All Strategy & Change articles – Page 89
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Strategy & Change
Vodafone’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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Enterprise (B2B)
Telefónica Tech opens portal to quantum realm
Next-gen services arm bulks-up portfolio with EaaS add. Multi-purpose potential of quantum encryption tech highlighted. Quiet engagement with Spanish startup bears fruit in new commercial partnership.
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M&A
Bids expected for Telxius subsea cables
Telefónica debt reduction strategy set to extend to submarine infrastructure as buyers are sought for 100,000km cable network. Reports indicate that an agreement is wanted by mid-2021, with rough valuations standing around the €2bn mark.
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M&A
Vodafone’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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Strategy & Change
Deutsche Telekom targets Sweden and UK in IoT sales push
Two new sales roles to support European growth ambition. DT’s B2B overhaul bears fruit as DT IoT and DTBS work together to expand IoT business. IoT Hub takes longer than expected to launch commercial offerings.
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People
Schüler coronated as VM-O2 CEO
Lutz Schüler, dynamic Virgin Media chief, with a track record at O2 Germany, is to lead the new VM-O2 joint venture, subject to competition clearance. O2 CFO and experienced merger overseer Patricia Cobian to take on the JV finance role. No room for O2 CEO Mark Evans.
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Network & Infrastructure
T-Mobile Netherlands bulks up on fibre via new KKR venture
Dutch NatCo builds on Primevest investments as first anchor tenant of Open Dutch Fiber. New fibre venture taps former CEO and CCO of Vodafone Germany partner Deutsche Glasfaser. Move raises further questions over Group plans for its Dutch business.
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Suppliers & SCM
BT Sourced embarks on buyside disruption
Low-key launch for BT’s “standalone” procurement company. Time will tell if greater reliance on digital tools will turn BT Sourced into “procurement disruptors and trailblazers”.
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Operations
BT’s revamped Newcastle office set for re-opening
Operator to inaugurate opening of “one of first” upgraded offices under Better Workplace scheme. “First phase” of site redevelopment completed, with hybrid working practices helping maintain operations in meantime. Gosforth to prioritise employee welfare as a means to boost customer service.
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People
DT’s long-running search for new chair continues
A replacement for Deutsche Telekom’s outgoing Supervisory Board Chairman Lehner continues after tight-lipped incumbent gave nothing away at Group AGM. External candidates considered. Disappointment of scuppered Harald Krüger appointment not yet rectified.
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Enterprise (B2B)
BT Enterprise eyes 2023 for 5G lift-off
Spencer says better performing 5G standalone networks needed to kick-start market. Operator inexperience in provisioning spectrum for private networks another brake on enterprise adoption. University Hospitals Birmingham and Belfast Harbour again hailed as BT’s main B2B 5G success stories.
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Premium
Colao 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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Network & Infrastructure
Slovak Telekom rides Orange network for fibre growth
Operators reach agreement to share fibre network in bid to expand reach to greenfield sites. Over-the-top products to be a focus on launch in April.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Telefónica Group: European Commission lays out plans
Telefónica backs EC green goals, as Digital Compass launched; Spanish government seeks cybersecurity support; payphones to be axed.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Telefónica Infra-Tech: Telxius lands subsea cable
Telxius plugs into Google’s Dunant cable and bulks up its own South American bandwidth.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: du builds Nokia 5G ties
Developments from around Vodafone’s soft-power network: du expands 5G ties with Nokia; new CEO at MTS; Rogers to subsume rival Shaw.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Telefónica Hispanoamérica: 4.5G in Mexico
Progress on OTT bundling in multiple markets; SME channel opened with BBVA; tax disputes continue in Peru.
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Premium
Q4 FY20: New Telekom CEO wants to muscle-up on fibre
Gopalan gets top-level billing in Q4 session as leadership shows confidence in new CEO to up DT’s domestic game. Group resets fibre mega-project goals. Apparently more sustainable FTTH plan puts ultrafast as central plank of future go-to-market strategy. New entity GlasfaserPlus emerges within Gopalan toolset. First signs emerge of ...
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Strategy & Change
Q4 FY20: Group thinks out of the box
DT’s new Head of Europe argues that the bloc’s fragmented market is ripe for change. Romania and Netherlands remain in DT’s M&A spotlight. FY20 results show Europe holding steady for DT, despite pandemic. Share buybacks increase holdings in Hrvatski Telekom, Magyar Telekom, and OTE.
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Strategy & Change
Q4 FY20: T-Sys not for sale despite another FY of drag
Höttges wants to keep T-Sys in the DT family despite ongoing wait for the enterprise division to meet positive cash flow ambition. Pandemic-induced order entry and revenue drops laid out in FY20 results. Impact of crisis cushioned by efficiency measures and majorly tightened capex.