All articles by Richard Agnew – Page 47
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Strategy & ChangeCornerstone 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 & InfraO2 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 & InfraDouble-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 & ServicesVodacom 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 & ChangeVodafone’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&ABT 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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PremiumFY20: 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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PremiumGuidance: 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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PremiumHeadline 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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PremiumSpend: 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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Strategy & ChangeQ4 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 & ChangeQ4 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 & ChangeQ4 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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PremiumQ4 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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M&ATelefónica’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.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodafone 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 AffairsTelefónica 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 & ServicesVodafone 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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PeoplewatchCo-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 & InfraLiberty: 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.