All TelcoTitans Industry Content articles – Page 182
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Strategy & Change
Telefónica closer to firming up commercial reset
New model seen as necessary for digital services era, encompassing changes around skills, incentives, and flexibility. ‘Commercial careers’ agreement has been a long time coming, but unions say more still needs to be done.
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Suppliers & SCM
Vodafone set to switch on IBM’s blockchain for buyers
Vodafone Procurement Company now actively using Trust Your Supplier platform — a means of simplifying buyer-seller relationships.
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Strategy & Change
Álvarez-Pallete gets political as challenges grow
Quiet support for a boardroom coup at Prisa indicates Telefónica’s political muscles as business priorities coincide with larger social challenges. Telefónica supporting government recovery goals, but lobbying for a more favourable investment environment as 5G auction looms. Group emphasising its Europe role as Latin America retreat sees grumbling.
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Public Affairs
Openreach strike ballot puts BT on notice
Statutory vote by small group of Openreach workers described as a ‘wake-up call’ for the whole of BT amidst wider unrest.
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Strategy & Change
Vodacom’s Joosub dismisses Vodafone Ghana buyout talk
Acquisition of Ghanaian OpCo by Vodacom not under consideration, according to Chief Executive.
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Strategy & Change
Deutsche Telekom to ‘new-skill’ nearly a third of workforce
VP, Digital Transformation Bruné highlights skill upgrades as fundamental to success, pushing “new-skilling” to top of the Group’s strategic priority list. DT aims for 30% uptake of up-skilling programme by 2024.
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Strategy & Change
Telefónica warns autonomous networks will need kill switch
Humans needed to control misbehaving AIs in autonomous networks. ETSI tackles standards for securing AI. Telcos eager to expand autonomous ecosystem.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Hrvatski Telekom connects Split
HT and IT services subsidiary Combis take home smart-city platform contract, building digital transformation service for the City.
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Innovation (R&D)
T-Labs enters quantum realm for AI
Quantum computing in focus for T-Labs and German government. Government-funded PlanKQ project develops quantum-assisted AI platform. T-Labs tests quantum AI use cases, but too soon for business cases.
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M&A
Germany mulls selling stake in Deutsche Telekom
Coalition government considers “scaling back” state holdings in various companies, including Deutsche Telekom. Pandemic-induced financial pressures taking their toll.
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M&A
BT to take full OnePhone ownership
Swedish technology partners to be bought out after nine years, bringing the mobile PBX proposition fully under BT umbrella. OnePhone previously flagged as a quiet success of Enterprise portfolio, and now seemingly turning a profit.
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Suppliers & SCM
NETSCOUT hints at toughening competition for Vodafone business
Business assurance software provider highlights the need to stay ahead of the curve.
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Strategy & Change
Vodafone centralising national tech functions for Europe platform union
In-country tech leadership to be extracted and taken over by Group, as part of broader, homogenisation-focused regional reorg. Top Group execs in London hope move will address longstanding frustration with fragmentation and bring efficiencies and speed. Some in OpCos might continue to have other ideas…
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Venturing & Investments
Payflow banks Wayra backing
Salary-on-demand startup Payflow added €400,000 to its Seed round via a strategic investor trio including Wayra. Wayra family grows but with scaleups now in the crosshairs.
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M&A
Vodafone’s Read coy on Spanish M&A possibilities
“Pragmatic” Vodafone will “always examine opportunities to enhance and strengthen our business”, says Group Chief Executive.
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Consumer (B2C)
Droniq goes B2C as new app takes flight
Deutsche Telekom JV looks to widen customer base with app for drone hobbyists. App provides a visual tool for drone flight validation. Early teething problems highlight the project’s complexity.
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People
Deutsche Telekom movers: T-Systems NL CFO exits
Departures include T-Systems Netherlands CFO and Group TV platform development lead. Deutsche Telekom bolsters EU policy efforts. Former Telekom Deutschland boss joins board of telco IT player LotusFlare.
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Venturing & Investments
Wayra backed LinkApi lands a buyer
Telefónica’s Brazilian scale-up hothouse exits LinkApi through Semantix acquisition. Wayra continues transition to later-stage startups with fourth exit in just over a year.
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People
Osborne to become Vodafone’s deal-making wingman
Ex-UK Chancellor likely to be involved in future Group acquisitions after agreeing to join M&A chaperone Robey Warshaw.
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Strategy & Change
Play axed from Telefónica Mexico’s content offering
OB opting to strengthen alliances with other OTT players instead of building out own video content platform. Movistar Play remains live in a host of other Latin American markets, but ambitious growth targets across LatAm far off realisation.