Strategy
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Strategy & ChangeLiberty gives European B2B services business a new name and mission
Shared services arm rebadged and given mandate to seek expansion in areas such as energy, fintech, and insurance.
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Strategy & ChangeSeven years in, Liberty CEO says it’s time to ‘think about’ Vodafone JV’s future
Mike Fries suggests seven years of co-ownership with Vodafone may be long enough as internal discussions turn more acutely to Dutch JV’s future.
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Strategy & ChangeTelefónica CEO pledges commitment to Brazil after meet-up with president
José María Álvarez-Pallete expresses confidence in Brazil’s telecoms market during trip to meet the country’s President.
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Strategy & ChangeLiberty builds Benelux HoldCo in pursuit of VodafoneZiggo−Telenet synergies
Liberty Global continues to dance around an unblinking Vodafone, which is said to be considering strategic implications of new Benelux holding company established to optimise stakes (adding potential tax efficiencies, management synergies and financial freedoms)… move also features fixed-mobile convergence, opportunistic infra monetisation, regional and other investor bait…
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Strategy & ChangeLiberty eyes infra ‘gold’ through NetCo-ServCo split
February strategy update could see group pave way towards separation of European businesses along lines of infra and retail, says CEO Mike Fries. Liberty envisaging a “series of transactions, structures, and strategies” for next phase of business, following recent years’ portfolio strengthening.
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Strategy & ChangeLiberty plans ‘to be active’ as Vodafone shareholder; holds ‘more strategic’ discussions
Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries says group “intends to be active” as a 5% Vodafone shareholder, taking advantage of Margherita Della Valle’s “more strategic” management at Vodafone HQ.
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Strategy & ChangeLiberty open to shedding Virgin Media O2 stake
Liberty CEO Mike Fries labels VM O2 and VodafoneZiggo as “interesting candidates” for listing. Group sees opportunity to list any of its operating entities given the right circumstances.
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Strategy & ChangeServing to stay in the game: McKinsey on risk-reward of going infra-free
Consultants argue that when telcos strip consumer businesses down and become ServCos, weaknesses hidden by network profits may be exposed.
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Strategy & ChangeCautious Virgin Media O2 seeks ‘balance’ in fibre wholesale talks
CEO Lutz Schüler in talks with prospective wholesale customers.
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Strategy & ChangeLiberty exec predicts ‘end of an era’ for altnet funding
Chief Development Officer Andrea Salvato warns altnets of rocky macro period, set to shake up challenger funding.
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Strategy & ChangeVodafone’s Wibergh hails speedy integration of former Liberty assets
CTO said 1,000 people are involved in the four-market integration programme. Vodafone TV figures dipped in Germany because of COVID-19. Velocix is supporting GigaTV in Germany.
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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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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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Strategy & ChangeVM O2 preps for wholesale with code powers application
Concerns over securing acceptable commercial terms for key sites on VM O2 network behind request for additional tenancy rights. Code-based flexibility will simplify the process of enabling wholesale access to sites, while supporting potential network expansion.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Group: Group shells out €20m in fines
Dutch copycat in Ireland ‘not on cards’; sustainability front and centre with green network boost; Group shells out €20m in privacy fines.
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Strategy & ChangeCornerstone exit could be early item on VM-O2 agenda
Indications made that prospective JV’s Cornerstone stake seen as non-strategic, and could be jettisoned in name of “national champion” Grand Plan. Sale would raise cash for higher strategic ambition of fibre expansion. Liberty “gearing up” for talks with partners to team up on Gigabit rollout. Fries showing willingness to ...
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Strategy & ChangeLiberty likes idea of VodafoneZiggo listing
Vodafone partner’s CFO argues that an IPO would command “premium valuation” in comparison with incumbent KPN. Bracken casts Vodafone as “wonderful partner”, and that the JV has done a “great job” in cutting costs and increasing revenue. Talks enthusiastically about VodafoneZiggo as “national FMC champion”. ...
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Strategy & ChangeOpenreach rivals in expansive mood
Liberty Global reignites M&A talk around Virgin Media. CityFibre CEO in bullish mood after being freed from Vodafone shackles. Sky reportedly keen on full-fibre infrastructure investment.
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Strategy & ChangeTelefónica hits ground running with restructuring plans
Hispanoamérica expected to be put on a par with Partners Program operators as Group prepares for sale and encourages local independence. Latin American billionaires float a majority stake acquisition of local assets, with Telefónica a minority shareholder, but individual OB sales still a prospect. Morgan Stanley working on Telefónica ...