Latest Vodafone Insight – Page 69
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Strategy & ChangeVodafone CFO: Shared Services at the heart of digital strategy
Finance’s Shared Services division was spark for Group’s digital strategy. Vodafone Group CFO Margherita Della Valle is not “empire building”. Shared Services drives efficiency, but not immune from cuts.
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Suppliers & SCMRicoh flags widening Vodafone role
Longstanding IT services partner expects to have more opportunities in areas such as digital workplaces, data and analytics, and cloud infrastructure.
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Suppliers & SCMVodafone’s supply chain unit targets enterprises with ‘buying club’
New procurement service for enterprise customers and Partner Markets. Marketplace aggregates tail spend to control procurement costs.
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Products & ServicesVodacom eyeing M-PESA’s biggest money transfer yet?
M-commerce froth suggests possible eight-figure valuation for M-PESA. High-profile friends could add further appeal. Joosub showing signs of monetisation interest, possible temptation.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: Vip Mobile adopts A1 marque; MTS partners Ericsson on 5G lab
Developments from around Vodafone’s soft-power network; A1 Telekom’s Serbian unit adopts A1 marque; MTS partners Ericsson on 5G lab.
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Public AffairsVodafone Germany braces for cable rule changes
New law could end bundling cable TV with housing association rental fees. VfD could lose two million subscribers, estimates Jefferies.
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Strategy & ChangeSafaricom: deadline for Ethiopia entry bid pushed back (again)
ECA grants Kenyan operator and other interested parties more time to consider ins and outs of Ethiopian expansion. Deadline revised for the second time in as many months. Laws blocking Safaricom from operating fintech service in country remain in place (for now).
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InterviewVishal Dixit: MVNOs are vital to Vodafone UK growth
Conversations with potential UK MVNO partners are “in the double digits”. Asda Mobile and Virgin Media deals exemplify OpCo’s new approach to MVNO partnerships. OpCo moving away from a ‘computer says no’ approach to MVNOs.
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Products & ServicesJoosub hints at pan-African ambitions for Vodacom’s Super App
Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub says Alipay-backed “Super App” could “transform the continent”. Super App’s enterprise offering will build on current VodaTrade and VodaPay functionality, with Vodacom targeting SMEs in its expanding financial services goals.
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Strategy & ChangeVodafone CFO: passion for digital drives transformation
Group CFO Margherita Della Valle plays leading role in transformation. Finance team is digital early adopter, leading Group by example. CFOs wield more influence over digital strategy.
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Strategy & ChangeVodafone’s hardball negotiator displays softer side
VPC’s Wilson says hard-wired, monolithic vendor deals stifling telcos and moving towards collaborative partnerships. Spend mix change seen as in post. Accenture held up as key strategic ally and early adopter of new model. Reality-check acknowledged: old school procurement seen as problem rather solution.
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M&AVodafone interest AST SpaceMobile completes merger
LEO satellite venture combines with special purpose acquisition company to fuel expansion, with eyes on going commercial with a helping hand from Vodafone. “ASTS” trading on NASDAQ. CEO Avellan unfazed by competition from SpaceX and co.
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M&AVodafone’s Icelandic affiliate divests Hey
Sýn sells minority stake in Faroese sister company. Icelandic operator seeking cost efficiencies (in more ways than one). Partner Market relationship remains active in service and tech development.
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Public AffairsVodafone, Fastweb file lawsuits against TIM
Operators seek combined €1.1bn in damages, with incumbent accused of anti-competitive behaviour. Complaints follow AGCM investigation. TIM preparing “solid” defence on all fronts, with prospective merger partner Open Fiber weighing in too.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone launches Ireland’s first private 5G network
State-funded research group ties with VfIr to explore potential of emerging technologies on behalf of Irish manufacturing sector. Like other Vodafone deployments, 5G install uses hardware from Ericsson.
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Network & InfrastructureSafaricom partners Huawei, Nokia for 5G trials
Kenyan operator becomes the first East African telco to launch commercial 5G services in a limited rollout. Huawei and Nokia named technology partners, with local communications authority giving full backing to the China vendor’s security credentials.
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PremiumVodafone reels in €2.3bn from Vantage Towers IPO
Proceeds to pay down Group debt. IPO share price holds steady on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
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PremiumVi keeps tight rein on spectrum spending
As expected, Indian JV is by far the lowest spender in India’s recent multi-band spectrum auction. All three operators shun 5G-friendly 700MHz spectrum because of high reserve price.
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PremiumColao proposes 1Gbps for all Italians by 2026
Minister for Innovation and Digital Transition Vittorio Colao outlines his ambitions for Italy’s economic recovery. Rapid roll out of gigabit broadband is essential to the plan. But the stalled national broadband network plan must be resolved soon.
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PremiumVodafone UK secures mid-band 5G spectrum
OpCo decides against buying low-band airwaves as it intends to refarm 900MHz for 5G. Total amount raised is below expectations, indicating lack of appetite among operators for bidding war.