UK – Page 57
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Premium
Vodafone gets down to business with MEC
Scott Petty: UK needs four to eight multi-access edge compute sites. Vodafone is first in Europe with AWS Wavelength, but early days for services. Next distributed MEC target market will be Germany later in 2021. Vodafone Business blends edge into service portfolio.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Telefónica Core Markets: CADE approves Vivo-Claro network-sharing agreement
Network sharing cleared with Claro in Brazil; 5G MVNO nears in Germany; Aviva joins Project Darwin CAV research.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Deutsche Telekom Group: BT and DT’s uninvited co-pilot
BT and DT gain uninvited new co-pilot; DT’s tooz and Adidas become running buddies.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Group: VM-O2 challenge emerges
Virgin Media O2 challenge gets real; Dundee offices set to take 1,000 staff; government-backed broadband schemes under the spotlight.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Consumer: Ofcom report sheet comes in
Ofcom highlights areas-for-improvement (and differentiation) in customer service; BT Sport continues search for innovative partners.
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Premium
UK government hands WAN win to BT
Five-year, £23m contract signed for network access services to the DWP. BT’s Strategic Supplier standing consolidated.
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Premium
BT Ireland expands wholesale FTTH services
National Broadband Plan to add 544,000 premises to BT Ireland offers.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Openreach: Ciena flags optical kit win
Ciena gains an optical kit win; progress update on USO; copper stop-sell orders issued in further 77 exchanges.
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Premium
Amdocs’ BriteBill swings into BT action
Customer billing system up and running after four year implementation period. BriteBill platform designed to provide easier-to-understand bills, reduce call-centre engagement, and offer scope for “personalised” service recommendations.
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Premium
Mixed Huawei 5G RAN messages remain in Europe
Vodafone Italy reportedly gets conditional approval to use Huawei 5G RAN equipment. Huawei’s position in Germany looks more vulnerable after IT Security 2.0 Bill becomes law.
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Suppliers & SCM
Vodafone UK lands on Ciena’s Blue Planet
VfUK automates RedStream transport network in legacy overhaul. Blue Planet provides orchestration software in first deal with Vodafone. New Chief Network Officer Andrea Donà reiterates “network-as-a-platform” ambition.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Africa: Vodacom pairs with Microsoft
Vodacom pairs with Microsoft for Mozambique SMEs; Safaricom adds digital menus to M-PESA ecosystem.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Vodafone Europe: Unitymedia nearly integrated
German Unitymedia integration near completion; VfUK continues to target SME market with cybersecurity and data packages.
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M&A
BT’s uninvited new co-pilot: what’s Drahi’s mission?
Altice buys minority stake but claims no intention of full-fledged takeover. Seeks to support BT’s strategic fibre, for which Drahi has genuine zeal. BTwatch explores industrial logic and financial machinations behind move.
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Profile
Which Drahi has BT got itself entangled with?
Altice empire expands into UK. Drahi: a fibre visionary or ruthless financer? Does BT investment represent change of tack by rapacious wheeler-dealer?
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Venturing & Investments
Shopper tracking startup earns Wayra investment and O2 deal
Wayra UK dials up London-based startup’s already substantial financing. Investment sets the stage for a “multi-million-pound” retail partnership with the Group’s UK operator.
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M&A
In detail: Liberty and Telefónica’s VM-O2 pre-nup
Three-year wait expected before a potential IPO of new joint venture, while both parties expected to remain involved in the business for at least five years. Telefónica reserving its right to go it alone in UK on IoT, cloud, and cybersecurity services. Liberty to get a board presence at ...
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Operations
AST SpaceMobile sets up UK arm
High-profile US startup establishing tech team in Leicester space hub. Move eases collaboration with Vodafone ahead of joint launch in Africa.
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Enterprise (B2B)
Sims to head up new BT SoHo unit
Enterprise launches new iteration of Halo for Business with added support for micro-businesses. One of first major moves by Enterprise division following entrance of new CEO Rob Shuter in February.
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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.