All Copper articles
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M&A
2025: the year UK FibreCo cash becomes king?
This year may see further billions injected into altnets to pump-prime M&A consolidation, while 2026 could start to see what the end-state looks like (third scale player or continued swarm).
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Network & Infrastructure
Germany weighs down EU fibre progress, as France shines
Latest research from FTTH Council Europe shows EU’s largest nation remaining among its slowest fibre builders as clock ticks on to reach 2030 goals for universal coverage. You can meet TelcoTitans in Amsterdam next week at the Council’s FTTH Conference 2025…
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Network & Infrastructure
Vivo eyes windfall by ditching copper assets
Brazilian telco seeks a commercial, operational, and financial win by extracting and selling its legacy copper network.
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Financial & Performance
In depth: Openreach line losses accelerate, fibre gaps widen as strategic vulnerability
Q3 FY24–25: BT’s wholesale division again reports strong financials and record fibre build, but a deeper look reveals a worrying trend of accelerating line losses. This analysis delves into the implications of altnet and Project Gigabit competition, eroding historic market dominance.
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Weekly Briefings
EMEA Infrawatch Briefing: Spain in spotlight; TowerCo team-ups; M&A next steps
Latest on EMEA Infra: Spain flagged as a frontrunner in legacy switch-off progress, thoguh concerns on fibre overbuild remain; Cellnex mulls path to home market consolidation; TowerCos in Europe and Africa seek to expand rural and transport connectivity; more…
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Network & Infrastructure
Portugal, Sweden, and Spain lead race towards copper retirement
New Copper Switch‑Off Tracker names and shames markets that are dragging their feet on legacy network closures ahead of European Commission’s 2030 target date.
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Interview
nexfibre: Keep leash on Openreach to drive UK fibre competition
nexfibre development chief Giles Rowbotham speaks with TelcoTitans on need to drive UK fibre competition by maintaining regulation of Openreach. Says Ofcom needs to keep an eye on wholesale pricing and copper-to-fibre migration process, as well as consolidation, investment, PIA, and local-level factors within wider market…
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Network & Infrastructure
Orange moves to cash in on decommissioned copper
French operator is reportedly seeking a value assessment of the copper in its legacy network as it works towards switching off the public switched telephone network by 2030.
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Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica shifts autonomous networks strategy into fourth gear
Network and systems operations lead says Group is seeking to evolve many autonomous network PoCs into minimum viable products starting in 2025, as it seeks to accelerate its journey towards Level 4 autonomy. Read more…
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Financial & Performance
Highlights: Telefónica keeps cool in face of turbulence
Q3 FY24: Operator stays on track to meet end-year financial targets, maintaining underlying momentum, but macro challenges put a dampener on quarterly performance…
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Financial & Performance
Spend: thrifty Telefónica high-fives on capex low
Q3 FY24: Operator reports reductions in capital intensity and opex, with widening implementation of AI and progress in delayed copper switch-off programme given much of the credit…
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Network & Infrastructure
DT hits ceiling on German fibre build amid costs, red tape
Execs indicate operator will be unable to accelerate FTTH buildout over its next strategic cycle, citing planning hurdles, inflation, and sluggish uptake.
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Public Affairs
Deep dive: What UK FibreCos want from Labour gov’t
Fibre builders share what they want from the new Labour government, with policy consistency and demand-side support topping wishlists, divergence on the detail. Read more…
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Network & Infrastructure
Magyar Telekom gives 2G a stay of execution through expanded Yettel tie-up
Having shut down 3G in 2022, Hungarian operator looks to have found a solution to the more complex puzzle of 2G asset retirement with a deal to outsource management of its early-generation services to rival Yettel.
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Financial & Performance
Telefónica Q2 FY24 Spend: Tight lid kept on expenses
Group pulls back on spending after Q1 investment spree, keeping capital intensity well within guidance range.
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Network & Infrastructure
Telekom Deutschland flags more fibre gains in May
Deutsche Telekom’s home market NatCo continues typical buildup of roll out pace throughout year, following winter lull.
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M&A
Altnets Netomnia-Brsk merging into UK FibreCo unicorn tier
This weekend sees confirmation of top-ten FibreCos combining into top-five integrated challenger with uprated three million footprint target, wholesale differentiation, prep’d for further M&A. Read more, including our updated market overview…
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Strategy & Change
DT looks to Lumos for enlightenment on US fibre strategy
Following tie-up with EQT to make first US fibre buy, the Group’s CEO says further transactions could lie ahead, but that that possible ‘phase two’ M&A targets have been scoped out.
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Financial & Performance
Openreach to invade Project Gigabit, snap up altnet misfires
FY23–24: Closing in on infill Project Gigabit contracts, also eyeing altnet misfires. Line loss the new reality despite strong fibre build and take-up momentum. TelcoTitans BTwatch predicts altnets will step up, not roll over. New CEO Kirkby makes clear Openreach not for sale (yet). Read more…
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Weekly Briefings
Telefónicawatch Weekly: Group focuses on key deals, initiatives in Q1 to keep GPS on track
Operator showcases modest growth in Q1 FY24 results publication, with plans for acceleration over rest of year, although uncertainty on critical initiatives remains. Meanwhile, mobile offerings strengthened in Germany, Spain, and the UK, both above and below the ground. Read more…