Telefónica Venturing
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Partnerships & AlliancesO2 e-health partner Visionable ramps up operations
Startup enabling prompt treatment lands NHS contract on the back of successful Telefónica-backed pilot. Group renewing interest in ICT health sector.
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M&A
Could Telefónica hold key in Prisa power play?
Manoeuvring said to be taking place around Telefónica’s residual holding in media group. Group reportedly open to selling 9.4%‑stake but not at any price.
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M&A
Cellnex open to Telxius grab
TowerCo CEO talks up prospect of acquiring stake in Group’s infrastructure business. Idea of Telefónica-Cellnex tie mooted previously — and not totally quashed.
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Venturing & Investments
Innovation in the crosshairs: Wayra X and Wayra Builder launched
Wayra marks tenth birthday with launch of all‑digital hub Wayra X. Innovation arm looking beyond Telefónica footprint. Wayra Builder released to target tie‑ups with external investors for internal tech spin‑outs.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Drillisch soldiers on with roaming talks
Prospective MNO confirms it is seeking one national roaming agreement. DT’s Höttges questions whether potential rival is serious about building its own 5G network. Talks with Telefónica described as ‘constructive’.
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Venturing & Investments
New Wayra investment targeting AI at self‑checkout snags
Longstanding Group partner leads investment round in AI-powered checkout solution player Proppos. Food tech-focused startup has designs on international expansion.
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Venturing & Investments
Wayra helping UK government target LatAm tech scaleups
Entrepreneurs in Wayra’s Hispam footprint to compete in the Scaleup to UK 2021 programme. Doors opened to UK authorities and Wayra specialists to kickstart UK expansion.
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Venturing & Investments
Wayra joins €2.5m ticket for rural Wi‑Fi partner
Wi‑Fi solution startup Galgus closes Series‑A funding round led by Conexo Ventures, with Wayra investing too. Galgus is a Telefónica partner on public Wi‑Fi in under‑served areas.
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Venturing & Investments
Wayra UK’s Moraes: startup maturity needed
UK Country Manager highlights shift in focus for Wayra: scale‑ups that can better take advantage of Telefónica opportunities. UK strategy outlined: B2C a priority; 5G development encouraged. 5G to be deployed across all European Wayra hubs.
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M&A
Vestager: Brexit complicates O2‑VM competitions ruling
European Competition Commissioner signals openness to allowing CMA to oversee the review of O2’s proposed merger with Virgin Media History, and the appeal of the EC being able to reassert its views on market consolidation, may still point to Europe asserting its prerogative however. O2 and Virgin ...
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Venturing & Investments
Telefónica shows cybersecurity intent with Tech Ventures debut
New investment vehicle with cybersecurity focus, powered by ElevenPaths. Nine familiar startups named in an initial portfolio. Minority stakes in early‑ and growth‑stage companies, with 15 investments slated for its first three years.
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Venturing & Investments
Telefónica plants cash in Brazilian IoT player
Agro-IoT Lab graduate lands cash injection. Opportunities in the mining sector driving Telefónica IoT investments in Latin America.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Wayra extends to third Spanish city
Telefónica innovation hub Wayra banks Valencia vicariously through partnership with Lanzadera. Jaun Roig‑germinated hub names Telefónica strategic partner. Wayra doubles down on startup acceleration.
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Venturing & Investments
Telefónica's new alarms JV gets personal with security offer
After a difficult start, Telefónica’s home security JV is developing new services. Launch of personal security offer marks new commercial phase for Movistar Prosegur Alarmas.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telefónica in the zone for high‑flying HAPS partnership
SoftBank-backed comms-in-the-sky venture has piqued the interest of Telefónica, although the Group has yet to divulge any plans for its platform. Venture could be an overlay to ‘connecting the unconnected’ initiatives in Latin American markets.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telefónica renews Deutsche Telekom deal as fibre plans accelerate
Renewed and expanded wholesale volume deal will remove the handbrake on Telefónica’s broadband products, and drive TDE investment. While DT network currently focused on urban areas, Telefónica’s plans for a €5bn rural fibre network are reportedly nearing completion.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Movistar Salud: Telefónica returns to e-health
Portfolio diversified with new telemedicine proposition. Salud family of services marketed for enterprise and home. Public health partnerships also in the offing.
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M&A
Telefónica 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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Partnerships & Alliances
O2 supports green initiative in Thames Valley
O2 UK helps fund smart city deployment for greener networks drive. ADEPT’s Live Labs project small‑scale, but with broader ambition.
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M&A
Fries and Álvarez-Pallete: two minds on UK JV
While Telefónica and Liberty said to be on same page on O2–Virgin Media integration, respective chiefs hinted at varying concerns and strategic priorities linked to the progress of the JV.
