More on EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 223
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Consumer (B2C)Allera makes mark with BT Consumer “turnaround job”
Latest Business Briefing sees Allera stamp his style on Consumer division, striving to bring a premium sheen to a venerable brand. Multi-play out of fashion and cross-selling in as BT and EE set to play to strengths. New marketing chief Thrane buying in to Group transformation philosophy.
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Partnerships & AlliancesT-Mobile CZ makes convergence push with CETIN tie-up
NatCo ramps up FTTH rollout with infrastructure-build tie-up. Another convergence add-on for mobile-centric operator.
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PeopleVodafone UK’s Jeffery jumps ship, and may not be last
Group loses another exec from layer below CEO Read’s increasingly thin top leadership. Home-market custodian and Read contemporary Nick Jeffery likely to have seen development opportunities limited in tightly-controlled upper echelons. Resultant vacancies in Group Operations and Strategy briefs pose a challenge in terms of introducing new voices.
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PeopleOpenreach seeks people power to fuel full-fibre
BT infrastructure division announces 5,300 new jobs for 2021, although 2,800 of them will be created within subcontractors. Capacity needed to increase weekly rate of full-fibre premises passed from 40,000 to 50,000.
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Network & InfrastructureHöttges 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.
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Venturing & InvestmentsTech Ventures looks to unlock Alias Robotics’ full potential
Alias becomes tenth addition to new investment vehicle’s portfolio. EC-backed robot “antivirus” solution to be put on show at Bavarian cybersecurity lab. Importance of cybersecurity solutions for autonomous robots illustrated.
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Suppliers & SCMDeutsche Telekom plans early-2021 IoT Hub launch
Open IoT Hub platform architecture is ready for lift-off in Q1 2021. Launch marks new phase in DT IoT growth strategy. DT IoT wants to work with more ecosystem partners in IoT Hub.
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PremiumVodafone 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.
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Network & InfrastructureGreek 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.
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Partnerships & AlliancesBT to head trials at Reading’s Arrow Drone Zone
Group targeting commercialisation of drone flights using country’s “first commercial drone corridor”. Funding delivered through four-year government initiative, but securing safety assurances for BVLOS flights first port of call. Potential benefits to healthcare vertical highlighted.
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M&ALiberty homes in on Telefónica units in Colombia and Ecuador
Reports suggest that Liberty Latin America is stepping up its acquisition strategy, and could enable Telefónica to tick two more boxes on its regional divestment list.
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M&AVivo shares Oi’s spectrum spoils
In administration operator Oi takes another step towards recovery with divestment of asset trifecta. Mobile assets won by three-strong consortium of Claro, TIM Brasil, and Vivo. Vivo adds to spectrum capacity as well as new customers, while TIM still takes the lion’s share.
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Public Affairseir’s fury over BT’s NI PSSN contract award reignited
BT hit with substantial fine for misinformation that may have affected the outcome of a £40m government contract. Irish operator “considering our options” on prized PSSN contract, although Ofcom found no deliberate breaches.
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PremiumTelefónica people moves: leaders emerge at re-jigged Telefónica Tech
Telefónica Tech re-organisation brings new names to light. Fibre leadership changes in South American businesses. Former O2 Germany CEO Dirks takes top-spot at rival to Telefonica’s new InfraCo.
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PeopleColao dismisses Ferrari driving seat rumours
Unexpected departure of Ferrari’s CEO sets the rumour mill in motion, with former Vodafone boss Colao mooted as one potential successor. Reports said to be baseless by source close to Colao.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone Germany CEO Ametsreiter on 5G ramp-up mission
Vodafone Germany ups 5G coverage targets but still lags Telekom. Draft IT Security Act 2.0 under fire from former Head of Cybersecurity at the Ministry of the Interior.
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PremiumVodafone Q2 FY20–21
Cost-cutting props up performance during COVID-19-hit quarter and CFO indicates she is preparing to step up efficiency plans further. Lag in delivery of leadership’s “Phase Two” plans, including Tech 2025, muddying attempts to assure stakeholders of a brighter future. Lots of talk of “underlying” strength as Group’s leadership seeks ...
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PremiumHeadline numbers: weathering the storm, for now
Key numbers relatively solid, reflecting telecoms sector’s cushioning from worst of pandemic disruption. Cost-cutting props up earnings, offsetting top-line weakness. Results preceded latest coronavirus response measures, which will have exacerbated drag on roaming revenue. Government support measures and resumption of international travel cited as key to maintaining solidity.
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PremiumGuidance: tightly-wound numbers obscure future
On a like-for-like basis, Vodafone Group is holding its own in the pandemic so far and leadership appears confident regarding short-term outlook. Longer-term prospects remain a question mark, however, especially as cost-cutting — rather than the top-line growth — is keeping the Group on a steady course. Asset sales ...
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PremiumSpend: Della Valle dials it up on COVID cost-cutting
CFO flags acceleration of savings push during H1, and possibility of a further expansion of ambitions for the post-COVID era. Planned developments at Vodafone Procurement Company briefly mooted. Stark Retail and Shared Services cutbacks detailed.