Venturing & Investments
All the latest insight, news and analysis on venturing and investment activity involving BT, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica and Vodafone.
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…
Patrizia targets connectivity players with fresh European infra fund
Patrizia teams up with Universal Investment to launch new long-term European investment fund, with focus on digital infrastructure. Pair seeking businesses with “stable, predictable cash flows” to grow portfolio and drive return on investment.
Deutsche Telekom’s Abrahamson keeps firm hand on AI ‘fire hose’
Jonathan Abrahamson says the speed of AI-related developments can feel overwhelming, but DT keeps its focus on selecting and solving the key problems.
INWIT bags €350m from EU to build out wireless infra estate
European Investment Bank gives Italy’s largest TowerCo a second funding boost for 5G and FWA rollout, with goal of improving coverage in rural regions and areas with heavy data usage. Read more…
Telefónica eases load with Helium’s OpenWiFi hotspots
In-depth: Investment’s “open-source” network of decentralised hotspots leveraged for mobile data offload through homegrown management platform. Tie-up initially focused on Mexico, to expand across LatAm markets, extend to other virtual operators, hopes to cut infra costs further…
Euro data centres: infra crunch driving investors to new tier of hub cities — report
Consultancy Eight Advisory highlights rise of emerging challengers to Europe’s dominant ‘FLAP-D’ metros, aided by greater availability of power, land, and labour resource elsewhere. Learn more…
Brookfield keeps watch on digital M&A opportunities
Data centres, fibre, and towers are among sectors Brookfield is keeping a close eye on for potential acquisitions, according to President Connor Teskey.
Orange puts its weight behind AI drive in France and EU
The operator is set to play a key role in AI initiatives as the EU rises to meet the challenge posed by China and the USA.
Deutsche Telekom invests in voice AI startup ElevenLabs
Group’s corporate venture arm T.Capital splashes out on a strategic stake in UK-based artificial intelligence voice startup ElevenLabs with intentions to roll out the popular tech to customers.
BT Ireland grabs Cordiant’s attention for infra, wholesale sell-off — report
Operator reportedly looking to firm up sale of infrastructure and wholesale business units “in the coming weeks”, advancing Kirkby’s ‘asset-light’ strategy following recent sale of Irish data centres…
Telefónica brings Perplexity tie-up to Spanish customers
First fruits from Telefónica’s investment in and commercial agreement with Perplexity as operator offers premium Pro version for free for a year for all Movistar customers.
Telefónica adds Weecover to stable of insurtech startups
Telefónica bets on embedded insurance with investment in Spain-based startup Weecover, following service launch in Germany.
Brookfield picks long-time CEO Bruce Flatt as Chair
Canadian investment group selects Flatt as Chair after Mark Carney departs to pursue political ambitions. Flatt says the firm will continue driving current investment strategy, which includes focus on digital infra and energy transition…