EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 210
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Suppliers & SCMO2 heads down under for customer tech refresh
Australian software provider Hansen joins gang of suppliers working on German OB’s wide-reaching digital transformation. Vendor sees potential to expand its footprint to other Telefónica geographies. O2 front-loads licence purchases.
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Public AffairsBT braces as Ofcom fibre ruling looms
Ofcom to set out its fibre vision this week, and while BT may get pricing freedom, it may not get the longer-term clarity it craves. Regulator’s steps to open up infrastructure competition may also disrupt the incumbent’s plans.
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PeopleTransformation guru Baumann joins Vodafone Germany
Former Microsoft transformation lead Heide Baumann named Director, Commercial Operations at German operator. Brings experience from BT, Liberty, and Three to Vodafone.
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Venturing & InvestmentsDTCP debuts in South Korea with Catenoid investment
Fund joins Series-C round for online video platform provider that has ties with KT. The startup becomes DTCP’s first South Korean interest since landing in 2019.
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PremiumVodafone people moves: Group tech rejig spreads out
Donà and El Sayed share technology leadership at Vodafone UK. Vodafone Business builds out SoHo commercial team. Vodacom draws Paytm’s Kaul as financial services Super App emerges with its first “tenants”. YeboYethu rotates its board, with long-time Chair Bassa set to leave.
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Venturing & InvestmentsDeutsche Telekom TIPs more cash into SME security player Cynet
$40m total funding raised in Series-C round. DT adds another undisclosed sum to startup’s funding pot, with latter eyeing growth opportunities.
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Innovation (R&D)BT shines light on AI in the East
Adastral Park R&D facility takes centre stage in inaugural Artificial Intelligence Festival. East of England emerges as UK hub for AI research and innovation. BT asserts AI thought leadership and is UK’s top AI patent filer. Group’s use of AI aligns with telco peers, but recent moves suggest bigger ...
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Suppliers & SCMDeutsche Telekom tackles China connection with Aryaka
Group investment Aryaka is now a third-party supplier within T-Systems’ portfolio of Smart SD-WAN offerings. Rehoused Deutsche Telekom Global Business Solutions division eyeing growth in enterprise comms use-cases for clients operating in China.
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PremiumTelefónica people moves: Cybersecurity & Cloud CIO named
Flavio Reis takes CIO job at Telefónica Tech’s Cybersecurity & Cloud unit, with ElevenPaths’ Sarwat also joining the ranks. Brendan O’Reilly gets replaced by Telefónica Mexico CTIO on the Cornerstone board, suggesting a new O2 UK CTIO may be in the works. Burzako fills in Oslé’s Movistar+ vacancy in ...
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PeopleHöttges achieves longest CEO reign at DT
After seven years (and a few days), Tim Höttges outlasts predecessors. He is also the highest paid telco CEO in Europe. Sprint merger bonus puts his FY20 takings close to €7m.
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M&AMiNODES brought in house as Telefónica NEXT shuts up shop
Data analytics acquisition MiNODES brought closer to O2’s core business. Telefónica NEXT now fully disbanded, with Germany Business Sales in its place.
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Network & InfrastructureLiberty: VodafoneZiggo tower sale is ‘work-in-progress’
CEO Mike Fries sees Dutch joint venture’s assets as undervalued. Partner appears aligned with Vodafone’s eagerness to extract cash from site networks across Europe. Broader discussions over VodafoneZiggo collaboration may be tied in with tower question.
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Strategy & ChangeDeutsche Telekom’s stakes in Europe NatCos creep up
Share buybacks increase holdings in Hrvatski Telekom, Magyar Telekom, and OTE. Group ends FY20 with a much-reduced 43.4% stake in T-Mobile US, but Bonn still calls management shots.
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PeopleO2 looks to Mexico for access network leadership
Telefónica Mexico CTIO has replaced O2’s exiting Brendan O’Reilly on CTIL board and is taking a broader network leadership role in the UK. Successfully piloting Movistar Mexico’s customer migration to the AT&T access network means incoming Calvo may be able to offer valuable support as Virgin Media/O2 tie-up draws ...
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Network & InfrastructureDT quietly setting up new fibre company in Germany
GlasfaserPlus comes into being amid accelerating fibre drive by Srini Gopalan.
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Partnerships & AlliancesSEAT and Telefónica ramp-up Spanish e-vehicle charge
Operator’s involvement in carmaker’s “flagship”, vertically-integrated EV plan confirmed. Group to enable Industry 4.0 applications in Barcelona-based smart factory. SEAT parent calls for more EU action to enable EV market expansion.
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Network & InfrastructureINWIT CEO laments 5G fake news, Italy’s stringent EMF rules
Giovanni Ferigo reiterates importance of “educational initiatives” to combat 5G health misinformation. CEO urges Italian government to relax EMF limits.
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PeopleBT denies right royal dust-up at the top
Group moved to issue a denial of Jansen ultimatum as speculation swirls on du Plessis’ surprise departure decision. Two camps emerging, with some discontent at Jansen power moves, but CEO’s position appears safe for now. Beyond rumours and gossip, BT board looks starved of experience needed for Group transformation ...
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PeopleTelekom Deutschland’s Gopalan reshuffles top team
Reorganisation targets greater synergies between Europe and Germany segments. Telekom Deutschland CEO Gopalan brings trusted lieutenant Almeida to Germany, to push key strategies. Abrahamson to lead newly-combined Product Management & Digitalisation unit. Hagspihl returns to Höttges’ side with Strategic Projects mandate.
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Network & InfrastructureDT lends experience as Openreach preps for all-IP surge
Openreach drawing on minority owner’s learnings as it corrals the UK’s CPs towards digital voice services. Migration closely linked to fibre rollout, but timing may be dependent on CP retail plans as market joins BT in favouring IP voice services.