail outlets rather than close them as part of job cull. Terms agreed for voluntary redundancies and retirements.
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Financial & PerformanceHrvatski Telekom continues to eye regional M&A
Croatian operator sees an uptick in business during summer months, leading to raised forecasts. Management remains keen on building HT into a regional telco/IT business, saying dealmaking opportunities are being monitored.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodafone sees sales dip from international tie-ups
Revenue from Group’s Partner Markets federation falls back amid pandemic and footprint reduction. Vodafone’s flow of cash from Africa takes a drop following rework of M-PESA business.
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Strategy & ChangeDT looking to Russia to crack digital code
Group moots coming expansion of its St. Petersburg software development facility by two-thirds. Hiring plan aimed at supporting key IT challenges such as fibre roll out planning and management, customer experience improvement, and open RAN deployment.
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PremiumDT starts mobility-as-a-service ecosystem build
Telekom Mobility Solutions taps Siemens on mobility-as-a-service app development. Bonn deployment scheduled for mid-2022, with local DT employees getting first dibs. Wider German rollout expected to follow soon after, subject to platform popularity.
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Partnerships & AlliancesBuyIn boasts transatlantic tech sourcing footprint
Purchasing JV indicates it is widening strategic sourcing scope in North American vendor ecosystem. Comments come with DT seeking to build closer strategic links with its American growth engine.
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Strategy & ChangeVodafone to overhaul supply chain ops
Warehouse consolidation and digitisation intended to bring greater transparency and control of purchases from China and other key marketplaces. New, digitised stock management facility planned for “small country in the middle of Europe”. Move comes with supply chain resilience and predictability at top of news agenda.
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M&ATelefónica moulds new UK unit for central cloud push
Cancom business, bought in August, becomes “Telefónica Tech UK & Ireland”. New name reflects ambitions to widen out Group’s in-country offering.
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Venturing & InvestmentsBT forms team to target strategic startup investments
Group getting back in funding game, focusing on startups in North America and Europe. New Digital division’s focus on platforms and partnerships at centre of push.
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PeoplewatchVodafone twins management of international B2B units
Partner Markets’ CEO Diego Massidda takes on ownership of Carrier Services division. Move adds to wider rework of Group’s international B2B functions as Vodafone seeks post-pandemic growth revival and more joined-up go-to-market approach.
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Strategy & ChangeBT eyes telco tie-ups following buying reboot
Newly inaugurated BT Sourced unit may branch out as a commercial player, selling services to other telcos and big companies. Function’s leadership open to partnerships in and outside industry, including DT and Orange’s BuyIn JV.
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M&AVodacom aims for 100m fintech users on road to sale
CEO Shameel Joosub sets sights on nine-figure base to win better bargaining position with potential buyers and partners. Vodacom taking control of fintech offerings in Ghana and Egypt, to fuel expansion.
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PeoplewatchSwantee ends fleeting spell on Vodafone board
As-yet-unrevealed clash of interests prompts former EE CEO to leave Group after less than two months. Move comes amid M&A action in both UK and Netherlands.
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B2BSafaricom upping B2B ante with new marketplace
Kenyan operator looking to connect better with small business requirements. Move furthers Safaricom’s “fintech-anchored” digital growth strategy.
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M&AVodafone’s nudge technique gets STC ‘back to table’
Regional media reports indicate that Saudi Telecom Company is seeking to revive a buyout of the Group’s Egyptian business, after failure of 2020 deal. Move follows Vodafone’s exploration of an internal switch of Egyptian OpCo.
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Venturing & InvestmentsVodafone ups investment in collaboration player VOSS
Group contributes to new funding round by long-time unified comms services partner. Rare sign of activity at Group’s startup investment unit Vodafone Ventures. VOSS bidding for growth following pandemic shake-up to business collaboration.
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OperationsVodafone Spain staff set for more redundancies
Challenged Spanish OpCo initiates plan to remove another 500-plus people from its headcount. Another large-scale downsizing move made under cover of Digital Telco transformation, and as fodder for Group’s centralisation-led efficiency plans.
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Strategy & ChangeEvans elevated to lead Telefónica’s digital strategy
Former O2 UK CEO takes a step up the Group management ladder after missing out on role as head of merged UK JV. Potential for pivotal digital double act with Chema Alonso bringing innovation expertise to be harnessed by Evans’ commercial nous. Navarro remains as key adviser to Chairman, ...
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Network & InfraLiberty sees UK–Dutch tower separation “sooner than later”
CFO says group “not in love with” tower ownership and keen to unlock value. Virgin Media O2 and VodafoneZiggo assets in focus.
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Partnerships & AlliancesDT set for trio of Vision Fund tie ups: Claure
SoftBank to give DT a big reservoir of digital partners to draw from as it seeks new revenue streams, starting with European e-mobility, learning, and fintech players. Claure talks up ‘convergence’ and long-term nature of relationship between SoftBank and DT. SoftBank exec looking to make big impression after securing ...