Strategy – Page 16
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Network & InfrastructureDT moves goalposts on German infrastructure mega-projects
Headline FTTH and cell site expansion roadmaps reworked. COVID-19 disruption, regulatory barriers, and bad weather cited as contributors. First signs emerge of the Group’s new, pandemic-influenced medium-term planning, due to be laid out later in 2021.
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PeopleVantage Towers CEO says he’s no Vodafone lackey
Vivek Badrinath emphasises operational and strategic independence from Vodafone. CEO claims Europe is 20 years behind the USA in commercialisation of towers. Newspaper interview used to defend upcoming listing on Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
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M&ATelefónica sells infra biz to American Tower
Telxius finds a home at US infrastructure giant. Transaction expected to wipe €4.6bn off Telefónica net debt.
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PeopleOpenreach seeks people power to fuel full-fibre
BT infrastructure division announces 5,300 new jobs for 2021, although 2,800 of them will be created within subcontractors. Capacity needed to increase weekly rate of full-fibre premises passed from 40,000 to 50,000.
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Network & InfrastructureBT calls for alternatives to fibre in rural Wales
Connecting the most challenging premises not viable under the USO. Openreach, backed by government infrastructure committees, wants to look beyond FTTP for gigabit access.
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Network & InfrastructureMovistar launches Peru InfraCo post political storm
Telefónica in Peru is establishing a new entity to support fixed-line rollout in remote areas, and is seeking partners. Prior to announcement of new intentions, the award of a new licence to the operator by a government in turmoil sparked suspicions of impropriety.
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Network & InfrastructureOrange CEO open to pan-European TowerCo idea
Stéphane Richard sees “interesting opportunity” in possible tie-up with Deutsche Telekom or Vodafone. CEO wants to do “something smarter” with tower assets than selling masts to accumulator Cellnex.
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Network & InfrastructureDeutsche Telekom takes rain-check on full-fibre target
Rethink on mix of German next-gen deployment will see Group need a year more than expected to get up to full roll out speed.
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Financial & PerformanceOpenreach fibre thrives but volume deal prospects fade
A strong quarter and half-year for the access services business demonstrates building momentum for fibre services in the face of the pandemic. Anticipated long-term volume deals may not materialise, but associated competitive pressure may help BT arguments on the need for a ‘fair bet’ from Ofcom.
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Partnerships & AlliancesT-Systems talks up mainframe business and IBM ties
New mainframe training programmes in place to replace old hands who will shortly retire. T-Sys has “thickest deal pipeline” in mainframe business since 2012.
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Consumer (B2C)BT ends inflation-only price hikes to fund fibre
CPI + 3.9% set as new price rise formula across BT’s consumer products. Covering increased infrastructure investment is the party line, but move is an awkward reversal of recent commitment to inflation-only increases. Liberty Global’s CEO Fries describes the switch as a “whoops” moment for the rival to his ...
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M&ATelefónica ponders surrendering Telxius majority
CFO Abasolo reportedly open to the idea of letting go of direct Telxius control to enable faster growth as an independent business.
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PremiumBT sanguine on DT investment in London fibre rival
Minority BT stakeholder Deutsche Telekom adding to its UK interests through an investment in social housing-focused fibre altnet Community Fibre. Former EE Chief Olaf Swantee to make a UK return as venture’s Chairman. Community Fibre building a business case on sharing Openreach ducts and poles with aim to reach ...
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Strategy & ChangeInfra ambition to fibre up the world
Telefónica Infra-Tech Q2 FY20 analysis. Telxius set to expand its remit beyond tower management and subsea cables with ambitions to bring Group fibre deployment expertise to wholesale markets across Europe and Latin America. Investors may be sought to monetise new infrastructure. Telxius Q2 FY20 performance shows resilience in difficult ...
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Strategy & ChangeItaly’s INWIT: we’re Mercedes of tower race
CEO sees refresh of INWIT’s internal operations, instigated following meld of Vodafone Italy towers, as basis for industry leadership and stepping stone to expansion into new markets.
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Network & InfrastructureCellnex swerves Telxius questions as it builds war chest
Robustly growing tower company with €11bn burning a hole in its pocket. Linked to an investment in Telefónica’s “magnificent” infrastructure division. Cellnex management say keen on operational control over investments.
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PremiumElsewhere in Telefónica Infra-Tech: Kymatio gets funding boost; Navantia gets €5m contract
Telefónica backs TM Forum Open APIs, and Wayra invests in cybersecurity.
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PremiumBT FY19–20: Fibre target raised — in theory…
BT is upping the target for full-fibre to 20 million premises passed by the ‘mid- to late-2020s’.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone sets up new Czech TowerCo
Creation of new business is latest move in Vodafone’s M&A and business improvement plan for European sites.
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Network & InfrastructureDeutsche Telekom rethinks German tower expansion plan
2,000 per year add-on ambition “too optimistic” in current circumstances.