All European Union (EU, EC, EP) articles
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Network & Infrastructure
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…
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Venturing & Investments
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.
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Partnerships & Alliances
SES drives multi-orbit strategy with long-term Lynk-up
Luxembourgish SatCo finances US-based Lynk Global’s satellite constellation build, while helping it to bring manufacturing into Europe for the first time. Lynk mooted for potential role in European space programmes, while SES advances its shift towards multi-orbit.
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Strategy & Change
‘Europe needs a DOGE’: Höttges looks to Musk for regulation blueprint
MWC 2025: Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Höttges has led the usual calls for policy overhaul in Europe, this time offering a direct comparison between European MNOs’ challenges and T-Mobile’s ‘freedom’.
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Network & Infrastructure
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.
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M&A
Indra to create integrated European satellite player with Hispasat buy
Spanish defence and IT group firms up plans for €725m purchase of Hispasat, with plans to form “most integrated” SatCo in Europe. Indra’s Executive Chairman Angel Escribano says deal is “key” to reaching target of at least €1bn total space sector revenue by 2030…
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Strategy & Change
Acquisitive Polish FibreCo slows M&A, seeks funding in strategy rethink
Jacek Wiśniewski, Chief Executive at Poland’s Nexera, says business is exploring financing options to fuel push past 1.5 million premises. M&A and build-out set to slow down in 2025, as Nexera follows broader European trend of focusing on take-up…
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Weekly Briefings
Orangewatch Weekly: Signs of MásOrange’s masterplan emerge
MásOrange is reportedly juggling a number of projects as it explores ways to drive growth and reduce debt, with the aim of turning itself into an investment-grade operation in the eyes of Standard & Poor’s.
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M&A
Spanish state’s digital musical chairs continues: Indra said to near Hispasat buy
Defence and IT conglomerate reportedly closing in on €650m acquisition of satellite operator to grow defence and space capabilities. State holding company SEPI again seen pulling strings, following Telefónica coup. National, regional and global geopolitical angles…
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Strategy & Change
Deep dive: The politics behind Telefónica’s boardroom putsch
In bombshell move, Chairman and CEO José María Álvarez-Pallete forced out, following apparent boardroom coup by Spanish state. TelcoTitans considers the political backdrop, internal and national, as Indra’s Marc Murtra installed at helm…
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People
Telefónica defenestrates Executive Chairman Álvarez-Pallete
This is a developing story. Chairman and CEO José María Álvarez-Pallete forced out at board meeting. Financial markets may take badly to implications of seeming boardroom coup by Spanish state, including shock arrival of comparative unknown successor with history of state affiliation. Read latest update…
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Network & Infrastructure
TowerCos, MNOs co-pilot Franco-German 5G highway project
A consortium of TowerCos and mobile network operators is to build continuous 5G coverage along main motorway linking France and Germany in latest EU-funded project.
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Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: partners in place for DRC, India network expansion
Latest from Vodafone, including launch of new Vodacom–Orange towers JV in the DRC; network automation deal ahead of Vi’s 5G switch-on; gov-funded contracts secured in the UK; more…
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Network & Infrastructure
Portugal, Sweden, and Spain lead race towards copper retirement
New Copper Switch‑Off Tracker names and shames markets that are dragging their feet on legacy network closures ahead of European Commission’s 2030 target date.
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M&A
4iG’s Vodafone buy under fire amid political scrutiny of state role
Hungarian opposition Socialist Party accuses Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government of negligent mismanagement of public funds during the acquisition of Vodafone Hungary by 4iG and state-owned holding company Cornivus.
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Network & Infrastructure
Deep dive: international response to escalating subsea comms risk after Baltics disruption
Latest apparent act of network sabotage in the Baltics underlines heightened need for action to ensure resilience of critical global infrastructure, with UK, EU, and NATO looking to ramp security of increasingly vulnerable cables…
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Partnerships & Alliances
Ex-Vodafone chief Colao cautions Italy against SpaceX alliance
Former Vodafone CEO and Italian government minister Vittorio Colao urges EU to focus on developing member state-owned satellite constellations to avoid strategic dependence on foreign providers. Comments come after reports that Italian gov is working on a fresh comms pact with Elon Musk’s SpaceX…
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M&A
Vodafone’s European retrench continues: Italian retreat gets final regulatory nods
Authorities rubber-stamp Swisscom’s acquisition of Vodafone Italy, pushing Margherita Della Valle’s ‘right-sized’ vision closer. By mid-2025, with €36bn+ bagged over 12 months, what’s in store for the far from insignificant remnants of rump Europe, developing market, digital infra, jazzed-up central function, and other assets and stakes? Read more…
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Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: Group closes out 2024 with more deals, partnerships
Latest from Vodafone and its associates, including business developments in the UK and IoT sector; European telcos’ frustration at regulatory standstill; and trouble with the Kenyan press…
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Weekly Briefings
The Deutsche Telekomwatch Briefing: Constellations and consternation
New-style satcomms ventures take a step forward on both sides of the Atlantic, with IRIS² contracts now signed and T-Mobile Starlink service opening for business.