TowerCos
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Network & Infrastructure
UK gov pares back Shared Rural Network targets in strategic rethink
Building Digital UK scales back plans for further rural 4G coverage expansion after hitting initial Shared Rural Network targets early. Strategy shift comes after discussions with local communities and interest groups, with BDUK aiming to maximise coverage while delivering “best value for public money”.
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Network & Infrastructure
Czech telco trio partner with gov to fill in 5G coverage gaps
O2, T-Mobile, and Vodafone join forces with Czech government to strengthen 5G connectivity in areas with “insufficient” coverage and no imminent commercial build plans. Initiative is the latest government-backed scheme in Europe aimed at improving mobile coverage, particularly in rural areas…
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Network & Infrastructure
Liberty and Vodafone ‘aligned’ on Dutch towers sale — Fries
Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries suggests a sale of VodafoneZiggo’s tower assets is moving forward, with an appointment made to lead the process and co-parent Vodafone onboard.
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Weekly Briefings
EMEA Infrawatch Briefing: fixed infra rejigs; DC money keeps flowing
Latest on EMEA digital infra: major investments in data centre expansion seen across the region; Spanish telcos continue work on creating new fibrecos after major M&A last year; Vodafone diversifies build partners at German fibre JV after Geodesia ”issues“…
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Network & Infrastructure
Brookfield plots multi-billion euro data centre expansion project in Sweden
Private equity giant ploughs funding into Swedish data centre to bring capacity up to 750MW over the next 10–15 years.
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Weekly Briefings
UK Infrawatch Briefing: APFN’s new platform, Avanti’s court win, Netomnia grows backbone
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including: wholesale aggregation gathers pace; rural coverage ups and downs; Netomnia’s core capacity expansion; and plenty more…
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Strategy & Change
Orange’s Heydemann says message getting through on need for change in Europe
Speaking to shareholders, Orange’s CEO indicates intent to keep up the pressure on European regulators for change, while welcoming signs that repeated lobbying by telco leaders is starting to bear fruit.
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Weekly Briefings
EMEA Infrawatch Briefing: tower sell-offs, DC deployments, orbital experiments
Cellnex CEO Marco Patuano says the TowerCo is one step closer to selling its Swiss business and French data centre assets. Meanwhile, IHS Towers forks off Rwandan unit to newly formed tower player. In the space sector, several players look to get D2D services off the ground, while others tinker with new space comms solutions.
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Partnerships & Alliances
IHS Towers seeks military help to tackle infra vandalism in Nigeria
London-based wireless infra operator forms “strategic partnership” with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, aiming to help overcome problem of vandalism and theft of assets.
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M&A
IHS Towers mulls further asset sales as it exits Rwanda
African wireless infra player sells off Rwandan business to Paradigm Tower Ventures. IHS Chief Executive Sam Darwish says TowerCo has achieved its M&A goals set out following its last strategic review, but indicated further deals could be on the table…
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Weekly Briefings
Orangewatch Briefing: Huawei is back in business in Spain
In this issue, we report on MásOrange’s apparent renewed enthusiasm for technology from China-based vendors for cutting‑edge network developments.
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M&A
DigitalBridge in talks over sale to asset management duo — report
Asset managers 26North and Mercuria reportedly in talks to acquire DigitalBridge, with deal potentially set to materialise “in the coming days”.
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Financial & Performance
South Africa: energy challenges push rivals Vodacom and MTN to collaborate on power
Vodacom FY24–25: operators in early stages of infra-sharing under Energy Users regulation.
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M&A
TAWAL is possible suitor for DT’s latest tower spin-outs
Acquisitive Saudi tower group TAWAL is still keen on M&A in central and eastern Europe and has Deutsche Telekom’s newly carved out masts in its sights.
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Network & Infrastructure
Cellnex said to win Orange Poland as customer with fresh tower deal
Cellnex to construct more than 100 new sites in Poland for Orange, with the operator serving as anchor tenant. Move follows operator’s similar deal with Emitel earlier this year, as it continues expanding national coverage.
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Venturing & Investments
Actis looks for emerging infra opportunities after closing $1.7bn fund
London-based infrastructure investment group eyes fresh opportunities in digital infra (among other sectors) after closing latest fund, with focus on businesses in Asia, EMEA, and Latin America…
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Technology
Cellnex recruits AI in fightback against dodgy landlords
CEO of Europe’s largest tower group highlights use of data analytics to identify strategic risks affecting its 120,000+ sites across region, amid ‘indecent’ moves by land aggregators.
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Weekly Briefings
EMEA Infrawatch Briefing: resilience under the microscope; TowerCos face up to ‘land banks’
Power outage in parts of Europe and the aftermath of USA’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs give digital infra players food for thought on data sovereignty and resilience. Meanwhile, TowerCos come face-to-face with land aggregation firms after expressing concerns that the latter could stockpile land assets.
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Weekly Briefings
UK Infrawatch Briefing: altnets prove worth, AI plans develop, nexfibre stalls
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including: UK MVNO market reinvigorated by challengers; Kao Data schmoozes with DSIT; a £70m network upgrade contract floated in Wales; people moves; and plenty more…
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M&A
Cellnex closes in on French and Swiss asset sales
Cellnex continues its selling spree with talks underway to offload data centres in France and offers expected soon for its business in Switzerland, according to Chief Executive Marco Patuano.