All Three UK articles
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M&AVodafone, Three open UK merger talks
Pair confirm discussions after almost a year of speculation.
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Public Affairs
Demand grows for UK Databank as living costs rise
Virgin Media O2, Vodafone, and Three donate mobile data to support internet connectivity for 500,000 people, as households struggle.
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Network & Infrastructure
WHP wins managed service job for Shared Rural Network
MNOs starting to fill out supplier line‑up for UK’s latest programme aimed at addressing rural network shortcomings.
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People
Shared Rural Network names new Director
Bryn Jones named SRN Director at MNO-backed joint venture Digital Mobile Spectrum Ltd.
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M&A
Vodafone UK keeps cards close to chest on M&A
VfUK CEO Ahmed Essam sees in-market mobile consolidation as “no silver bullet”.
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Strategy & Change
‘A deliberate ploy’: UK operators face backlash as prices increase
Consumers facing broadband and mobile price hikes question operators’ justifications. Infrastructure investment and heightened demand among the buzzwords, but critics say margins the greater concern. MVNOs come out on top against ‘big four’ in a consumer survey.
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Network & Infrastructure
Cellnex wins over BT and CMA to secure Hutchison UK tower merger
BT appeased by recent strengthening of its own Cellnex partnership. Cellnex to complete €10bn, six-country deal following approval of UK merger.
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M&A
Iliad makes move on Vodafone Italy
France-based Iliad Group said to have tabled an offer to Vodafone board last week. Vodafone share price gets short-lived bounce. Read’s self-styled “proactive” approach to M&A under the spotlight (again).
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT follows EE with BAI deal
Wholesale division to provide colocation space for neutral host network. BT flags wider focus on edge computing.
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Financial & Performance
Vodafone under pressure from activist investor to boost shareholder returns
Bloomberg reports Cevian Capital has built up stake in Vodafone. Unnamed sources say Swedish investment firm putting pressure on Read and management team to move more aggressively on M&A. Accuses Vodafone board of lacking experience and strategic know-how in telecoms. Vodafone share price gets bounce after news breaks of ...
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Public Affairs
Cellnex offers CMA deal to secure Hutchison UK tower merger
Spanish InfraCo willing to sell enough sites from its existing estate to enable a new UK tower player to emerge, and overcome CMA concerns on competition linked to its planned CKH infrastructure acquisition. Four companies have already stepped forward as potential buyers. CTIL objects to being positioned as a ...
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M&A
Vodafone under M&A spotlight in Italy, UK
Group reportedly in consolidation talks with Iliad in Italy. A potential merger with Three UK was also apparently explored. Vodafone keeps head down as rumours swirl. Read keen advocate of European in-market consolidation.
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Partnerships & Alliances
EE climbs on board with BAI
EE and Three UK become first two operators to sign up for neutral host network. A further key element is enabled for the Emergency Services Network. Motorola Solutions appeals CMA decision to investigate dual role as Airwave and ESN supplier.
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Consumer (B2C)
EE trudges on with Shared Rural Network progress
46 ‘fresh sites’ delivered under SRN programme. EE to upgrade a further 1,532 sites with 4G by 2024 in ‘partial not-spot’ phase.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone takes Ofcom to task over proposed 2100MHz fees
Vodafone warns that rise in licence fees risks being passed onto end users. New annual licence fees for 2100MHz set to come into force from January 2022. Group calculates significantly lower fee compared with Ofcom’s proposal.
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People
EE–Three network sharing JV MBNL confirms King as MD
Gervase King coronated as MD at MBNL. Permanent appointment fills gap left by Pat Coxen, who moved to BT Consumer last year.
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Network & Infrastructure
Lopsided Scottish 4G project shows MNO divergence
After slow start, S4GI scheme now a third of the way towards meeting 2023 site rollout target. But EE remains dominant player, with site activation pipeline more than seven times as large as that of its three rivals. Signs SRN could be shunting S4GI down other MNOs’ priority lists. ...
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in BT Group: Procurement adopts spend management system
Procurement adopts tail spend management system; new stakeholder engages workers union; BT’s future HQ under new ownership.
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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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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.
