UK – Page 64
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OperationsBT picks Belfast for legal relaunch
Multi-million-pound investment goes towards revamp of Group’s legal presence. Another BT function chooses to switch activities across Irish Sea.
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Network & InfrastructureOpenreach consults with CPs on exchange closures
BT infrastructure arm continues prep for shutdown of 4,600 local exchanges. “Exchange evolution” programme may last 20 years, although early-2030s to see most dramatic change. Purchase of copper broadband services now halted in Salisbury.
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Public AffairsBT could face winter strike action
CWU ups the ante in the Count Me In campaign as employees back what could be the first national strike at BT in decades. New Birmingham office to be first regional hub in Better Workspace programme, but the pandemic is complicating other office searches.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Openreach: job creation takes off
European fibre surge anticipated; Openreach partner folds.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Consumer: Premiership Rugby not guaranteed
Rugby talks go to wire; BT Sport welcomes fans back, EE clearing not-spots.
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Network & InfrastructureUK gets on with life after Huawei
New 5G Diversification Strategy and Telecommunications (Security) Bill expected to introduce tough new network security expectations on operators, while attempting to reduce the risks associated with over-reliance on Ericsson and Nokia. Government backing open standards, and particularly open RAN, to create a diverse supply chain, but relative lack of ...
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Network & InfrastructureGovernment backpedals on fibre: industry on its own
Improbable goal of universal gigabit coverage abandoned by UK government. £5bn investment plans massively watered down in latest Spending Review. BT critical of retreat. Regulatory environment and sketchy plans for gigabit BDUK could play into Openreach hands.
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Public AffairsBT calls for broadband USO rework amid pricing row
Ofcom investigating excessive costings for new connections. BT fires back with calls to make rural connectivity a viable shared endeavour. State-salvaged OneWeb satellite service namechecked as potential enabler. BT also calls for clarity on £5bn rural full-fibre subsidy.
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Network & InfrastructureUK plots 5G future sans Huawei
BT suggests Adastral Park would be a natural home for parts of the proposed National Telecoms Lab.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Group: Bristol named a new BT home
New Bristol office for 2,000 by 2022; Centrical-SAP training platform for 150,000; 99.9% of electricity now renewable internationally.
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Partnerships & AlliancesO2 e-health partner Visionable ramps up operations
Startup enabling prompt treatment lands NHS contract on the back of successful Telefónica-backed pilot. Group renewing interest in ICT health sector.
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Suppliers & SCMUK tightens screws on telcos over Huawei
Government plans to tackle lack of diversity in upcoming new 5G strategy.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Telefónica's core markets: Oi sights rescue party; O2 hits 4G targets
Path for Oi acquisition clears; German 4G catch-up continues; O2 UK picks up EE spectrum.
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Enterprise (B2B)Alpha spin-out Koa Health goes independent with cash injection
Financial weight put behind e-health solutions provider. Startup emerges out of the wreckage of Innovación Alpha ‘Moonshot’ programme that otherwise failed to fire.
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PremiumUK 5G innovation: the startups to watch
Five standout startups driving UK 5G innovation. UK government helping underwrite. Regional initiatives open floor to smaller operators (MNOs in the wings).
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Venturing & InvestmentsWayra helping UK government target LatAm tech scaleups
Entrepreneurs in Wayra’s Hispam footprint to compete in the Scaleup to UK 2021 programme. Doors opened to UK authorities and Wayra specialists to kickstart UK expansion.
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Strategy & ChangeCWU plots against BT transformation plans
Union’s Bonfire Night declaration promises fireworks as BT attempts to simplify processes linked to redundancies. BT management under opposing pressure from investors to move more quickly to reduce headcount.
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PremiumUK 5G innovation: projects, testbeds and trials
Inaugural DCMS 5G funding established testbeds across the UK: hubs for future 5G-enabled innovation. £200m funding pledged by 2022.
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PremiumUK 5G innovation: 5G Create
DCMS-funded projects take £16m in grants for 5G use-cases. Automation, broadcasting, and XR among the technologies. BT, O2, and Three participate.