Headlines – Page 6
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Premium
Elsewhere in Deutsche Telekom Europe: Recycling on the agenda
Recycling and green initiatives in Croatia and Poland.
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Premium
Telefónica FY21: ‘Core Four’ keep playing to strengths
Telefónica|Vivo making headway on digital services and premium propositions. O2 Germany reaping success of investment in network upgrade. Telefónica España defending high-value customers, but wants a TV market rethink. VM O2 focused on fibre to deliver a convergence challenge.
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Venturing & Investments
DT invests in Helium’s distributed network
Telekom Innovation Pool joins $200m funding round in decentralised IoT network operator. Crypto token incentive model sees growth in recent years. Liberty Global among fellow participants.
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Network & Infrastructure
Liberty Global’s Fries hints at UK fibre consolidation
CEO outlines plan to create a separate ‘light NatCo’ for new fibre JV. Liberty Global and Vodafone at inflection point over VodafoneZiggo. Despite fibre plans, Fries says HFC technology will be around for a long time yet.
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Public Affairs
VodafoneZiggo suspends employee over transgressive behaviour
Dutch JV “shocked” by revelations. Investigation launched amid multiple reports of unacceptable behaviour.
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Network & Infrastructure
VM O2 seeks partners for £1bn fibre rollout
Telefónica and Liberty Global said to be contacting investors soon. Move would underpin aim to turn JV into “national fixed–mobile champion” to rival BT. Reports say VM O2 wants to bring fibre to seven million extra homes.
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M&A
VM O2 CEO happy as spectator to BT takeover saga
Lutz Schüler, CEO at Virgin Media O2, said he “thanks God” his business is not distracted by shareholder goings on. Comes after Patrick Drahi expanded his shareholding in VM O2 rival BT. Schüler’s attention fixed on customer experience improvements and fibre rollout.
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Strategy & Change
Vodafone’s Wibergh hails speedy integration of former Liberty assets
CTO said 1,000 people are involved in the four-market integration programme. Vodafone TV figures dipped in Germany because of COVID-19. Velocix is supporting GigaTV in Germany.
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Strategy & Change
Jansen battle-ready as competition grows on two fronts
BT CEO returns to pre-pandemic promises of a more robust defence of BT’s market position, on price if necessary. Speculation on heightened wholesale competition comes as Openreach Equinox fibre pricing looks set to reinforce the Group’s strong position. Retail threats may be more pressing for the incumbent as Sky ...
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Vodafone Europe: VfD’s joy over Telekom Deutschland fibre ruling
VfD gets one up on rival Telekom Deutschland over FTTP; VfUK flags progress in trials with Ericsson on reducing massive MIMO energy consumption.
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Venturing & Investments
AtlasEdge reels in more investment, new CEO
Liberty-backed European datacentre operation gets investment boost from Digital Realty. Giuliano Di Vitantonio to become CEO in January. Virgin Media O2 confirmed as AtlasEdge customer.
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M&A
Telefónica moulds new UK unit for central cloud push
Cancom business, bought in August, becomes “Telefónica Tech UK & Ireland”. New name reflects ambitions to widen out Group’s in-country offering.
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Profile
CEO Lutz Schüler relishes challenger role at VM O2
After Virgin Media O2’s first 100 days, Schüler is raring to go head-to-head with BT on full fibre, wholesale, and B2B. Reportedly in talks with Sky on fibre investment. Determined merger integration won’t slow VM O2 down. Big believer in “data and digital” for delivering what customers want; hints ...
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Premium
Deutsche Telekom finally exits Romania’s fixed-line market
After nearly a year-long wait, OTE signs off on deal to sell majority TRC stake to Orange. Deutsche Telekom’s interests in Romania now limited to mobile. As eyes turn to next moves in Group’s reshaping in Europe, OTE continues to indicate commitment to leftover Romanian mobile interest. Höttges says ...
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M&A
Liberty CEO: call me, Nick, if you want to sell VodafoneZiggo
Mike Fries says Liberty “open-minded” on possibility of transaction with co-parent Vodafone. Management of Dutch JV conducting “strategic review” around issues including infrastructure and content ownership.
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Premium
Vodafone Group’s Dutch and British tower partners look to cash in
Liberty CFO says group “not in love with” tower ownership and keen to unlock value in Belgium, Netherlands, and UK. Telefónica hands Goldman Sachs reins to examine prospective Cornerstone share sale.
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M&A
Telefónica joins Liberty in move towards UK tower sale
Goldman Sachs reportedly handed reins to examine prospective Cornerstone share sale.
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Network & Infrastructure
Liberty sees UK–Dutch tower separation “sooner than later”
CFO says group “not in love with” tower ownership and keen to unlock value. Virgin Media O2 and VodafoneZiggo assets in focus.
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People
Sievert ranked highest paid US telco CEO
T-Mobile US CEO overtakes previous US telecoms front-runner Mike Fries. Sprint takeover turbo charges DT executive compensation in FY20.
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People
Groves comes up inside track to lead VM O2 marketing
Former Tesco Mobile CMO to lead on VM O2 brand and marketing as two prime candidates depart. Veteran Groves set to push for a more holistic approach to customer experience across the merged business.