All articles by Joseph Purnell – Page 57
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Strategy & Change
Telefónica Tech readies for formation
Group brings in specialists to finalise Tech unit creation, with three-pronged subsidiaries beginning to take shape. Formal structure steadily catching up with well-established tech intent.
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Premium
Telefónica people moves: Global Solutions settles; Open Future rings the changes
Spanish Open Future leadership rotates with Global and Madrid Heads named. Telefónica Global Solutions beds in. Leadership named for Vivo’s personal finance endeavour.
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Venturing & Investments
Sky high: DT backed AppsFlyer ups valuation to $2bn
Mobile attribution player earns Salesforce Ventures investment, extending DTCP-backed Series-D round earlier this year. Startup becomes double unicorn, revenue also heading in the right direction.
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Network & Infrastructure
Chile auction: unhappy Movistar reins in spend
Five Chilean spectrum bidders announced: Movistar among MNOs looking for additional 5G bandwidth. Operating business’ antitrust complaints shushed until after the auction, with national 5G roadmap taking priority. Hispanoamérica monetisation plans, and a pivot towards less capital intensive service provision may have contributed to Movistar’s muted involvement.
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Venturing & Investments
DTCP tops up Cellwize investment
DTCP adds another undisclosed sum to its investment in network automation specialist Cellwize. $32m total funding in the Series B round.
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Premium
BT people moves: Consumer gets new Commercial MD; ex-CEO Patterson takes charity post
Consumer goes shopping at Sainsbury’s for new Commercial boss. Openreach looking to energise data strategy with appointment of new lead. Gavin Patterson takes responsible business chairmanship.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Three-tier cloud for Vértice platform
Telefónica Empresas and in-house cloud specialist acens partner for digital content distribution platform. Cloud services, hosting, infrastructure, and management provided in the deal.
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M&A
Telxius prepares subsea business for sale — report
Telefónica TowerCo Telxius reportedly poking investors to see who bites. €2bn valuation for 100,000km-long submarine cable arm. Telxius’s terrestrial portion has seen continued growth, potentially readying for a pivot.
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Venturing & Investments
Innovation in the crosshairs: Wayra X and Wayra Builder launched
Wayra marks tenth birthday with launch of all-digital hub Wayra X. Innovation arm looking beyond Telefónica footprint. Wayra Builder released to target tie-ups with external investors for internal tech spin-outs.
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People
Vi’s Vora joins Mavenir leadership
Former Vi CTO Vishant Vora appointed executive President at Mavenir. Helping open RAN pioneer build out 5G proposition. Troubled Vi left to fight its own fires.
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People
Deutsche Telekom moves: Pekovic takes Romania top spot; Affirmed’s Ahmed joins DTCP
Vladan Pekovic named Telekom Romania CEO in wake of OTE exit. Affirmed Networks’ Hassan Ahmed takes DTCP advisory role. DT Europe CEO Dominique Leroy moves into another NatCo Board seat, this time in Greece.
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Corporate
T-Mobile US boardroom given a refresh
Newly-appointed Telekom Deutschland CEO Srini Gopalan leaves US board, swapped for Dominique Leroy. hubraum’s Tazi and Group veteran Wilkins also join.
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Premium
UK 5G innovation: the startups to watch
Five standout startups driving UK 5G innovation. UK government helping underwrite. Regional initiatives open floor to smaller operators (MNOs in the wings).
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone looks to unlock Spanish home security market
Vodafone Spain looks to mimic Telefónica success with entrance into connected-security market. Strategic agreement with market leader Securitas Direct picks up pieces of latter’s former relationship with incumbent rival. Deal announced after Telefónica and Prosegur’s JV highlights strong customer acquisition since launch earlier in 2020.
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Premium
BT people moves: former CEOs take roles elsewhere
Ex-CEOs at BT Germany, Global Solutions, and Ireland appointed in new positions. Leadership change at ex-BT Ventures units. New legal roles across the Group.
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Venturing & Investments
Wayra helping UK government target LatAm tech scaleups
Entrepreneurs in Wayra’s Hispam footprint to compete in the Scaleup to UK 2021 programme. Doors opened to UK authorities and Wayra specialists to kickstart UK expansion.
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Network & Infrastructure
T-Mobile US’ Gulf voyage hits COVID squall
Maritime 4G partnership with RigNet feels brunt of coronavirus disruption, with reduced traffic slowing investment returns.
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Premium
Vodafone people moves: Vi leadership restructured; new Safaricom CFO installed
Vodafone builds open RAN influence with O-RAN Alliance oversight spot. Takkar handed another three years to lead Vodafone’s troubled Indian JV Vi. Safaricom Board rejigged following exec changes at Kenyan operator and parent Vodacom.
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Venturing & Investments
Wayra joins €2.5m ticket for rural Wi-Fi partner
Wi-Fi solution startup Galgus closes Series-A funding round led by Conexo Ventures, with Wayra investing too. Galgus is a Telefónica partner on public Wi-Fi in under-served areas.