Financial & Performance – Page 42
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Premium
Margins slip as BT Consumer pursues quality
Another tough COVID-19-impacted quarter but management playing the long game, with a focus on premium services. Network investment continuing as division seeks an uplift from next-generation platforms. BT reputation improving, but weaknesses remain outside core products, necessitating dual-brand approach. Commercial partnerships remain a key strategic element, but hit to ...
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BT Global braces for more COVID-19 headwinds
Precipitous revenue declines continue for Global as pandemic makes its presence felt, but mitigation measures and ongoing transformation ease the pain on profit levels. Growing underlying strength of division offers hope beyond an anticipated tough second half.
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Network & Infrastructure
Lowth downplays tower monetisation benefits
BT is continuing to buck the trend of creating TowerCos as it continues to value control over infrastructure assets.
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Financial & Performance
BT cash to take a hit on Brexit and Huexit stockpiling
An improved earnings forecast at BT is not expected to generate more cash as the operator buys up Huawei gear ahead of the 5G ban. Ericsson highlights its own efforts to ensure it can meet BT’s needs in uncertain times ahead.
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Public Affairs
TalkTalk stiffens resistance to Openreach network pricing
Alternative network provider is waging an ongoing war with Openreach over wholesale fees.
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Elsewhere in Vodafone Africa: Safaricom shareholder base sees changes
Big boys making their presence felt in Safaricom’s owner family; Loon nearing Mozambique launch.
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Strategy & Change
BT’s Jansen plays for time on transformation
Eighteen months into the job, the BT CEO is striving to prove the business is on the right track, with a lower-key transformation than many expected. Jansen urging staff to adopt a “lean-in” approach with faster decision-making to accompany systemic change.
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O2 bill prompts Drillisch profits warning
MVNO Drillisch is continuing to hit roadblocks, and get battered on costs, as O2 and the other German operators play hardball on contract terms.
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Public Affairs
Vodacom’s Congo CFO gets out of jail
Chutoo endures four-day stint behind bars. CFO reportedly quizzed on allegations of “forgery” and “falsification of financial statements”; but no formal charges. Vodacom DRC expresses surprise.
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People
BT strips directorships from treasurer on murder charge
Quick changes made to company officers for major BT holding companies in the wake of Treasury Manager’s widely reported arrest. Review of Winnister’s responsibilities highlights complexity of BT’s many tiers of subsidiaries, and echoes of losses past still reverberating.
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Strategy & Change
Q2 FY20: Un-Carrier quickly finds stride after H1’s bumps
New CEO and CFO team remain bullish on business growth opportunities, despite challenges of Sprint integration, COVID-19, and change of leadership. TMUS moots a period of commercial aggression against rivals in H2, working off economic downturn and 5G differentiation. B2B expansion also back (yet again) on agenda. Reported surpassing ...
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Guidance: Deutsche Telekom shows off its super-sized stats
Up-sized Group sees earnings coming in above €30bn.
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Strategy & Change
Q2 FY20: Gopalan backed to solve Germany paradox
Transferred from Europe segment, new CEO is being asked to bridge multiple, competing business objectives at Telekom Deutschland, as Group takes a fresh look at how to move its European-based businesses forward. Höttges’ comments suggest efficient fibre rollout remains a puzzle the operator has yet to get to the ...
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Strategy & Change
Q2 FY20: Steadying European ship now a top DT priority
With the appointment of Dominique Leroy to lead Europe segment, DT appears to be ensuring it can attack regional revival from all sides. An outsider but not a maverick — Group continues ‘internationalisation’ of upper hierarchy but evidently does not want to rock boat in a time of crisis. ...
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Spend: Deutsche Telekom enters de-leveraging phase
Höttges could reach for famed cookie jar to help bring down borrowing after US splurge.
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Headline numbers: relying on US
USA growth now an even more dominant part of DT’s world. Management remain keen to ensure strength in Europe is not overlooked.
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Strategy & Change
Green sees ‘correction’ in TV sports rights prices
BT is attempting to turn down the heat on expectations for broadcast sport auctions in a market that has already seen signs of cooling.
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Premium
Numbers: no sport and shut businesses take their toll
While whole Group faces headwinds, Consumer and Enterprise take the brunt of COVID-19 impact. The “usual” working capital payments on top of slumping earnings result in negative cash flow for the quarter.
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Premium
Spending: capex surge still around the corner
Lockdown slows network rollout, but capex remains on track to ramp up from next year. Existing cost cutting to be coupled with pandemic-driven spending reviews for additional sustainable savings. New Huawei rules said not to add to BT’s swap-out burden.
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Guidance: what’s the worst that can happen?
Outlook on revenue and EBITDA implies little good news for rest of FY20–21. Earnings growth anticipated in FY21–22, as regulatory headwinds fade and efficiency gains come into play.