All articles by Joseph Purnell – Page 55
-
Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone spectrum auctions to watch, 2021
Markets across Vodafone’s footprint have spectrum auctions planned in 2021. UK, India, Australia among the key bids to watch — though 2020 set a precedent for delays.
-
M&A
Vodafone abandons Egypt exit talks
Long-awaited deal falls through, with STC apparently failing to reach an agreement with minority-owner Telecom Egypt. Vodafone Group CEO Nick Read remains philosophical after trekking to Egypt for talks with the President.
-
M&A
Credit Suisse to lead Hrvatski Telekom’s Optima exit
Investment bank brought in to lead stake sale for Hrvatski Telekom and ZABA, with deadline of mid-2021 looming. Contractual obligations satisfied, but divestment not yet complete.
-
Partnerships & Alliances
Openreach hits FTTP milestone in Cumbria
Connecting Cumbria programme completes Phase Two, nearing regional ‘superfast’ targets. Phase Three on the table to finish the job. Gigabit-capable coverage lags behind for rural premises.
-
Premium
Vodafone people moves: Deutsche Glasfaser taps Vodafone again
New MNC marketing head at Vodafone Business. Two more Vodafone Germany execs head to fibre altnet Deutsche Glasfaser. Vodafone Hungary appoints replacement Deputy CEO for pivoting Budai.
-
Premium
BT people moves: network strategy and internal learning changes
Lovelock takes internal learning spot to action Blewitt’s ecosystem development. Adrian Joseph adds Direct Line to his portfolio. Sports Rights MD Haworth makes tracks. Former BT fleet CEO takes to Enterprise.
-
People
BT’s Ainley takes Ericsson UK&I top-spot
Former Ventures MD Katherine Ainley will be CEO for the vendor’s UK and Ireland operations from February. BT Ventures dismantlement nears completion. Ainley to lead Ericsson through key 5G rollouts.
-
Network & Infrastructure
Glasfaser Nordwest brings fibre build in-house
Deutsche Telekom-EWE joint venture launches Glasfaser Nordwest Connect subsidiary to complete the last metres of FTTH builds. Brings formerly outsourced operations in-house, leaving the bulk of the work to “expansion partners”. FTTH network nearing launch in select areas.
-
Financial & Performance
Vi eyes $2bn cash injection
Reports suggest Vodafone’s Indian joint venture will announce funds from a consortium of investors imminently. Fundraising initiative began in September to ease Vi’s debt burden, with 4G expansion also expected to get a boost.
-
Premium
Telefónica people moves: global Tech changes
Recently-established Telefónica Tech subsidiaries bed in across regional outposts. Well-travelled strategy exec lands at O2 UK.
-
M&A
Viasat buys out T-Mobile partner RigNet
Maritime connectivity provider RigNet acquired by satellite specialist Viasat in $222m deal. T-Mobile US partnered with RigNet in July 2019, but COVID-related issues have pegged back progress.
-
People
BT’s sports rights boss Haworth subbed off
Andy Haworth, BT Sport Rights & Commercial Managing Director, is set to take a position away from BT. Departure follows renewal of key rugby rights, but with critical Premier League negotiations on the horizon.
-
People
Deutsche Telekom Group Board of Management
Deutsche Telekom Group’s Board of Management mapped out.
-
Premium
Deutsche Telekom people moves: Capital Partners arm continues to expand
Former executive Jochen Alt named CTO at AI startup Greyparrot. New signings from Huawei and Nokia join T-Mobile Netherlands and T-Mobile US, with Dutch NatCo focusing in on convergence. Digital Alpha’s Aurin Bhattacharjee joins the ever-evolving DTCP.
-
M&A
Vodafone Albania quietly plans second cableco buy
OpCo looking to add another string to its convergence bow through a takeover of cable TV player ApNet. Takeover another signal of continued Vodafone commitment to Albania despite recent exit rumours and suggestions by Group leadership that more asset sales could be in pipeline.
-
People
Engin Aksoy takes Vodafone Turkey top spot
Former Turkey Consumer CEO replaces promoted Froment-Curtil. Vodafone Turkey has third CEO in less than a year.
-
People
Vodafone UK CIO Brocklesby to depart
Chris Brocklesby to exit OpCo as of March. “External opportunity” comes calling. News comes a week after CEO Nick Jeffery bade farewell.
-
Network & Infrastructure
Höttges in town as Cosmote switches on 5G
Greek operator launches the country’s first commercial 5G network in partnership with Ericsson. Höttges points to future investment, with Greece of “strategic importance” as a tech hub.
-
Premium
Vodafone people moves: top level swaps for Greece, UK, and Vi
Vodafone UK CEO Jeffery to leave; veteran Essam to take his seat. Kate Beaumont joins from Samsung. Vi marks the end of its brand transformation with CMO appointment. Vantage Towers Greece names President in Exarchos.
-
Network & Infrastructure
Greek 5G auction exceeds targets, builds innovation kitty
Vodafone Greece leads the pack in terms of spend. Portion of proceeds earmarked for state-backed startup investment beginning in 2021.