All articles by Joseph Purnell – Page 44
-
Strategy & ChangeTelco leaders converge on Bilbao for ‘secret’ strategising
Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica, and Vodafone represented at the latest European Round Table event. Behind-closed-doors discussions focused on decarbonisation, skills transformation, and single market competition.
-
PremiumH1 FY21–22 Spend: efficiencies found to give BT an edge
Improved cost points for BT’s fibre rollout front and centre, make for positive viewing. Operating expenditure down across the board, and capex up at CFUs.
-
PremiumH1 FY21–22 Headlines: an uphill climb for some, others still falling at BT
Struggling enterprise businesses bring numbers down, with legacy stop-sells blamed and next-generation services expected to drive a turnaround. Consumer flat as wins offset losses, but market opportunity growing despite upped competition. Openreach a prince among paupers with fibre goals accelerated amid strong uptake and bullish stance.
-
PremiumH1 FY21–22 at BT: scale and service to beat competition
InfraCo JV talks closed as rising fibre demand and lower build costs dilute benefits of external funding. CFUs continue their struggle, with Global faring especially poorly in pandemic bounce-back, but new services and improved brand reputation appear a source of hope. Future revenue growth anticipated, but efficiencies and reduced ...
-
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.
-
PremiumHrvatski Telekom hits 5G+ speeds
Croatian operator showcases 26GHz mmWave 5G network, putting to use newly acquired spectrum. Network set to support HT’s expansion in EV charging and campus networks.
-
PremiumMobiledgeX Edge–Cloud enables cross–operator R&D
DT spinout MobiledgeX’s Edge-Cloud platform leveraged for DT–Telefónica and DT–KDDI collaboration on edge compute proof of concepts. AR tour guides trialled with KDDI; traffic collision avoidance tech demoed with Telefónica Deutschland. Both solutions demonstrated under the auspices of GSMA’s Telco Edge Cloud pre-commercial trials initiative.
-
Financial & PerformanceOpenreach accelerates provisioning to leave rivals in starting blocks
CEO Clive Selley on fibre build: phase one is “done”; now onto “selling and populating” stage. Bullish Business Briefing shows Openreach determined to establish its ‘fibre franchise’ as a marketplace while rivals strive for scale. Build process moving towards cruise control with Openreach cornering the market in skills.
-
Strategy & ChangeO2 brand to appear in Movistar shop window
Reports indicate Movistar will trial O2-branded fixed and mobile services in its Telyco stores ahead of a potential broader rollout. News comes after loosened regional restrictions, allowing discounted O2 services in hundreds of new municipalities.
-
PremiumBT people moves: new chief at BT Defence
Cole takes reins from retiring Boyle at BT Enterprise’s Defence division. Architecture directors named at BT Digital. EE’s Bennett joins host of former BT execs at challenger Freshwave. Shuter’s innovation and investment arm Division X makes two senior changes.
-
Strategy & ChangeTelefónica preps for 2,000+ job cuts — reports
Spanish operations look set for voluntary redundancy scheme rollout, according to multiple sources. Continuation of ongoing headcount reduction programme expected to be in place by mid-2022 following union negotiations later this month.
-
Financial & PerformanceSafaricom confident on Ethiopia despite ‘staff evacuation’
Staff safety and security a priority in Ethiopia, says Safaricom’s Peter Ndegwa, but progress remains on track despite distractions. Break-even forecasts braced for impact of conflict. Employees evacuated from Addis Ababa, according to reports.
-
PremiumTelefónica people moves: Tech configures board
Cerdán inaugurated as President, with Colchero, Eguiron, and Prendes in tow at Telefónica Tech. Telefónica Peru names new CFO in effort to align business with the Group’s regional vehicle Telefónica Hispam. Virgin Media O2 continues to confirm team, with senior VM figures retaining titles.
-
Partnerships & AlliancesProsegur plots LatAm expansion with “ally” Telefónica
Prosegur outlines plans to copy-paste Movistar Prosegur Alarmas JV model in overlapping LatAm footprint. MPA continues to grow customer base in latest results.
-
Venturing & InvestmentsVodafone veterans steer mimik to $14m funding
mimik Technology, founded and led by former Vodafone venturing executives, to use Series-A investment round to develop go-to-market strategy. T-Mobile-backed 5G OI Lab graduate picks up funding from multiple US VCs.
-
Strategy & ChangeVodafone Technology embeds ‘build over buy’ mentality
Vodafone Global Digital Engineering head Ahmed El Sayed updates on Netcracker-backed transformation pilot in Hungary. Software engineering “the future” for Vodafone, as Group looks internally for revamped tech stack under ‘build not buy’ vision.
-
PremiumDT people moves: Greece and Romania settle management
OTE Group’s new-look Board of Directors confirmed, with three fresh faces in Rodrigo Diehl, Catherine de Dorlodot, and Grigoris Zarifopoulos. Telekom Romania Mobile Communications, the newly separated business following the fixed-line sale, confirmed its commercial and HR heads. BuyIn devices chief moves to Orange TowerCo TOTEM. T-Mobile US gets ...
-
Financial & PerformanceBT highlights cost-cutting progress as Drahi waits in wings
Group confirms it has achieved its headline £1bn savings target well ahead of original March 2023 deadline. Announcement is an attempt to display strengths ahead of this week’s Q2 results and in the face of potential Altice takeover bid before the end of the year.
-
PeopleBT’s new function to commercialise network assets
Recently-formed BT Networks seeks new revenue streams, with initiative led by finance and procurement veteran Paul Crouch. One of many efforts to identify commercial opportunities from existing assets and infrastructure as competition hots up.
-
Network & InfrastructureVivo picks up Brazilian 5G spectrum
Brazilian operator among 15 participating in spectrum bidding. Long-awaited auction includes frequencies across a handful of 5G-friendly bands. Interest from new entrants poses competitive impact questions, with new national MNO now in the mix. Vivo opting for multi-vendor approach to its standalone core.