More on EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 174
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Partnerships & AlliancesBuyIn boasts transatlantic tech sourcing footprint
Purchasing JV indicates it is widening strategic sourcing scope in North American vendor ecosystem. Comments come with DT seeking to build closer strategic links with its American growth engine.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodafone Oman opens new HQ
Partner Markets’ greenfield operator expected to launch services “very soon”. Taps Ericsson for network and Netcracker for BSS.
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OperationsTelefónica turning Madrid HQ into digital skills factory
Group ups corporate social responsibility efforts by dedicating real estate to societal pursuit of digital adaption. Talent Hub aims to re-skill 100,000 people per year. Internal skills upgrade high on Group agenda.
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PremiumBT pushes on quantum security with Lumenisity, Toshiba
QKD hook-up with Lumenisity’s hollow core fibre pitched as world first. Senior BT researchers optimistic about multiple use-cases for Lumenisity’s NANF HCF, but commercial timeframes unclear. Collaboration with Toshiba to build “quantum-secure” metro network in and around London.
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PremiumBT helps Ericsson shrink massive MIMO radios
Operator and supplier team up on product development. Lighter weight and easier to handle means faster urban 5G deployment.
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Strategy & ChangeVodafone Spain CEO talks up transformation
Vodafone hones in-house IT skills and organises into squads. Share progress on building up platforms and scale. As transformation continues at pace, Vodafone Spain downsizes.
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Strategy & ChangeVodafone to overhaul supply chain ops
Warehouse consolidation and digitisation intended to bring greater transparency and control of purchases from China and other key marketplaces. New, digitised stock management facility planned for “small country in the middle of Europe”. Move comes with supply chain resilience and predictability at top of news agenda.
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Partnerships & AlliancesDT ties with China Mobile on international connectivity
Deutsche Telekom wholesale division ties with China Mobile International for connectivity services in Asia and Europe. Agreement launches point of presence at CMI’s German data centre. Ciena technology leveraged for access and transport services.
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Strategy & ChangeJansen battle-ready as competition grows on two fronts
BT CEO returns to pre-pandemic promises of a more robust defence of BT’s market position, on price if necessary. Speculation on heightened wholesale competition comes as Openreach Equinox fibre pricing looks set to reinforce the Group’s strong position. Retail threats may be more pressing for the incumbent as Sky ...
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Innovation (R&D)T-Labs and TMUS scoping out immersive shopper tech
Group R&D arm and US NatCo open applications for T-Challenge 2022. Focus on retail vertical, with telco keen to enhance post-COVID experiences for those shopping at home and in-store. Scheme offering share of €600,000 prize pot.
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Products & ServicesVodafone commences Group wide roll out of ‘Eco-SIMs’
Group ups ante on waste reduction with launch of recycled SIM chips. ‘Eco-SIMs’ to be rolled out in 15 territories. Available in UK from spring next year.
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Public AffairsBT escalates appeal in landline overcharging case
Competition Appeals Tribunal tells BT it has little prospect of success in a call to block US-style class action. Operator will take case to Court of Appeal as it seeks to swap opt-out procedure for an opt-in alternative. The latest update in an ongoing £589m saga amid allegations of ...
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone takes Ofcom to task over proposed 2100MHz fees
Vodafone warns that rise in licence fees risks being passed onto end users. New annual licence fees for 2100MHz set to come into force from January 2022. Group calculates significantly lower fee compared with Ofcom’s proposal.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Africa: Google extends finance initiative support
Google arrows on Africa; XLink ties with AWS; Trend Micro extends range to Africa.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Europe: VfD’s joy over Telekom Deutschland fibre ruling
VfD gets one up on rival Telekom Deutschland over FTTP; VfUK flags progress in trials with Ericsson on reducing massive MIMO energy consumption.
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Venturing & InvestmentsElsewhere in Vodafone Associates & JVs: TPG launches smart farming trial
INWIT banks EIB backing; TPG launches government-funded smart farming trial; Vantage shakes CRA hand for Czech IoT expansion.
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PeopleEE–Three network sharing JV MBNL confirms King as MD
Gervase King coronated as MD at MBNL. Permanent appointment fills gap left by Pat Coxen, who moved to BT Consumer last year.
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M&ATelefónica sells El Salvador unit at the second attempt
Honduran financiers acquire Telefónica El Salvador for a cut-price $144m following breakdown of negotiations with América Móvil in 2020. Move completes Telefónica’s exit from Central America.
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Products & ServicesFortinet secures Telefónica SD-WAN for hybrid work era
Telefónica Tech launches evolved flexWAN proposition, addressing the cybersecurity demands of ‘new normal’ hybrid working. Longstanding security partner Fortinet tapped for updated offering. Spain first, rest of Telefónica footprint to follow. Fortinet ups engagement with telco players.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: Proximus launches regional fibre JV
Developments from around Vodafone’s soft-power network: Get-go for Proximus’s regional fibre JV; MTS firms up tower spin out ambitions; NZ operator parts company with Vodafone Group’s Tobi.