All TelcoTitans.com articles in Vodafonewatch #201
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Digital ReportsVodafonewatch Report #201 – December 2021
Key stories include: Read fuels M&A fire | €2.4bn tax dispute nears conclusion | TPG gets 5G boost | JVs on German horizon | Safaricom refutes monopoly allegations
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PremiumSafaricom pushes back against monopoly complaints
CEO Peter Ndegwa tells rivals to focus on investments, not accusations. Hearing shows government support for Safaricom, which sees market dominance but not a monopoly.
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PremiumJoosub highlights opportunity for 5G FWA across Africa
Vodacom is readying networks for 5G across its footprint. 4G and 5G FWA likely to play a greater role than fibre in supporting broadband connectivity.
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Financial & PerformanceVodafone close to settling €2.4bn tax dispute with India
Group offers New Delhi a deal after retrospective tax legislation scrapped. Dispute harks back to Vodafone acquisition of Hutchison Essar in 2007. Indian stand-off has long cast a shadow over Group finances, despite recent legal victories.
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PremiumRed Hat digs in at VodafoneZiggo
Dutch JV to deploy Red Hat OpenShift to support future 5G core. IBM-owned software provider is gradually expanding its role within the Group.
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PremiumHungary to host Europe’s first 5G smart railway port
Vodafone and Huawei’s Hungarian subsidiary collaborate on smart railway project, set for completion in Q1 2022.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Europe: VfD and Sky test new App at the Bundesliga
VfD and Sky Deutschland test new Sky 5G Multiview App during Bundesliga match; Vodafone Italy brings forward net-zero goal; Vodafone Business ties with Trend Micro in Spain.
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PremiumVodafone bulks up with full-fibre wholesale deals
Deals give Vodafone UK access to eight million full-fibre homes by April 2022. VfUK open to more wholesale partnerships. If Virgin Media O2 needs convincing for its wholesale plans, VfUK is interested.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Associates & JVs: KKR bids for TIM
KKR submits cheeky bid for TIM; TPG requests joint functional separation undertaking.
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PremiumSafaricom outlines plans to tackle staff fraud
Telco forms fraud management squads to identify internal fraud. 28 employees fired in FY20–21 for fraud-related offences.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Africa: Vodacom SA switches on 5G
Vodacom South Africa continues 5G rollout; Telekom Kenya leads case against Safaricom to cut fees for cross-platforms transactions on M-PESA; Mondia Group providing technology VodaPay Super App.
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PremiumIndia 5G auction delayed as Vi showcases prospects
5G-friendly spectrum auction pushed back amid pricing and structure consultations. Vi CEO Takkar outlines ambition to be Digital India frontrunner as government lays out digitalisation ambition. Several pilot projects showcased with partners including Athonet, L&T, and local startups. Ericsson picks up P1; Nokia trailing.
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PremiumTPG trumpets 5G SA milestone
5G network covers more than 85% of population in ten locations thanks to standalone core. Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung playing complementary roles. 5G site delivery accelerated owing to ‘factory assembly’ strategy.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Group: senior telco execs discuss strategy
Vodafone attends get-together on post-pandemic priorities.
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PremiumVodafone Iceland buying built on VPC support
Partner Market ally Vodafone Iceland relying on centralised spend processes imported from Luxembourg.
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PremiumCarrier Services settles with ClearX on data delivery
Group’s international connectivity unit aligns with Israeli blockchain firm to “streamline” delivery of data services. Colt Technology Services and PCCW Global part of “pioneering” work. ClearX expects data services platform to go live Q1 2022.
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PremiumVodafone, Telefónica launch fixed-broadband TIP group
Operators co-chair new TIP project group targeting FTTP access technologies. Vodafone cementing leadership at TIP.
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PremiumVodafone joins European telco call for open RAN help
Group signs off on Analysys Mason report recommending that European policymakers financially stimulate the region’s open RAN ecosystem. Report also backed by Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telecom Italia, and Telefónica. Wibergh says “Europe needs to urgently prioritise open RAN” to avoid slipping further behind Asia and USA.
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PremiumVodafone extends VMware Telco Cloud to 5G SA
Aims to accelerate delivery of “new digital services” across Vodafone’s European footprint. Builds on Vodafone’s previous selection of VMware Telco Cloud infrastructure as its NFV platform.