All TelcoTitans.com articles in Telefónicawatch #150
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Venturing & InvestmentsInnovation 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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PremiumTelefónica people moves: Global Solutions settles; Open Future rings the changes
Spanish Open Future leadership rotates with Global and Madrid Heads named. Telefónica Global Solutions beds in. Leadership named for Vivo’s personal finance endeavour.
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Venturing & InvestmentsWayra backs Brazilian e-learning startup Alicerce Educação
Startup accelerator Wayra highlights investment in one of local operating business Vivo’s targeted growth areas. Capital will go towards tackling educational divide in Brazil, including via recent strategic tie-up.
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Strategy & ChangeTelefónica Tech changes shape ahead of carve-out
Reorganisation sees cybersecurity and cloud businesses merge. Telefónica IoT & Big Data Tech registered as a Telefónica Tech company.
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Venturing & InvestmentsTelefónica on board with 5G emergency comms project
AI to be leveraged by EC-funded research group as a means of providing enhanced 5G network coverage for emergency services. Group building ecosystem around responsible use of AI. Another example of operator working the axis between e-health and connected-vehicles.
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PeoplewatchFormer O2 and Vodafone duo take helm at Deutsche Glasfaser
O2 Germany’s ex-CEO Thorsten Dirks takes top-spot at fibre altnet. Vodafone Broadband Director Ruben Queimano named CCO, expanding existing Vodafone alumni presence in Deutsche Glasfaser leadership.
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Partnerships & AlliancesTelefónica and BBVA tie on Movistar Money joint venture
Consumer finance business green-lighted for launch in Colombia. Group extends partnership with stakeholder BBVA. Move continues recent refresh of Telefónica’s financial services partnerships.
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Strategy & ChangeCzech operator tops up on O2
O2 Czech Republic extends right to use Telefónica’s European brand name beyond 2030. Group’s ties with operator’s majority stakeholder not totally severed.
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Strategy & ChangeCould Telefónica exit Uruguay next?
Telecom Argentina reportedly mulling play for the Group’s local unit. Telefónica executives stress they remain open to all options to reduce its exposure in the Hispanoamérica region. Group continuing to experience frustrations in snakes-and-ladder-esque regional divestment programme.
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PremiumTelefónica people moves: leaders emerge at re-jigged Telefónica Tech
Telefónica Tech re-organisation brings new names to light. Fibre leadership changes in South American businesses. Former O2 Germany CEO Dirks takes top-spot at rival to Telefonica’s new InfraCo.
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M&AVivo shares Oi’s spectrum spoils
In administration operator Oi takes another step towards recovery with divestment of asset trifecta. Mobile assets won by three-strong consortium of Claro, TIM Brasil, and Vivo. Vivo adds to spectrum capacity as well as new customers, while TIM still takes the lion’s share.
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M&ALiberty homes in on Telefónica units in Colombia and Ecuador
Reports suggest that Liberty Latin America is stepping up its acquisition strategy, and could enable Telefónica to tick two more boxes on its regional divestment list.
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Venturing & InvestmentsTech Ventures looks to unlock Alias Robotics’ full potential
Alias becomes tenth addition to new investment vehicle’s portfolio. EC-backed robot “antivirus” solution to be put on show at Bavarian cybersecurity lab. Importance of cybersecurity solutions for autonomous robots illustrated.
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Consumer (B2C)Movistar steps up smart-home drive
Longstanding partner and stakeholder CaixaBank namechecked as partner on TV-based payment solution. Group’s smart-home play given potential leg up by pandemic, with expanded Living Apps catalogue.
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Partnerships & AlliancesTelefónica in on SEAT’s flagship Spanish e-vehicle plan
Longstanding partner builds-out connected-car alliance with Telefónica. Group lends hand to SEAT’s goal of accelerating electric vehicle adoption in Spain.
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PremiumTelefónica people moves: global Tech changes
Recently-established Telefónica Tech subsidiaries bed in across regional outposts. Well-travelled strategy exec lands at O2 UK.
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M&ATelefónica seeks suitor with Chile exit in pipeline
Speculative report suggests Group is ready to relinquish interest in a key pillar of its Hispam unit as monetisation plans evolve. Liberty flagged as front runner, although may face regulatory challenges, and other runners and riders not ruled out.
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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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PeoplewatchCTO O’Reilly exits O2
Brendan O’Reilly appointed Global CTO at infrastructure provider BAI Communications, leaving a gap at the top of O2 UK ahead of its impending Virgin Media merger. BAI hoping to tap O’Reilly’s 5G and network sharing expertise.
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Venturing & InvestmentsWayra plants further capital in Ireland’s SalesOptimize
Ireland-based startup given (another) leg-up by Telefónica’s incubator hub.