All TelcoTitans.com articles in Telefónicawatch #161
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Digital Reports
Telefónicawatch Report #161 – February 2022
Key stories include: Copper next to go in asset sale programme | Duo make play for pay-TV tie-up | Tech strengthens with Advisory Board | Regulators reluctantly pass Oi purchase | VM O2 CTO on delivering for the user
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Content & TV
Telefónica ally Atresmedia enters Movistar Plus+ fray
Spanish media group reportedly interested in buying part of Movistar Plus+. Move pits Atresmedia against Vivendi, which is also seeking to build up Spanish media assets. Telefónica taking advice as pressure mounts on pay-TV business in Spain.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vivo gets ball rolling on Ânima learning JV
Brazilian operator’s Board clears path to creation of new company focused on digital courses. Vivo confirms 50:50 split with partner Ânima Educação. Some bureaucratic hurdles still to overcome.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telefónica deepens Oracle on-prem cloud ties in Spain
Operator unveiled as host partner for Oracle Cloud Madrid Region. Highlights (again) importance of using in-country data centres to ensure compliance with national data sovereignty regs and help business continuity. Telefónica Tech to offer Oracle Cloud Infrastructure services and boost PaaS offering.
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Public Affairs
Alierta era scandal still haunting Telefónica
Telefónica pays €6m into court to cover potential civil liabilities linked to trial of disgraced former advisor Rodrigo Rato. Newspaper speculation portrays Rato’s co-defendant, former Telefónica counsel Sánchez de Lerín, as “the man with the briefcase of secrets” linked to the telco. Rato litigation an ongoing hangover from earlier ...
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M&A
Telefónica mulls Movistar Plus+ options as Vivendi circles
Vivendi reportedly interested in buying part of Movistar Plus+. French media group seeking approval to increase Prisa stake to 29.9%. Telefónica seeking advice as pay-TV customers drain away in Spain.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Hispanoamérica: Movistar Peru fails penalty appeal
Telefónica Colombia doubles up on sustainable borrowing; Telefónica Peru back in naughty corner as Osiptel probes unauthorised SIM card vendors.
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Premium
Elsewhere in UK: VM O2 to establish refurbished device scheme
VM O2 continues social change efforts with refurbished device lending scheme for temporary accommodation residents; CWU swaps target-driven bonuses for 10% salary increase for retail staff.
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Premium
VM O2 signals private network ambitions
JV collaborating with Nokia on private mobile networks since 2020. Further deals could be in pipeline.
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M&A
Oi mobile sale hits another road bump
Brazil’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) representative at antitrust regulator CADE gives thumbs down to proposed sale of Oi Group’s mobile assets to Telefónica|Vivo, Claro Brasil, and TIM Brasil. Non-binding decision cites competition concerns and recommends “administrative proceedings” to investigate collusion among trio to exclude other interested companies. Oi says ...
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Premium
VM O2 CTO Jeanie York tackles convergence complexity
York opens up on bringing together technology, products, and teams. CTO, CIO, and CDO are separate but collaborate. New Volt converged service is result of squad way of working.
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Strategy & Change
T-Systems plots expansion in Spain
T-Systems Iberia targets 1,000 employees in Granada by 2025. Iberian unit certified as Group delivery partner for Amazon Connect. Centre of Excellence planned for Barcelona.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Spain: Movistar retail staff in line for pay rise
Unions negotiate 1% salary increase for Movistar retail staff; retail revamp continues with five new stores; Telefónica is discussions with DAZN for remaining La Liga matches.
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Premium
Telefónica taps NTT for 5G port project
Security-focused project brings 5G connectivity to Málaga.
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Premium
Telefónica people moves: Colombian fibre JV names leadership
Telefónica Colombia’s fibre-building joint venture with KKR launches with a familiar top-team. Collaborative initiatives see Group execs take board seats at GSMA and IndesIA. VM O2 continues to make sweeping changes to senior leadership, with former O2 UK execs Bailey and Soto finding new roles elsewhere.
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People
Telefónica Tech names advisors to aid growth drive
Acquisitive division lists inorganic expansion as key motivator for the creation of a new Advisory Board. Twelve experts drawn from Group, Tech, and external sources.
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Premium
Movistar refreshes ad agency line-up
Operator is seeking new go-to-market strategy for diversified portfolio.
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Premium
Telefónica renews Netflix deal
Extension maintains Netflix content on Movistar’s pay-TV platform in Spain.
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Premium
O2 Germany starts small cell open RAN rollout
Two minicells activated in Munich; more to follow. Deployment intended as “model project” that can be replicated in other cities. Initial aim is to complement macro 4G network with extra capacity; 5G open RAN minicells in pipeline.
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Premium
Haas wants extension of spectrum usage rights
O2 Germany CEO says BNetZA must “promptly” extend duration of 800MHz, 1,800MHz, and 2.6GHz licence concession beyond 2025. Deems nationwide 5G coverage “achievable” by 2025 at the latest, but calls for less bureaucracy to speed up expansion.