Vodafonewatch News – Page 58
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Premium
Vi poised to swap out Huawei 4G for Nokia
News signals desire for distance from Chinese vendor. 5G trials underway with Ericsson and Nokia. Details for long-delayed 5G auction expected soon.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: VfNZ exploring tower sales
Entel sells four data centres to Equinix; VfNZ kicks off towers sale process, and acquires majority share in cybersecurity provider DEFEND.
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Network & Infrastructure
Euro giants put O-RAN security and sustainability in spotlight
European open RAN MoU group drawing focus towards the potential for targeted and measurable energy efficiency gains through adoption of open disaggregation, supporting critical operator goals. Security review suggests an open architecture, drawing on IT security protocols and built on a zero trust methodology should prove more secure than ...
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Premium
Vodafone goes 5G network slicing with Ericsson
Duo claims first successful lab trial for “on-demand” network slice. Set-up purportedly takes 30 minutes using “automated processes”. Guaranteed downlink speeds of 260Mbps apparently achieved.
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Premium
Liberty’s Fries hints at VodafoneZiggo talks
CEO Mike Fries said Dutch JV partners are at an “inflection point”. Wholesale opportunity could arise in the UK as VM O2 extends its reach.
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Premium
APIs and collaboration central to metaverse entry
Vodafone’s Víctor Fernández joined on MWC panel by Meta, Microsoft, and Telefónica figures to extol metaverse virtues, with warnings of challenges ahead. Collaboration and cross-industry coordination seen as key to scale deployment. API developments at Vodafone playing a role.
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Public Affairs
Safaricom stands alone against tariff changes
Kenyan communications authority set to cut mobile termination rates by 88%, with Safaricom seen as biggest loser. Rate cuts said to level playing field, and enable greater competition and lower barriers for new market entrants.
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M&A
KKR reiterates Telecom Italia interest
Private equity giant said to have made fresh request to begin due diligence. Follows €10.8bn made in November 2021. TI remains hopeful of its own revival plan via Open Fiber merger.
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Premium
Elsewhere in BT Enterprise: £1.5 in NHS contracts
BT-backed lottery bid loses out to Vodafone rival; NHS contracts earn BT £1.5m.
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M&A
Indian government urged to speed up Vi equity conversion
Debt-for-equity swap yet to go through after months in limbo. Vi said to believe completion is key to securing further investments. Move would give Indian government a 35.8% stake in Vi.
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Innovation (R&D)
DCMS launches ‘open’ R&D network to overhaul UK innovation
UK Telecoms Innovation Network aims to build transparent, open hub for public and private R&D opportunities. Seeks to fix supply chain diversity issues in UK telecoms and export technology abroad. Interoperable network tech among the priorities.
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Public Affairs
Please Call Me inventor resolute against Vodacom appeal
Nkosana Makate will pursue compensation “until the end of the road” after Vodacom lodged a formal appeal against High Court rulings. Vodacom offers millions to Makate, who claims billions are owed.
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Products & Services
Claws out for M-PESA from Central Bank, Treasury
Bank Governor Njoroge tells Senate ICT Committee that a standalone m-money business will improve regulation and customer protection in Kenya. Treasury Cabinet Secretary Yatani adds that M-PESA transaction charges are too high. Njoroge and Yatani’s submissions are part of probe into alleged monopolistic practices by Safaricom. Central Bank opens ...
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodacom is big spender in SA spectrum auction
Long-awaited auction finally complete, but legal challenge looms. Vodacom is highest bidder, just ahead of MTN, and snags most spectrum. Government halts plan for controversial Wholesale Open Access Network.
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Suppliers & SCM
DT to judge suppliers on their climate ambition
German operator looking for early win as it turns attention to vast — and growing — problem of supply chain emissions. Hardware vendors will be first to come under environmental spotlight as DT tweaks its RFP scoring system. Move comes following joint project with buying partner Orange.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone continues 5G drive with German standalone launch
Vodafone Germany first to launch SA network in country. Claims more than ten million customers can already access services from home. Partners with DAZN to test 5G mobile streaming of the German Bundesliga. Moves continue notable European 5G ramp-up for Vodafone in 2022.
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Strategy & Change
Vodafone to roll out hybrid working, shrink Newbury HQ
Vodafone seeks sale and leaseback options for The Connection HQ, new Manchester and Newark hubs, and repurposed Stoke-on-Trent site all part of shift to permanent “blended working” model. New approach to work underpinned by “flexibility and trust”, instilling lessons learnt under pandemic conditions.
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Network & Infrastructure
Liberty Global’s Fries hints at UK fibre consolidation
CEO outlines plan to create a separate ‘light NatCo’ for new fibre JV. Liberty Global and Vodafone at inflection point over VodafoneZiggo. Despite fibre plans, Fries says HFC technology will be around for a long time yet.
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Products & Services
M-PESA not threatened by talk of central Kenyan e-money
A central digital currency would not step on M-PESA toes, says MD Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, but cooperation key to finding efficiencies in a market dominated by Safaricom’s e-money offering. M-PESA at 15: 51 million users in seven markets; Kenyan strength; Super App prospects on the horizon, as is competition.
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Suppliers & SCM
TelcoX research finds hyperscalers ascendant but not entrenched at Vodafone
TelcoX ‘voice of the customer’ insight into how Vodafone employees perceive Techverse and Dataverse suppliers. Vodafone remains work in progress for AWS and Google. Opportunities for vendors to sharpen their differentiation. Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE retain significance despite tough externalities. Vodafone executives aligned on value of data, held ...