All TelcoTitans Industry Content articles – Page 177
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People
Co-founder of Vodacom’s IoT.nxt resigns
CEO of South African IoT startup steps down in what appears abrupt decision. Move comes despite repeated talking-up of IoT.nxt’s progress and potential by parents Vodacom and Vodafone. Statement highlights new leadership will steer IoT.nxt’s “journey of globalisation” under Vodacom’s stewardship.
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Public Affairs
Threat of BT national strike intensifies
CWU calls on BT member base to back strike action, with further details on proposed ballot in “coming weeks”. Group transformation continues to exacerbate already disaffected BT-union relations. Mass walkouts from ‘late-spring’ a possibility. Union and BT share very different relationship perspectives.
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Suppliers & SCM
O2 heads down under for customer tech refresh
Australian software provider Hansen joins gang of suppliers working on German OB’s wide-reaching digital transformation. Vendor sees potential to expand its footprint to other Telefónica geographies. O2 front-loads licence purchases.
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Public Affairs
BT braces as Ofcom fibre ruling looms
Ofcom to set out its fibre vision this week, and while BT may get pricing freedom, it may not get the longer-term clarity it craves. Regulator’s steps to open up infrastructure competition may also disrupt the incumbent’s plans.
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People
Transformation guru Baumann joins Vodafone Germany
Former Microsoft transformation lead Heide Baumann named Director, Commercial Operations at German operator. Brings experience from BT, Liberty, and Three to Vodafone.
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Venturing & Investments
DTCP debuts in South Korea with Catenoid investment
Fund joins Series-C round for online video platform provider that has ties with KT. The startup becomes DTCP’s first South Korean interest since landing in 2019.
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Premium
Vodafone people moves: Group tech rejig spreads out
Donà and El Sayed share technology leadership at Vodafone UK. Vodafone Business builds out SoHo commercial team. Vodacom draws Paytm’s Kaul as financial services Super App emerges with its first “tenants”. YeboYethu rotates its board, with long-time Chair Bassa set to leave.
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Venturing & Investments
Deutsche Telekom TIPs more cash into SME security player Cynet
$40m total funding raised in Series-C round. DT adds another undisclosed sum to startup’s funding pot, with latter eyeing growth opportunities.
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Innovation (R&D)
BT shines light on AI in the East
Adastral Park R&D facility takes centre stage in inaugural Artificial Intelligence Festival. East of England emerges as UK hub for AI research and innovation. BT asserts AI thought leadership and is UK’s top AI patent filer. Group’s use of AI aligns with telco peers, but recent moves suggest bigger ...
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Suppliers & SCM
Deutsche Telekom tackles China connection with Aryaka
Group investment Aryaka is now a third-party supplier within T-Systems’ portfolio of Smart SD-WAN offerings. Rehoused Deutsche Telekom Global Business Solutions division eyeing growth in enterprise comms use-cases for clients operating in China.
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Premium
Telefónica people moves: Cybersecurity & Cloud CIO named
Flavio Reis takes CIO job at Telefónica Tech’s Cybersecurity & Cloud unit, with ElevenPaths’ Sarwat also joining the ranks. Brendan O’Reilly gets replaced by Telefónica Mexico CTIO on the Cornerstone board, suggesting a new O2 UK CTIO may be in the works. Burzako fills in Oslé’s Movistar+ vacancy in ...
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People
Höttges achieves longest CEO reign at DT
After seven years (and a few days), Tim Höttges outlasts predecessors. He is also the highest paid telco CEO in Europe. Sprint merger bonus puts his FY20 takings close to €7m.
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M&A
MiNODES brought in house as Telefónica NEXT shuts up shop
Data analytics acquisition MiNODES brought closer to O2’s core business. Telefónica NEXT now fully disbanded, with Germany Business Sales in its place.
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Network & Infrastructure
Liberty: VodafoneZiggo tower sale is ‘work-in-progress’
CEO Mike Fries sees Dutch joint venture’s assets as undervalued. Partner appears aligned with Vodafone’s eagerness to extract cash from site networks across Europe. Broader discussions over VodafoneZiggo collaboration may be tied in with tower question.
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Strategy & Change
Deutsche Telekom’s stakes in Europe NatCos creep up
Share buybacks increase holdings in Hrvatski Telekom, Magyar Telekom, and OTE. Group ends FY20 with a much-reduced 43.4% stake in T-Mobile US, but Bonn still calls management shots.
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People
O2 looks to Mexico for access network leadership
Telefónica Mexico CTIO has replaced O2’s exiting Brendan O’Reilly on CTIL board and is taking a broader network leadership role in the UK. Successfully piloting Movistar Mexico’s customer migration to the AT&T access network means incoming Calvo may be able to offer valuable support as Virgin Media/O2 tie-up draws ...
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Network & Infrastructure
DT quietly setting up new fibre company in Germany
GlasfaserPlus comes into being amid accelerating fibre drive by Srini Gopalan.
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Partnerships & Alliances
SEAT and Telefónica ramp-up Spanish e-vehicle charge
Operator’s involvement in carmaker’s “flagship”, vertically-integrated EV plan confirmed. Group to enable Industry 4.0 applications in Barcelona-based smart factory. SEAT parent calls for more EU action to enable EV market expansion.
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Network & Infrastructure
INWIT CEO laments 5G fake news, Italy’s stringent EMF rules
Giovanni Ferigo reiterates importance of “educational initiatives” to combat 5G health misinformation. CEO urges Italian government to relax EMF limits.
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People
BT denies right royal dust-up at the top
Group moved to issue a denial of Jansen ultimatum as speculation swirls on du Plessis’ surprise departure decision. Two camps emerging, with some discontent at Jansen power moves, but CEO’s position appears safe for now. Beyond rumours and gossip, BT board looks starved of experience needed for Group transformation ...