Spain
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Weekly Briefings
Telefónicawatch Briefing: Murtra’s M&A mantra
Reports indicate the Spanish group could cash in on a significant chunk of its Vivo stake to bolster the financial platform for its upcoming new strategy. Investment and M&A speculation also continues to swirl around UK asset Virgin Media O2 and a big-bang return to the European data centre scene. Read more…
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Strategy & Change
Telefónica to take more ‘calculated risks’ in new strategy, says Murtra
Telefónica’s strategic review is now expected in the fourth quarter this year, as Executive Chairman Marc Murtra envisions more risk taking and calls for a “social contract” with the European Commission that enables national consolidation in exchange for investment.
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People
MásOrange appoints new IR head in prep for ‘potential IPO’
Juan José Gaitán moves from Cellnex to take on investor-facing responsibilities at the Spanish operator, with a valuation for a possible IPO and the sale of a stake in the fibre JV with Vodafone Spain on his to-do list.
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Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica leads Spain’s bid for EU-backed AI Gigafactory
Telefónica and MasOrange are part of a consortium hoping to win a concession for a large-scale AI data centre in Spain through a €20bn European Union programme aimed at building up the region’s AI infrastructure.
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Financial & Performance
Mixed results fuel Telefónica’s search for stability
Q1 FY25: Quarter’s numbers highlight inconsistency across Telefónica’s international empire, and reliance on Spain and Brazil for growth — fuelling question of whether new leadership team needs to go beyond existing work on Hispam assets when considering future shape of group…
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Financial & Performance
Telefónica Q1 in-depth: dragged by two-speed core four, Hispam woe
Spain and Brazil lead the way as Telefónica secures another quarter of organic growth in revenue and earnings…
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Financial & Performance
Telefónica Q1 spend: thrifty group nears single-digit intensity
Drops in capex and capital intensity re-emphasise Telefónica’s lead over many European telco peers when it comes to moving into new, more outlay-light era…
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Marketing
Telefónica España brings back the human touch with CX overhaul
Movistar por Ti is to be extended across the Spanish unit’s customer base, featuring a platform-based approach to customer services underpinned by AI, but emphasising support from actual people.
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Operations
Telefónica shares network autonomy progress; calls on peers to reciprocate
Telefónica’s drive towards autonomous networks is reshaping the group, with Level 4 autonomy already achieved in key domains. This special report includes AI-driven innovation, the centrality of people, measurable KPIs, and a clarion call for industry-wide transparency…
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Partnerships & Alliances
Hungary’s 4iG is latest telco entrant into European arms race
Hungarian telecoms and tech player set to take a 75% stake in military-focused holding business, dubbed N7 Defence, becoming the latest telco to target growth from increased security spending.
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Weekly Briefings
EMEA Infrawatch Briefing: fixed infra rejigs; DC money keeps flowing
Latest on EMEA digital infra: major investments in data centre expansion seen across the region; Spanish telcos continue work on creating new fibrecos after major M&A last year; Vodafone diversifies build partners at German fibre JV after Geodesia ”issues“…
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Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: CEO Della Valle’s slow-cooker recipe
Latest from Vodafone and its global interests, including a deep dive into the group’s FY24–25 results. CEO Margherita Della Valle continues to talk a big game, but questions remain about the overall strategy; VodafoneThree emerges as new scaled UK mobile giant; Safaricom tees up in-market M&A; Vodacom rejigs executive structure; Vodafone Germany hits new lows…
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M&A
Telefónica, MásOrange said to explore Vodafone Spain slice-up
Operators have reportedly held ‘informal’ talks over potential acquisition of Vodafone Spain, including potential to split up and purchase parts of the telco. If formalised, such a deal would face several hurdles before getting across the finish line…
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M&A
Telefónica, Vodafone Spain ‘nearing finish line’ on fibre JV stake sale
Operator duo reportedly in final stages of negotiations to offload a significant stake in their Fiberpass joint venture. Rumours could indicate investors remain interested in Spanish fibre, after reports that Vodafone has encountered friction in negotiations to sell part of a separate JV with MásOrange.
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Financial & Performance
Vodafone FY24–25 in-depth: another challenging year en route to German revival
CEO Margherita Della Valle emphasises the various ‘transitions’ Vodafone has navigated over the past two years, putting mixed financials in perspective…
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Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica says adios to copper after completing switch-off
Spanish operator is officially in post-copper era after switching off its last legacy exchanges, putting it in pole position among European telcos to benefit from capex and opex savings.
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M&A
MásOrange, Vodafone Spain ‘rethink FibreCo stake sale’
Operator duo reportedly considers adjusting plans to offload a 40% stake in their work-in-progress fibre joint venture, after “most” of the initial non-binding offers that investors have submitted fell below the €7bn minimum valuation they are seeking.
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Weekly Briefings
Orangewatch Briefing: Huawei is back in business in Spain
In this issue, we report on MásOrange’s apparent renewed enthusiasm for technology from China-based vendors for cutting‑edge network developments.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telefónica and CaixaBank rejig device finance tie-up
CaixaBank and Telefónica combine two separate financing joint ventures into their Telefónica Renting tie-up in Spain in latest development between the long-time partners.
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Technology
Cellnex recruits AI in fightback against dodgy landlords
CEO of Europe’s largest tower group highlights use of data analytics to identify strategic risks affecting its 120,000+ sites across region, amid ‘indecent’ moves by land aggregators.