Strategy
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Strategy & Change
Deutsche Funkturm gears up for tower expansion with restructure, new HQ
GD Towers’ German arm splits operations into four “closely interlinked” subsidiaries and shifts headquarters to new office in Leverkusen. DFMG Chairman Bruno Jacobfeuerborn said the move will “better support” Deutsche Telekom and other customers with mobile network expansion. Read more…
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Deep Dive
UK Fibre: altnet optimism vindicated over time as take-up erodes incumbent dominance
In depth: Eight Advisory’s latest Tracker shines light on altnet challenge to Openreach, with mature cohorts reaching parity and fibre insurgency continuing amidst land-grab tactics. TelcoTitan’s analysis explores linear trajectory of upstarts, impact of overbuild, continued testing of investor patience, and whether the UK can truly sustain more than two major platforms…
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone, SpaceMobile pick Luxembourg for European SatCo HQ
Group further embeds itself in Grand Duchy with local headquarters.
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M&A
TalkTalk ‘scopes out banks’ in strategic review amidst debt struggles
Troubled UK provider reportedly scoping out candidates to manage a strategic review of its business, including potential to sell remaining units PXC and TalkTalk Consumer.
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Network & Infrastructure
VodafoneThree seeks ‘convergence opportunity’ with FWA plan, fibre altnet deal
Newly combined UK mobile giant sees promise in fixed, too, signing Community Fibre agreement to reach a total of 22.5 million FTTP premises. VodafoneThree expects the fixed broadband base to double, while Community Fibre “optimistic” about industry-leading take-up rates…
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Network & Infrastructure
Brookfield plots multi-billion euro data centre expansion project in Sweden
Private equity giant ploughs funding into Swedish data centre to bring capacity up to 750MW over the next 10–15 years.
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Public Affairs
UK calls on Navy to protect subsea critical infrastructure
UK government wants military to take a bigger role in protecting critical national infrastructure, especially subsea cables, as part of new defence strategy that encourages deeper public-private cooperation for national resilience.
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Strategy & Change
Orange’s Heydemann says message getting through on need for change in Europe
Speaking to shareholders, Orange’s CEO indicates intent to keep up the pressure on European regulators for change, while welcoming signs that repeated lobbying by telco leaders is starting to bear fruit.
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Financial & Performance
Community Fibre take-up rate hits 25% after strategic shift
Altnet hits 25% full-fibre take-up rate, placing it third only to Openreach and nexfibre/VM O2 among UK fibre majors.
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M&A
IHS Towers mulls further asset sales as it exits Rwanda
African wireless infra player sells off Rwandan business to Paradigm Tower Ventures. IHS Chief Executive Sam Darwish says TowerCo has achieved its M&A goals set out following its last strategic review, but indicated further deals could be on the table…
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M&A
DigitalBridge in talks over sale to asset management duo — report
Asset managers 26North and Mercuria reportedly in talks to acquire DigitalBridge, with deal potentially set to materialise “in the coming days”.
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Financial & Performance
South Africa: energy challenges push rivals Vodacom and MTN to collaborate on power
Vodacom FY24–25: operators in early stages of infra-sharing under Energy Users regulation.
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Products & Services
Rip & Restart: AllPoints launches aquila UK fibre wholesale platform
Days after Zen’s The Fibre Hub launch, Fern Trading outpost opens curtains on UK’s latest aggregator in effort to offer a simplified, stable route to ‘national’ ISP scale, with multiple FibreCos and B2B retailers already on board. Could this be the game-changer the altnet segment needs?
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M&A
TAWAL is possible suitor for DT’s latest tower spin-outs
Acquisitive Saudi tower group TAWAL is still keen on M&A in central and eastern Europe and has Deutsche Telekom’s newly carved out masts in its sights.
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Venturing & Investments
Actis looks for emerging infra opportunities after closing $1.7bn fund
London-based infrastructure investment group eyes fresh opportunities in digital infra (among other sectors) after closing latest fund, with focus on businesses in Asia, EMEA, and Latin America…
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Network & Infrastructure
VodafoneZiggo says ‘no’ to Dutch fibre, goes ‘all in’ on DOCSIS
Q1 FY25: With move to new strategic plan, Vodafone–Liberty Global joint venture commits to DOCSIS 4.0 upgrade over the next few years, turning down full-fibre prospect but keeping the door open to FibreCo partnerships…
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Interview
A telco win-win: TXO adds ‘scale and breadth’ to network circularity proposition
In-depth: ‘A local business gone global’: Wales’ green dragon adds heft in US, following recent Europe and APAC expansion — extending bid to scale circular economy leadership and portfolio in global telco network supply and infrastructure value chain…
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Strategy & Change
VM O2 slams brakes on NetCo fundraise amidst Telefónica strategy hiatus (nexfibre curtailed, too)
Plans to sell stake in NetCo spinout paused, as co-parent Liberty looks to “align” with partner Telefónica’s new management. nexfibre build also dramatically slowed to maintain “capital discipline” in UK’s “increasingly irrational” fibre market. Meanwhile, Netomnia raises new funds, ups target by another two millions homes…
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Network & Infrastructure
BT exploring Edge DC play via towers arm
With the decommissioning of copper networks and a focus on AI-ready infrastructure, BT is investigating edge data centres amongst new commercial models for its tower and exchange assets. Explore the strategic implications (including reporting from TowerXchange Europe)…
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Public Affairs
UK’s AI Growth Zone strategy — fit for purpose?
In-depth: As the UK government opens up its AI Growth Zone initiative for formal applications, industry leaders debate the value, variously describing it as everything from ‘ridiculous’ to ‘ambitious’, and running the risk of ‘fetishising’ location and creating a ‘real mess’, as well as presenting opportunity for the UK on a global stage. Includes reporting from Connected North…