All Telefónica UK (O2 UK) articles
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PeopleLatest Telefónica people moves: Prautzsch takes helm at German FibreCo
Telefónica Infra’s fibre JV with Allianz fills out management positions, drawing on Telefónica insiders. Ayucar and Martínez take CTO roles in the Digital Consumer Data Office. Vivo rotates Operations and Wholesale leadership.
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Venturing & Investments
Shopper tracking startup earns Wayra investment and O2 deal
Wayra UK dials up London-based startup’s already substantial financing. Investment sets the stage for a “ multi-million-pound ” retail partnership with the Group’s UK operator.
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M&A
In detail: Liberty and Telefónica’s VM-O2 pre-nup
Three-year wait expected before a potential IPO of new joint venture, while both parties expected to remain involved in the business for at least five years. Telefónica reserving its right to go it alone in UK on IoT, cloud, and cybersecurity services. Liberty to get a board ...
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Telefónica Core markets: Zalaris banks payroll contract
Payroll contract awarded in Germany ; Vivo hones in on financial services, cybersecurity takes off in Spain .
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Network & Infrastructure
O2 deal with Vodafone to supplement spectrum gains
Ofcom closes assignment stage of UK spectrum auction with O2 trading blocks with Vodafone, while BT opts to buy preferable positions outright. O2–Vodafone trade ensures contiguous spectrum blocks in 5G‑ready bands.
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Financial & Performance
Q1 FY21: final coronavirus quarter packs a punch
Spain and Germany OBs stabilise as first wave of coronavirus shocks works its way through results. Vivo displaying underlying strength, but currency fluctuations continue to turn positives to negative. With strong returns on falling revenue O2 UK bows out as a ‘core four’ market Hispam edges back ...
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M&A
VM-O2 sets sights on BT as merger gets final clearance
CMA’s final approval should see deal completed by 1 June. Owners trumpeting investment opportunities with fibre InfraCo potential coming to the fore.
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Financial & Performance
Mystery of Telefónica’s vanishing digital revenue as Tech takes off
Hard‑fought progress at the start to the year looks set to provide a base to hit guidance, with management seeming open to improving outlook as the year progresses. Group keeping its options open on monetising Hispanoamérica interests and its fibre infrastructure in Europe. Telefónica Tech is open ...
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Network & Infrastructure
Cornerstone to pilot City of London 5G upgrade
“ City-wide ” open access network being explored. Joint venture’s 2017 contract now appears to include 5G. Deployment will depend on the outcome of trials.
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People
Latest Telefónica people moves: Group appoints Climate Change boss
Sustainability a priority with new Chief of Climate Change post. Changes in Germany include a CEO swap at Omnichannel unit and exit of CISO Hollander. Provisional approval for the VM‑O2 merger sees a swathe of proactive appointments — but no room for a handful of O2 UK ...
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M&A
Vantage may be set for new Cornerstone allies
Indications that O2 UK’s Cornerstone stake seen as non‑strategic by prospective new co‑parent Liberty Global, and could be jettisoned in name of post‑merger “ national champion ” plan. Sale would raise cash for higher strategic ambition of fibre expansion. Liberty’s Fries shows willingness to get hands‑on in ...
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone ties with O2 to tidy up mid-band spectrum
Ofcom closes assignment stage of UK spectrum auction with Vodafone trading blocks with O2, while BT opted to buy preferable positions outright. Vodafone–O2 swap ensures contiguous spectrum blocks in 5G‑ready bands.
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Strategy & Change
Cornerstone 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 ...
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Network & Infrastructure
EE spins up spectrum to further 5G ambitions
New licences put to use minutes after being issued, in partnership with Nokia. BT pays an additional £23m after initial low‑ball auction, but Group still bagged “ an excellent price ”, says Consumer CEO Marc Allera. EE open to future spectrum trades as O2 and Vodafone sign ...
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People
Telefónica, Liberty lay out leadership for merged VM‑O2
Telefónica and Virgin Media execs share the spoils 50:50 at the new venture, which is still pending regulatory approval. Jo Bertram and Gareth Turpin among the O2 names to get a seat, with Telefónica Argentina’s de Meo brought in as CIO. No room for O2’s HR guru ...
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Innovation (R&D)
Telefónica Argentina taps IBM for open RAN trial
Proof of concept open RAN network led by IBM as systems integrator. Movistar test network adds to Group trials in Germany and the UK. IBM plants open RAN flag in Spain with new Centre of Excellence .
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Telefónica Core Markets: E-Plus review closed
EC ends E‑Plus review; German 5G rollout builds; UK taskforce plans for supplier diversity.
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Network & Infrastructure
O2 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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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in BT Group: O2-VM gets provisional nod
BT remains neutral as CMA clears Virgin Media–O2 deal.
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Interview
Vishal Dixit: MVNOs are vital to Vodafone UK growth
Conversations with potential UK MVNO partners are “ in the double digits ”. Asda Mobile and Virgin Media deals exemplify OpCo’s new approach to MVNO partnerships . OpCo moving away from a ‘computer says no’ approach to MVNOs.
