EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 217
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M&A
Vodafone’s Read coy on Spanish M&A possibilities
“Pragmatic” Vodafone will “always examine opportunities to enhance and strengthen our business”, says Group Chief Executive.
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Consumer (B2C)
Droniq goes B2C as new app takes flight
Deutsche Telekom JV looks to widen customer base with app for drone hobbyists. App provides a visual tool for drone flight validation. Early teething problems highlight the project’s complexity.
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People
Deutsche Telekom movers: T-Systems NL CFO exits
Departures include T-Systems Netherlands CFO and Group TV platform development lead. Deutsche Telekom bolsters EU policy efforts. Former Telekom Deutschland boss joins board of telco IT player LotusFlare.
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Venturing & Investments
Wayra backed LinkApi lands a buyer
Telefónica’s Brazilian scale-up hothouse exits LinkApi through Semantix acquisition. Wayra continues transition to later-stage startups with fourth exit in just over a year.
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People
Osborne to become Vodafone’s deal-making wingman
Ex-UK Chancellor likely to be involved in future Group acquisitions after agreeing to join M&A chaperone Robey Warshaw.
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Strategy & Change
Play axed from Telefónica Mexico’s content offering
OB opting to strengthen alliances with other OTT players instead of building out own video content platform. Movistar Play remains live in a host of other Latin American markets, but ambitious growth targets across LatAm far off realisation.
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Innovation (R&D)
5G Create: UK MNOs left with bit parts
Another nine projects added to the state-backed funding call. BT/EE, O2, and Three support AR, broadcasting, and logistics use-cases. Emerging players take lead roles.
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M&A
Rumours of Vodafone tie-up with MÁSMÓVIL resurface
But MÁSMÓVIL not necessarily the prey. Renewed media speculation that Spain’s fourth largest operator might acquire Vodafone Spain. Report from Banco Santander says MÁSMÓVIL, under new private equity owners, has the necessary financial clout to pull it off.
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M&A
Oi firms up mobile deal, Vivo reinforces its market lead
Oi finalises mobile asset sale to three-strong consortium of Claro, TIM Brasil, and Vivo. Oi CFO: regulatory approval expected within the year. Trifecta of assets now divested by in-administration Oi as it seeks route to recovery via fibre.
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Venturing & Investments
Two Movistar Money ventures set for take-off
Consumer finance business green-lighted for launch in Colombia, enabling Group to extend partnership with stakeholder BBVA. Telco also heading trials of similar personal loan service in Mexico, with Banco Sabadell on the scene. Both moves continue recent refresh of Telefónica’s financial services partnerships.
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Network & Infrastructure
O2 UK battles for 5G leadership
O2 UK flags 5G coverage expansion, matching rivals by some metrics. Apparent rollout successes come ahead of further delayed UK spectrum auction, now pushed back to March. 5G Create partnership indicates continued innovation effort.
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Premium
O2 and Sky test 5G broadcast in live sport event
5G smartphones capture handball Bundesliga action for Sky’s live broadcast.
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Premium
O2 gets in on “grey spot” action with DT and Vodafone
O2 boasts of bilateral site sharing agreements with its rivals that are expected to expand 4G coverage to hundreds of previously underserved rural locations. Agreement reached as German watchdog only approves existing DT and Vodafone grey spot partnership on condition that O2 is brought into the fold.
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Network & Infrastructure
Telefónica joins European peers in open RAN push
Signs MoU with Deutsche Telekom, Orange, and Vodafone. Aim is to generate greater economies of scale for smaller suppliers through common procurement parameters. Lobbying European governments for open RAN funding high on the agenda. Telefónica makes open RAN advances in Germany, UK.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Amdocs continues LatAm transformation
System services provider Amdocs further extended its Movistar Chile partnership to cover wireline and wireless services, mirroring Brazilian precedent set in 2019. eSIM management platform added on top.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Telefónica’s Core Markets: O2 commits to roaming
Regulation relaxed in Spain. O2 commits to roaming. Vivo signs renewables deal.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Telefónica Group: dev facilities in Catalonia
Support for Spanish as an AI language, research on IoT for agriculture, and applications of technology for social causes explored.
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People
Serrahima on the up as Telefónica targets multi brand
As Telefónica aims to make customer experience a key differentiator in its domestic market, Pedro Serrahima, the executive behind O2’s Spanish launch takes charge of the drive. Marisa Urquía also promoted to oversee transformation projects as Executive Chairman Gayo slims down the executive committee.
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Network & Infrastructure
Cosmote works Ericsson ties for campus network debut
Greek operator enables first 5G campus network, focused on smart-manufacturing. Project sees Ericsson further expand 5G reach within DT. PTC and Gizelis Robotics among solution partners.
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Network & Infrastructure
Deutsche Telekom, Samsung team up on standalone 5G
Samsung massive MIMO radio put through its paces in Czech city of Pilsen. Project enables first massive MIMO call on end-to-end 5G architecture within Deutsche Telekom’s European footprint. Tie-up marks another (but still rare) appearance for the South Korean vendor in DT’s orbit.