Infrawatch: EMEA – Page 32
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PremiumH1 FY21–22: Openreach enters fibre build phase two
Lonely position as sole BT unit posting positive results for the half year. CEO Clive Selley confident of future return on investment: FTTP rollout moving ahead of expectations; uptake supported by Equinox pricing deal and growing consumer demand.
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M&ASpain shields Telefónica as KKR’s TI bid makes waves
Spanish government reinforcing restrictions that would halt hostile bids for Telefónica until 2023. Europe’s telco sector awash with bid speculation as KKR pursues TI, and Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries is linked to a BT bid.
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Network & InfrastructureDT’s Jacobfeuerborn gives ‘flying towers’ up to ten years to take off
DT-backed SPL is seeking Series B funding. Second edition of GSMA white paper on HAPS due to be published in early 2022. Jacobfeuerborn sees HAPS as the ‘missing link’ between terrestrial and satellite networks.
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PremiumElsewhere in Telefónica Infra-Tech: initiatives surgery, maritime, and sports
Digital initiatives flagged in surgery, maritime services, and sports.
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PremiumTelefónica applies blockchain to tower management
In-house blockchain platform TrustOS leveraged for partnership with Atrebo. TREE asset management platform enables real-time tower data gathering to support network deployment.
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PremiumT-Mobile testing cell tower battery alternatives
TMUS conducting beta tests for ultra-capacitor replacement at cell towers, with potential to replace lead acid batteries.
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PremiumVodafone New Zealand said to initiate tower spinout
Former Vodafone OpCo’s parents reported to have hired advisors to guide them through separation and monetisation. Move comes with regional tower market heating up. Both Spark and Vodafone NZ moot interest in infra-sharing.
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M&AKKR launches Telecom Italia buyout attempt
Offer believed to be worth at least €32bn. Operator shares soar 30% as the news emerges.
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PremiumMovistar, WOM in fibre building show down
Rival operators both submitted proposals for multibillion-peso regional fibre deployment contract, set to be awarded in late-2021.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone CEO open to fibre JVs in Germany
Read exploring off-balance sheet financing and infrastructure partnerships to meet FTTP demand. Retains the love for HFC, however; believes network upgrades across cable footprint will meet consumers’ broadband requirements for some time yet. Della Valle pointedly notes that mid-term capex fixed guidance does not include FTTP buildouts.
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Financial & PerformanceVodafone: DT and Orange are ‘credible’ tower merger partners
Read confirms either of Vodafone’s big European rivals could end up being an ally as noise continues to increase around an “industrial merger” for Group’s Vantage Towers business.
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Network & InfrastructureVantage states ‘clear interest’ in Cornerstone buyout
Vodafone’s European TowerCo eyes opportunities in Netherlands and UK as partners Liberty and Telefónica look to cash in on wireless infrastructure assets. Strategic tie-up between Vantage and another MNO TowerCo also remains a possibility.
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Network & InfrastructureHöttges seeks to bring balance to future tower tie-up
Deutsche Telekom CEO seeks to lure tower partner with promise of hands-off approach to managing the business, allowing it to flourish “independently”. Picky operator unenthusiastic about approaches taken by rivals to tower extraction, including Vodafone’s Vantage Towers IPO earlier in the year.
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M&AINWIT continues to fill M&A kitty
Growing Italian TowerCo building up a €1bn platform for deal-making at end of its latest strategic cycle, in FY23. Expansion plans could give co-parent Vodafone another runner in European TowerCo race, beyond main vehicle Vantage Towers.
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PremiumDT heads down under for fibre mate
Australia’s IFM named as Gigabit investment partner following long period of speculation. Move adds to TDE CEO Gopalan’s box of tricks as he seeks to pragmatically accelerate the Group’s slow-building fibre deployment. Startup JV embedded with various protective measures for DT, such as balance sheet deconsolidation, and long-term/standalone strategic ...
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Strategy & ChangeOpenreach off the table as BT drives fibre efficiency
Group ends talks on InfraCo JV as rising fibre demand and lower build costs dilute benefits of external funding. Virgin Media O2 firmly in BT sights as it aims to lock up wholesale market, and move fast on convergence. Future revenue growth anticipated, but greater efficiency and lower spending ...
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Strategy & ChangeTelefónica cools on Spanish fibre sale (for now)
Vilá says domestic retail and wholesale FTTP operations “probably not reflected” in Group valuation. Repeats company line that Spanish fibre infrastructure is “strategic asset”, but doesn’t rule out monetisation in the future.
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PremiumNokia boasts optical potential for Vodafone Turkey
Vodafone Turkey’s network tuned to post 1Tbps speeds and demonstrate option for future scaling. 5G network expansion said to be a likely use-case.
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Network & InfrastructureDT said to be closing in on partner for fibre JV
Report names Brookfield, CDPQ, and IFM as among potential investment partners. In the region of €6bn could be injected into Telekom Deutschland’s FTTP funding pot.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: Proximus launches regional fibre JV
Developments from around Vodafone’s soft-power network: Get-go for Proximus’s regional fibre JV; MTS firms up tower spin out ambitions; NZ operator parts company with Vodafone Group’s Tobi.