Latest Regional News – Page 96
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M&A
Vodafone Italy hands highways infra to INWIT JV
OpCo’s divestment bulks-up INWIT portfolio, as TowerCo continues spending spree. INWIT to equip portion of new assets with IoT capabilities in “smart road” drive. Acquisition expected to be green-lighted before end-2021.
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Financial & Performance
Vodafone, ABG keep funding taps closed for beleaguered Indian JV
Vi shareholders wash their hands of JV’s plight. Insist that private investment is the only way for Vi to remain going concern. Vi CEO Ravinder Takkar claims private investors are more put off by India’s floor pricing than AGR dispute.
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M&A
Vivo open to fibre M&A via new FiBrasil JV
CEO Christian Gebara signals interest if the price and quality is right. Brazilian fibre market becoming increasingly competitive.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone eyes corporates with Unisys tie-up
Group launches Digital Factory, offering digitalisation support and integration services for AR/VR, big data, blockchain, edge compute, and IoT. Move chimes with Business:2025 growth strategy.
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Strategy & Change
Hrvatski Telekom set to offload Optima stake
United Group to acquire majority stake in Optima, advancing converged services challenge to HT. Completion expected by end-2021, but deal requires regulatory approvals and changes to the law. Firming-up of agreement would free HT from strange management arrangement.
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M&A
Vivo set for a longer wait as CADE rules Oi deal is complex
Regulator to take its time to examine Oi divestment in detail. Decision confirms fears that closure will likely take place in 2022. Suggestion raised that deal could even be rejected.
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Network & Infrastructure
European Aviation Network charts 5G NSA flightpath
5G NR backwards compatibility with existing Evolved Packet Core main attraction over standalone variant. Allows EAN to simultaneously support existing aircraft fleets using 4G, and 5G fleets when onboard equipment becomes available.
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Network & Infrastructure
Joosub fears Telkom will put spanner in SA spectrum works
Vodacom CEO hopeful that operator dialogue with ICASA can solve impasse on 4G/5G spectrum. However, Joosub thinks Telkom has a propensity to “delay or play games”.
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Strategy & Change
BT Global shuts down Kuwait HQ
Division’s rationalisation of Middle Eastern footprint continues as Group confirms closure of Kuwaiti facilities. Residual presence in country — and region — maintained via new reseller alliance with Ooredoo.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Deutsche Telekom Europe: Cosmote passes 5G ambition
Cosmote passes 5G ambition ahead of deadline; Crnogorski Telekom makes headway on its own 5G journey.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Movistar gives fitness startup Volava distribution leg up
Wayra interest Volava taps into Spanish OB’s customer base, with flexible payment options for its hardware. Movistar raises possibility that early-stage link-up could be expanded upon, as startup pounces on COVID-19-spurred exercising-at-home trend.
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Premium
Deutsche Telekom cranks gears for Dutch exit
TMNL sales process reportedly whirs into action; several private equity players circling. Mixed signals on valuation.
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Premium
Hrvatski Telekom given green light for 5G auction
Croatian NatCo set to bid for 700MHz, 3.6GHz, and 26GHz spectrum.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vantage Towers CEO dismisses bond proxy tag
Vivek Badrinath enthuses about “exciting business model”. Sees scope for innovation and expansion through greater non-operator engagement. Always on the lookout for M&A opportunities, but existing markets take priority if going down consolidation route.
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Premium
Deutsche Telekom people moves: German sales rejig
1NCE co-founder departs for Truphone. Former DT IoT CFO confirms his move to Telekom Deutschland. Renewed sales leadership in Germany. T-Mobile MONEY lead exits for insurtech player.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telefónica ties with KKR again on Colombian fibre InfraCo
FTTH InfraCos spun out in Brazil, Chile, and Colombia this month. Latest agreement with KKR sets up InfraCo in Colombia. Chilean fibre venture with KKR finalised. FiBrasil infrastructure company launched in Brazil. InfraCo model lightens capital investment intensity for Telefónica.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Deutsche Telekom Group: Höttges’ Euro warning
Höttges warns of European vulnerability in fragmenting world.
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Strategy & Change
TMNL extends 5G into the North Sea
T-Mobile Netherlands took home a 20MHz block of 700MHz spectrum to take its 5G network offshore.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in T-Mobile US: Ericsson’s AI integration success
T-Mobile completes mop up of Shentel assets; Ericsson flags AI-driven integration success.
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Suppliers & SCM
Nokia wins Dutch managed services deal
TMNL opts for automation-infused Network Services Platform upgrade.