EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 192
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Vendor VoiceTeradata: balanced data foundation critical to digital transformation
If AI and ML are your future, make sure the data foundations are in place. Requirements and applications change but the need for a solid data base does not. Your data vision should be holistic, released from the complexity and inefficiency of hundreds and even thousands of siloes. Use ...
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OperationsFour-day weeks and home working at Telefónica
“Avant-garde” union deal writes in provisions for permanent hybrid working for 15,000 employees. Four-day week pilot promised for volunteer employees, with an accompanying drop in pay. 1% salary increase also flagged.
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Products & ServicesVodafone and Celfocus tackle AI-based automation for IoT
Former Vodafone Portugal investment Celfocus has taken on its fourth cognitive automation project for the Group Network Operations (GNO) organisation. Further solutions and use-cases are already being explored to reap benefits of automation throughout the Group.
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Partnerships & AlliancesOpen Telekom Cloud goes full Circle
T-Systems’ infrastructure-as-a-service offering adds Circle partner benefits packages, with spend-based reward tiers. Not a one-way street, says Partner Manager Ulf Mayer, who is looking for commitment from customers.
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Network & InfrastructureVodacom to roll out smart-site kit beyond SA
Mozambique operation set for first dibs, with other international markets to benefit during the next phase of the rollout in FY21–22. Half of Group’s SA base stations now fitted with IoT.nxt tech, with efficiency and energy saving benefits trumpeted.
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M&AMurdoch’s News UK steps away from BT Sport talks
News UK has pulled back from talks with BT regarding a partnership for the sports broadcasting business. Discovery and ITV said to remain in contention, with DAZN seemingly the keenest of the bunch.
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PremiumVodafone gets down to business with MEC
Scott Petty: UK needs four to eight multi-access edge compute sites. Vodafone is first in Europe with AWS Wavelength, but early days for services. Next distributed MEC target market will be Germany later in 2021. Vodafone Business blends edge into service portfolio.
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PremiumBT people moves: BT Sourced adds procurement expertise
Rogers’ Barberis joins BT’s Dublin buying function as B2B VP. Openreach names new leads for partner management and fibre build as FTTP targets grow. BT Global Director Ladha heads for the door. HR rotations at Group and Enterprise.
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Suppliers & SCMVPC’s Wilson says Tech 2025 bringing clarity
Wilson expects speedier decision-making, faster onboarding of new suppliers, and a stronger drive to standardisation across Group OpCos. Ericsson says it will be “happy” to pass on greater cost efficiencies to Vodafone. Swedish vendor targets African gains on back of tech reorg.
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PremiumVodafone taking NOC automation to the next level
Group says Celfocus-supported CIAS project has now gone live in five Group markets. Former Vodafone Portugal investment is also supporting new project to automate network configuration operations.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Telefónica Infra-Tech: Telefónica Tech Ventures expands into IoT
Telefónica Tech Ventures expands into IoT; roads, manufacturing, and tourism targeted as Group continues to build “smart” business-to-business alliances.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Telefónica Core Markets: CADE approves Vivo-Claro network-sharing agreement
Network sharing cleared with Claro in Brazil; 5G MVNO nears in Germany; Aviva joins Project Darwin CAV research.
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Strategy & ChangeDT, Vodafone push vendors to clean up emissions
Vodafone sends letter encouraging suppliers to step up support for its net zero emissions pledge. DT inserting stricter criteria into supplier assessments. Tackling climate change bringing commercial incentives for more fleet-footed telcos. Supply chain emissions an elephant in room for telcos as they talk up energy efficiency progress.
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Strategy & ChangeVodacom to unify network and IT functions
Push for efficiencies encompassing rework of network and IT platforms, alongside major skills and capability upgrade. Following 2020 reorg, CEO Joosub concentrating heavily on extracting value and savings out of Group assets and operations. Programme likely to see cloud-based overhaul of Vodacom IT stacks and network functions.
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PremiumTelefónica people moves: Prautzsch takes helm at German FibreCo
Telefónica Infra’s fibre JV with Allianz fills out management positions, drawing on Telefónica insiders. Ayucar and Martínez take CTO roles in the Digital Consumer & Data Office. Vivo rotates Operations and Wholesale leadership.
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Public AffairsNI report criticises past public broadband projects
Audit Office report cannot verify that two broadband projects “achieved value for money”. High service take-up rates suggest not all public funding was needed. NI expected to claw back £14m of public funds from BT. Hopes for £165m Project Stratum to deliver better outcome for rural broadband.
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People
Fresh faces bedded in at Joosub’s Vodacom ExecCo
Vodacom Executive Committee confirmed with five newcomers. Vodacom South Africa joins Safaricom with a seat at the table, while other African OpCos grouped under International Business.
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Strategy & Change‘Fearless’ Mehta out to power rapid change at BT
New CDIO committed to radical cultural change, fostering an entrepreneurial spirit, and a willingness to embrace the risk of failure. BT’s slow start on digital transformation an opportunity to leapfrog a generation of innovation. Group CEO Jansen’s persuasiveness key to convincing Mehta of BT’s potential as a TechCo.
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Strategy & Change
Ethiopia: Kenyan president gets behind Safaricom entry
President Kenyatta urges Ethiopia to open up m-money market. Safaricom reveals planned ownership structure of future Opco, with Vodafone set to play a very limited role.
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Venturing & InvestmentsIterable goes double unicorn with DTCP backing
Customer communications platform player takes $200m in funding, with Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners on the ticket. Medium-term IPO a potential exit route for Group investment arm. Martech continuing to pique interest for DTCP.