All Public Affairs articles – Page 24
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Public Affairs
T-Mobile rides cyberattack storm
Operator’s Q3 numbers indicate few customers ditched its services in wake of high-profile data breach in August 2021. Competitor exploitation of Sprint integration challenges highlighted as bigger issue, albeit one TMUS intends to make “short-lived”. TMUS highlights organisational and cultural changes in response to attack.
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Premium
TDE continues post-flood efforts with Eutelsat deal
Agreement brings improved broadband connectivity to areas in Germany with poor signal. Pilot underway in city of Heimerzheim, which was badly affected by July’s flooding.
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Public Affairs
Altnets gird for legal battle over Openreach FTTP pricing — report
CityFibre said to be heading up legal challenge to Ofcom’s Equinox decision. Rural fibre builder Gigaclear among altnets joining forces to fight back against Openreach’s lower FTTP pricing structure.
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Strategy & Change
Telefónica preps for 2,000+ job cuts — reports
Spanish operations look set for voluntary redundancy scheme rollout, according to multiple sources. Continuation of ongoing headcount reduction programme expected to be in place by mid-2022 following union negotiations later this month.
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People
Dunne moves upstairs as Brouillette takes lead at Verizon
Former O2 UK CEO steps aside as head of Verizon’s fixed-mobile consumer business. New role will see Dunne act as Strategic Advisor to Verizon Chairman. Change comes as new allegations linked to O2’s role in Phones 4u demise continue to emerge.
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Partnerships & Alliances
UK telcos face missing out on Horizon Europe funding
Political brinkmanship between London and Brussels threatens access to €95.5bn R&D pot. UK preps Discovery Fund as alternative, but unlikely to match largesse of Horizon Europe.
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Public Affairs
Phones 4u saga continues with ‘burner’ phone allegation
Former Orange exec Benoit Scheen attempted to arrange untraceable call to collude with Vodafone, according to High Court claim. Illicit text messages uncovered as part of evidence discovery.
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Public Affairs
Vodafone Pass reviewed following EU judgement
ECJ goes further than expected by consumer group. VfD may be forced to provide the same terms and conditions through EU. Other European OpCos could be affected.
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Products & Services
Government considering BT’s emergency comms proposal
UK Home Office in discussions with BT over introduction of 888 emergency comms and tracking system. 888/Walk Me Home working titles for platform that could act as “deterrent to criminals”. £50m public funding required. Christmas 2021 launch possible.
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Public Affairs
Vodafone called upon for German emergency alerts
Bundestag amends legislature to pave the way for Cell Broadcast SMS-based early-warning system. July floods expedite political process, with politicians now laying out technical specifications before MNOs get to work.
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Public Affairs
BT 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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Public Affairs
T-Mobile Czech Republic, O2 seek end to antitrust case
Operators offer concessions to settle EC probe of mobile network-sharing arrangements and avoid fines. The national regulator plans to step in and set mobile wholesale prices. Separately, TMCZ fights the regulator’s order to lower its wholesale prices.
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Public Affairs
Openreach gets Ofcom green light for new FTTP pricing
Cheaper “Equinox” wholesale pricing offer to start on 1 October. Ofcom confirms no action needed on Openreach offer. Fibre altnets strongly opposed and considering next steps.
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Operations
Openreach’s Selley slams “shambles” of UK EV charging market
UK’s second-biggest van owner buying electric vehicles from Spain because of lack of domestic commercial electric van manufacturing. Openreach CEO bemoans thin and unreliable charging network; says UK “behind game”. Just 600 of Openreach’s 28,000 commercial vans currently electric. CEO regards hydrogen as likely candidate for heavy vehicles.
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Public Affairs
Vodafone Germany takes action over sales partner fraud
Media report suggests German OpCo could incur fines over data privacy violations. Whistleblower said to have demanded €900,000 in exchange for non-publication of data. German case follows privacy incidents involving third-party agencies in Italy and Spain.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Deutsche Telekom Group: DT terminates De-Mail involvement
Last post for De-Mail; Group sees shareholder dissent over exec pay; mVAS project ticked off Pan-Net to-do list.
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Public Affairs
Four years later, O2 UK bribery probe hits headlines
Sunday Telegraph report highlights an investigation into alleged corruption among O2 UK management. Claims appear linked to alleged abuse of the O2 UK incentive scheme, first identified in 2017, which prompted a significant overhaul of the operator’s anti-corruption policy and procedures.
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Public Affairs
Movistar builds defence against CNMC F1 rights decision
Operator to take Spanish regulator to national court over antitrust complaint lodged in August 2021. Telefónica’s F1 deal with DAZN in the spotlight of fresh DTS terms troubles.
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M&A
Aussie antitrust tsar seeks change after TPG–Vodafone merger
Rod Sims, Chair of Australia’s competition commission, expresses “serious concerns” about market health after TPG–Vodafone merger. Sims wants bigger powers to block further anti-competitive M&A.
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Premium
BT soothes relations with disgruntled CWU
BT finds common ground with workers’ union by making series of job security assurances. CWU’s Count Me In campaign bears fruit, with 2022 pay rise in pipeline for staff. Group transformation roadmap unaffected.