All articles by Joseph Purnell – Page 54
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Strategy & Change
Telefónica Global Solutions looks to trim headcount
Recently bundled wholesale services unit will offer incentivised early retirement to its over-53s, as part of ongoing contract suspension scheme.
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People
Former EE chief Swantee joins Vodafone Board
Olaf Swantee will join the Group’s Board of Directors in July, pending approval. The former EE and Sunrise CEO has also spent time at Orange, Telia, and T-Mobile US.
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Premium
Vodafone people moves: new lead to drive Group transformation plans
New Transformation Director in as CFO mulls yet another step-up in efficiencies plans. New CEO Aksoy formally takes over at Vodafone Turkey. Vantage Towers inaugurates its Supervisory Board with Grube as Chair. CISO swap at India’s Vi.
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Strategy & Change
Deutsche Telekom to ‘new-skill’ nearly a third of workforce
VP, Digital Transformation Bruné highlights skill upgrades as fundamental to success, pushing “new-skilling” to top of the Group’s strategic priority list. DT aims for 30% uptake of up-skilling programme by 2024.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Hrvatski Telekom connects Split
HT and IT services subsidiary Combis take home smart-city platform contract, building digital transformation service for the City.
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M&A
BT to take full OnePhone ownership
Swedish technology partners to be bought out after nine years, bringing the mobile PBX proposition fully under BT umbrella. OnePhone previously flagged as a quiet success of Enterprise portfolio, and now seemingly turning a profit.
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Venturing & Investments
Payflow banks Wayra backing
Salary-on-demand startup Payflow added €400,000 to its Seed round via a strategic investor trio including Wayra. Wayra family grows but with scaleups now in the crosshairs.
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People
Deutsche Telekom movers: T-Systems NL CFO exits
Departures include T-Systems Netherlands CFO and Group TV platform development lead. Deutsche Telekom bolsters EU policy efforts. Former Telekom Deutschland boss joins board of telco IT player LotusFlare.
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Venturing & Investments
Wayra backed LinkApi lands a buyer
Telefónica’s Brazilian scale-up hothouse exits LinkApi through Semantix acquisition. Wayra continues transition to later-stage startups with fourth exit in just over a year.
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Innovation (R&D)
5G Create: UK MNOs left with bit parts
Another nine projects added to the state-backed funding call. BT/EE, O2, and Three support AR, broadcasting, and logistics use-cases. Emerging players take lead roles.
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M&A
Oi firms up mobile deal, Vivo reinforces its market lead
Oi finalises mobile asset sale to three-strong consortium of Claro, TIM Brasil, and Vivo. Oi CFO: regulatory approval expected within the year. Trifecta of assets now divested by in-administration Oi as it seeks route to recovery via fibre.
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Network & Infrastructure
O2 UK battles for 5G leadership
O2 UK flags 5G coverage expansion, matching rivals by some metrics. Apparent rollout successes come ahead of further delayed UK spectrum auction, now pushed back to March. 5G Create partnership indicates continued innovation effort.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Amdocs continues LatAm transformation
System services provider Amdocs further extended its Movistar Chile partnership to cover wireline and wireless services, mirroring Brazilian precedent set in 2019. eSIM management platform added on top.
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Venturing & Investments
Sitetracker: DT backs Vodafone scale-up partner
High-volume project management platform provider Sitetracker raises $42m in latest funding round, with Deutsche Telekom-backed TIP fund in the mix. Sitetracker topped off 2020 with Vodafone Supplier Awards win.
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Strategy & Change
BT slims down in Brussels: report
Reports emerge that BT Global Services Belgium is planning to cut its staff by 25%. Market changes and COVID-19 impact cited as key drivers. Asset-light strategy apparently reaching Belgian shores.
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Premium
Telefónica people moves: Goncharov, Mesloh to lead German sales
Alpha moonshot unit completes transition as CEO Williams begins new venture. Newly established internal-external venture unit Wayra Builder gets a head. Goncharov appointed to lead O2 Germany’s enterprise unit.
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Operations
Vodafone’s Read: “pre-COVID office concept is gone”
Future Ready office pilots taking place in UK, Czechia, and Hungary. Nick Read outlines long-term policy changes implemented in response to the pandemic, with norms changed to support a “hybrid” work future. Distributed, regional model to promote diversity and inclusion.
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People
BT’s Jansen set to add Sharp Shuter to evolving dream team
BT Enterprise successor Rob Shuter to land at the start of February. Shuter and Chief Digital & Innovation Officer Harmeen Mehta fill out Jansen’s A-Team, leading “furious” pursuit of transformation goals. New hires complement other Group rising stars, adding gusto to the Jansen manifesto.
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Premium
Deutsche Telekom people moves: Sourek to drive Magenta brand
UK Global Business Solutions unit gets a new Managing Director as part of planned succession. Magenta brand leadership changes in Austria. Lee and Roszatycki climb the T-Mobile US ladder.
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People
CTO O’Reilly exits O2
Brendan O’Reilly appointed Global CTO at infrastructure provider BAI Communications, leaving a gap at the top of O2 UK ahead of its impending Virgin Media merger. BAI hoping to tap O’Reilly’s 5G and network sharing expertise.