All articles by Joseph Purnell – Page 53
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PeopleTelekom Deutschland’s Gopalan reshuffles top team
Reorganisation targets greater synergies between Europe and Germany segments. Telekom Deutschland CEO Gopalan brings trusted lieutenant Almeida to Germany, to push key strategies. Abrahamson to lead newly-combined Product Management & Digitalisation unit. Hagspihl returns to Höttges’ side with Strategic Projects mandate.
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Public AffairsRegulations hit Vodacom customer tally
Vodacom Tanzania indicates impact of regulator’s fraud reduction scheme. Another 1.1 million SIM cards due for disconnection imminently.
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Innovation (R&D)Vodafone ups the ante on drone innovation
Dutch, German, and UK trials flag recent progress in autonomous and unmanned flight. Ericsson emerges as important co-pilot.
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Financial & PerformanceBudget 2021: BT benefits but won’t move investment dial
Chancellor Sunak eyes investment-backed build-back. Short term tax break to bolster BT infrastructure expansion. However, gains will be “offset in later years”, and no movement on BT’s number one priority — business rates relief.
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Network & InfrastructureVivo taps CDPQ for fibre spin out, as KKR invests in Chile
Telefónica|Vivo signs a 50:50 deal with Quebec-based investor to launch FiBrasil. Wholesale fibre provider will expand Vivo’s geographic reach, while the OB focuses on upgrading its existing fixed-network footprint. Long-heralded $1bn Chilean InfraCo plans culminate with KKR taking 60% stake.
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Innovation (R&D)Testbeds and Trials: many roads to 5G for BT
Two private networks in the West Midlands to be switched on, powering manufacturing modernisation in the region, underpinned by BT infrastructure. BT/EE powers two projects in state-backed 5G Create funding call.
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PremiumBT people moves: Chairman du Plessis steps down from post
Jan du Plessis relinquishes chairmanship after four years, Ian Cheshire emerges as potential successor. Former Chairman Michael Rake also seeks a change after stepping down from his Huawei UK posting. Sherman understudy Johanna Lim leaves for Amazon.
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PeopleDT’s tech and M&A chiefs earn contract extensions
Thorsten Langheim (USA & Group Development) and Claudia Nemat (Technology & Innovation) both pick up new five-year deals. CEO Höttges underlines stability and momentum for the Group.
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Venturing & InvestmentsWayra levels up with co-operative gaming investment
Telefónica open innovation hub puts gaming and e-sports in its investment crosshairs, drawing together fellow venturers for “up to €2m” commitments. Fourteen funds participate in this year’s Coinvestment Day.
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PeopleTelefónica moves: Oslé named Spain CEO; Almazor heads up Cloud
Newly-formed Unsere Grüne Glasfaser FTTH joint venture names a handful of team members ahead of anticipated approval. Movistar CEO rotates to lead Telefónica Tech’s Cloud unit, while Sergio Oslé takes the Spain spot. New strategic planning lead at Group-level.
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Public AffairsOpenreach strike action goes ahead
Strike underway in row over engineer pay grade restructuring. Industrial action described as a ‘wake-up call’ for the whole of BT amidst wider unrest.
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M&AVodafone readies cheque for Egyptian fintech players
Vodafone Egypt signs MoU for minority stakes in digital payment players Bee and Masary. New Vodafone Egypt CEO Abdallah seeks to paint deal as part of “promising” strategic investment plan, following Group’s failed exit.
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PremiumVodafone people moves: Italy’s commercial leadership confirmed
Veteran executive departures at the top of India’s Vi. Vodafone Hungary’s Enterprise Business Unit gets a new lead from Apple. Raimondi named Commercial Director in place of now-Chief Commercial Officer Duilio.
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M&ATelefónica to swap more data centres for Nabiax stake
Four data centres are said to be on the table, with a 20%-stake in Asterion subsidiary Nabiax the price. Nabiax-Telefónica JV reportedly in the pipeline to manage the estate.
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Venturing & InvestmentsYBVR earns extra Wayra investment for XR platform
Extended reality startup raises $1.5m in Pre-Series-A round, with Wayra increasing its initial investment. YBVR’s Verizon partnership bolstered. Wayra continues to bet on AR/VR/XR.
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Products & ServicesTelefónica’s Chema Alonso ‘to drive Spanish press Netflix’
Telefónica Chief Digital Consumer Officer will reportedly lead the project, dubbed the “Netflix of the press”. EU reconstruction funding said to be on the cards.
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PremiumDeutsche Telekom people moves: Petri named Deputy CSO
20-year veteran Axel Petri named Deputy CSO under Thomas Tschersich. In-house consultancy makes exec swaps. New CFOs installed at T-Systems in Brazil and the Netherlands. Changes at T-Mobile US’s Emerging Technologies unit: Dwayne Benefield and Ivo Rook leave; Julie Goldthwait steps up.
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PremiumBT people moves: Groth joins Data & AI team
BT continues Digital refresh: Group Data & AI Solutions unit further fills out with Groth joining to lead partnerships. Weston picks up Transformation Performance remit at Global. Chet Patel takes Americas MD spot at Global, with Vanderick holding fort as MD, Commercial. James Lilley to drive all-IP for Openreach ...
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Partnerships & AlliancesTelefónica sews up Hyperledger Fabric agreement
Telefónica Tech signs collaborative agreement with blockchain consortium Alastria, which will see the operator build and manage a DLT network. T. Tech continues to play with DLT hosting service offering, building on Hyperledger experience.
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PremiumTelefónica people moves: Garcia ascends to TIP directors board
Juan Carlos Garcia becomes the face of Telefónica’s collaborative innovation endeavour by succeeding David del Val at 5TONIC and Telecom Infra Project. Michael Falkensteiner takes on German brand leadership. Another former O2 exec joins Deutsche Glasfaser management.