All United Kingdom (UK) articles – Page 53
-
Strategy & ChangeFY20: Core four battle on in tough times
Major markets collectively show declines at the end of a tough year, but Group remains committed to focusing investment on next-generation networks to transform its fortunes. Spanish operations still the crown jewels, and closely protected, but management still yearning for market consolidation. O2 UK’s five-year efficiency drive has it ...
-
Partnerships & AlliancesBT signs renewables pact with Total
Electricity supplier to power portion of operator’s UK real estate from mid-2022. ‘Going green’ of particular importance to both parties.
-
PremiumBT keeps foot in Boots door with deal extension
Global secures win for its Dynamic Network Services portfolio as it expands relationship with WBA in a key industry vertical. Pharmacy branch deal underlines appeal of Cisco’s Meraki hybrid cloud offerings, available through BT Connect.
-
PremiumEE gets a bargain as operators low-ball 5G auction
Ofcom raises a total of £1.4bn in principal auction stage — several hundred million pounds less than expectations. Regulator has now opened the first phase of the negotiation period that should enable operators to build a contiguous block in the 3.4GHz–3.8GHz band. Lower spend on licences (so far) should ...
-
Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Openreach: Superfast Cymru targets missed
Outage in Bridgeton; progress update on Superfast Cymru Phase 2; Openreach partner on brink; 4.5 million fibred up.
-
PremiumElsewhere in BT Group: rural rent causing problems
DT feels BT’s pain; EE among the MNOs to take flak for making the most of rural rent reductions.
-
PremiumElsewhere in BT Enterprise: small-cell deployments flagged
Infobip partnered for RCS enterprise marketing; BT among the backers for Microsoft Teams product launch.
-
PremiumElsewhere in BT Consumer: premium broadband competition grows
Vodafone UK takes swing at Consumer’s premium broadband service; net neutrality debate resurfaces.
-
OperationsNew East London BT HQ preps for sale
One Braham, soon to be BT’s main office, is reportedly being readied for a £500m sale. BT due to move at the end of the year after leaving 81 Newgate Street.
-
Strategy & Change
Openreach cites No 10 lack of clarity as key early COVID test
Initial uncertain status of Openreach workforce deemed biggest challenge when ensuring UK connectivity and worker safety through lockdown. Strong chains of command, coupled with responsiveness to staff concerns, said to frame management response. Fears on return to offices and on-premises work may prove the biggest challenge.
-
Public AffairsOfcom gives BT fibre pricing freedom, but adds burdens
Openreach not to face caps or controls on national ultrafast pricing until 2031, as long as it is “fair and reasonable”. Locally-targeted pricing from Openreach prohibited as Ofcom seeks to protect emerging altnets. BT Consumer may lose some edge from 90 day notice period for new propositions from Openreach. ...
-
Network & InfrastructureSIRO nudges up premises passed, but still some way off target
Vodafone’s fibre JV in Ireland added 61,000 premises in 2020, taking total up to 360,000. A 450,000 target, slated for 2018, now not expected to be reached until H2 2022. CEO Keaney looks to EU recovery fund to help drive digital Ireland.
-
Public AffairsThreat 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.
-
Public AffairsBT 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.
-
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 ...
-
PeopleO2 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 ...
-
PremiumOpenreach NI fibre plan stirs up Project Stratum
Openreach Northern Ireland on track to exceed FY20–21 full-fibre target. Overlap emerges with Openreach plan and publicly funded project. NI leads UK with highest full-fibre availability.
-
PremiumBT under fire in long-running NI public sector projects
Northern Ireland Assembly report slams contract extensions awarded to BT Group that cost taxpayers £120m. While civil servants displayed “indifference”, BT “ran rings” around them.
-
PremiumBT going it alone with Shared Rural Network plans
O2, Three, and Vodafone reach agreement to construct more than 220 new 4G masts by 2024, taking partial ‘not-spot’ coverage to 84% of UK landmass. Sites will cover areas BT/EE already reach, with “historic investment” seemingly respected, per Allera’s request. Frozen out of initial announcement, BT updated on its ...
-
PremiumVirgin Media’s foray into 5G signals end of BT era
All Virgin Media subscribers expected to leave BT network by early-2022. BT highlights “healthy pipeline” of new MVNO business opportunities.