EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 162
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Partnerships & AlliancesTelefonica targets health sector as digitalisation laggard
Healthcare sector viewed as an area with great digital potential, and slow take-up to date, with Telefónica focused on a collaborative approach. Across all sectors, innovation strategy remains focused on building not only networks, but platforms on top of them that will enable the Group to create new revenue ...
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M&AVM O2 CEO happy as spectator to BT takeover saga
Lutz Schüler, CEO at Virgin Media O2, said he “thanks God” his business is not distracted by shareholder goings on. Comes after Patrick Drahi expanded his shareholding in VM O2 rival BT. Schüler’s attention fixed on customer experience improvements and fibre rollout.
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Products & ServicesSafaricom to seed DigiFarm agri services in Ethiopia
Kenyan operator gives a hint of digital services that will form part of its line-up when it debuts in Ethiopia next year.
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PeopleClaure to add entrepreneurial energy to DT board
DT management wants Bolivian–American entrepreneur to have SoftBank’s seat on Supervisory Board. Claure sees potential in “undervalued” DT and is bullish about partnership. DT offers route to European market for SoftBank portfolio companies. But the appointment has some drama as a long-running compensation dispute reportedly threatens Claure’s relationship with ...
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Venturing & InvestmentsSignalWire secures investment from DT’s strategic fund
Telekom Innovation Pool gets involved following $30m (€27m) Series-B round in June.
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PeopleTelefónica reshapes board of directors
Group cuts board seats from 17 to 15, with representation from shareholders BBVA and CaixaBank halved. Ignacio Moreno and Jordi Gual to instead shift to roles at Telefónica España and Brazil’s Vivo.
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Suppliers & SCMBT joins audit club to boost supplier sustainability
Pourrat underlines ESG credentials though membership of telco grouping to share best practice on supply chain sustainability. Highlights that BT spent around £13.1bn this year with more than 1,100 direct suppliers in nearly 100 countries, and that understanding impact on environment and society is key.
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PremiumVodafone people moves: Vodacom board readies for renewal
Vodacom Group governance is set for change ahead of 2022 AGM. Networks leadership change at Vodafone Germany on the cards with Suceveanu named interim chief. Society and communications thinktank Vodafone Institute loses its head to Google. Australia’s TPG Telecom makes wide ranging changes to management team, with unified Technology ...
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Products & ServicesDT’s OneApp arrives in Germany
Development team spans Croatia, Germany, Hungary, India, and Russia. Self-care app now present in ten European markets. No plans for a US rollout as yet.
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Strategy & ChangeDT wants another turn on Greek “rollercoaster”
CFO of Greek NatCo OTE’s parent division reminisces on challenges DT has faced in the country since ill-timed 2008 entrance. German operator remains “committed” to the country and optimistic regarding digitalisation opportunities. Call made for action on tax, regulation, and bureaucracy to improve return-on-capital, however.
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Partnerships & AlliancesBT joins industry bodies in health-tech drive
Operator added to Health Tech Alliance and The Kings Fund as part of effort to expand in the industry through collaboration. Health a sector of interest to CEO Jansen amid BT Enterprise resurgence.
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Network & InfrastructureFluent Gopalan flexes on fibre and 5G
Telekom Deutschland Chief Executive Srini Gopalan continues to emphasise need for network-building partnerships. DT has not given up on under-scrutiny Glasfaser Nordwest JV. Group tech boss Claudia Nemat maintains environmental messaging — and surprises with a musical demo of 5G SA.
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PeopleBerroeta shuffles leadership team again
Technology roles brought together under ex-MTN CTIO Chiarelli. Cooney to lead unified Consumer domain. Leadership now bedded in after 18 months of integration.
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M&ADefences up as Drahi increases BT stake
Patrick Drahi’s Altice UK stops short of a takeover bid, but increases holding to 18%. UK government issues warning that it “will not hesitate” to protect national interests amid concerns of foreign investment in critical infrastructure incumbent. Takeover not Drahi’s ‘intention’, but caveats are in place.
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Content & TVMovistar, DAZN secure five-year La Liga deals
La Liga generates €4.95bn in revenue from new round of concessions. Movistar’s controversial agreement on hold ahead of talks between Telefónica and regulator CNMC.
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Innovation (R&D)Vodafone seeks a bit of tech stardust with Nova platform
New “innovation management ecosystem” promises financial and business support to execs with bright ideas. Focus appears both internal and external, with customers and partners of Vodafone expected to become involved. Move forms part of broader reset of Vodafone’s platforms and services strategy.
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M&AWill Drahi come knocking on BT’s door?
Six months on from French billionaire’s surprise raid on BT, Altice UK now free to up its stake or mount a takeover bid. Jansen called in for meeting with UK government minister to get the lowdown on Drahi’s intentions.
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Suppliers & SCMOpenreach urges Vauxhall to build British ‘green’ fleet
Clive Selley, Openreach CEO, “in talks” with Vauxhall owner Stellantis to increase production of electric vehicles at its UK plant. Vauxhall supplies Openreach’s 28,000-strong commercial van fleet, which will be ‘green’ by 2030. 1,000 EVs currently on the road in Openreach livery.
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PremiumTelefónica people moves: wholesale lead named at VM O2
VM O2 appoints Diego Tedesco to lead its Fixed Wholesale business in challenge to incumbent Openreach. SME-focused team also filled in at newly-merged UK operator, with appointments in marketing, products, and sales. Telefónica Tech draws in new faces from across the Group footprint.
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Products & ServicesDroniq hails success of first U-Space trial in Germany
Deutsche Telekom JV wants to become Germany’s first U-Space provider. EU U-Space regulation set to apply from January 2023. Droniq and Deutsche Funkturm are applying for a joint licence for aerial tower inspections.