Vodafonewatch News – Page 64
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M&A
Aussie antitrust tsar seeks change after TPG–Vodafone merger
Rod Sims, Chair of Australia’s competition commission, expresses “serious concerns” about market health after TPG–Vodafone merger. Sims wants bigger powers to block further anti-competitive M&A.
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Enterprise (B2B)
Vodafone’s Read wants Europe to ‘do a Spain’ on digital
Group CEO makes reference to €3bn budget for digitalisation of small businesses. Move chimes with existing Vodafone Business strategy to focus on SMEs.
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People
Vodacom Tanzania names Mdlalose CEO
Former Vodacom SA CFO takes the reins from Madrid-bound Hendi. Well-travelled Mdlalose looks to settle into Tanzanian challenge.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Vodafone Group: Microsoft CEO namechecks Vodafone
Vodafone leans in to European cloud initiative; Microsoft’s Nadella highlights 365 tieup upgrade.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone quietly steps into Gaia-X club
UK operator joins Deutsche Telekom, Orange, and Telecom Italia at the European cloud and data initiative. Gaia-X now has 300 members. T-Sys’s Adel Al-Saleh says scale, not US hyperscalers, are critical to the success of Gaia-X.
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Premium
Vodafone people moves: Technology splits and board changes
Group board changes include Ahuja’s departure. Vodafone networks exec and TIP Chair Tenorio picks up Lime Micro chairmanship. Vodafone Spain continues leadership overhaul in Consumer, Enterprise, and Technology divisions.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone NZ goes lean as it splits from Group “mothership”
Former Vodafone OpCo’s new managers say unravelling of legacy IT snarl-up remains a work in progress and “fairly challenging”. “High-performance” business reset expected to deliver big earnings lift in current FY and beyond.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodacom talks up Dialog network upgrade
OpCo “enjoying the benefits” from ST Engineering’s Newtec Dialog VSAT migration. Installation completed under lockdown, with remote support key.
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Public Affairs
Safaricom split proposal all but quashed
Overwhelming majority of MPs choose not to engage in debate over Kenyan operator’s future structure. Controversial proposal does little to revive ghosts of the past.
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M&A
TPG puts feelers out for TowerCo deal
Australian JV conducting “preliminary market assessment” ahead of possible spin-off. Scope of monetisation would be limited by operator’s low level of site ownership. Competitors have already made moves.
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Suppliers & SCM
Smart shopping: Vodafone now using bots for buying
Vodafone Procurement Company says new autonomous platform switched on in June. Focus on extended reach and efficiency in long-tail buying. System could ultimately handle end-to-end sourcing for quarter of spend, unit suggests. Pega and _VOIS on enabler team.
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Strategy & Change
SpaceMobile targets satellite status quo
AST SpaceMobile’s satellite tech represents break from past, says CEO. US space venture posts first results update since going public, as high-profile, iconoclastic startup edges closer to commercial get-go. Vodafone lends helping hand in satellite-to-cell compatibility tests. FCC opens gateway to domestic market.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone’s broadcasting gets smarter
Vodafone Germany launches upgraded transcoding platform at two of its five broadcasting centres, notching improved energy efficiency and reduced reliance on hardware.
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Suppliers & SCM
BT protégé DoubleMe doubles down on 5G and MEC
3D image processing specialist highlights collaboration with BT, DT, Telefónica, Vodafone, and others to realise real-time ‘metaverse’ ambitions using 5G.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone Turkey makes next-gen network improvements
5G prep accelerated as Turkish OpCo “future-proofs” backbone network. 400Gbps-capable SuperCore solution deployed, but vendor partner(s) undisclosed. Telco continues march towards 2025 ambition.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telecom Egypt to hold Vodafone to “strict” dividend deal
Executives of Vodafone’s Egyptian partner suggest new deal gives watertight dividend flow from their joint mobile business. Agreement creates path for Vodafone to do an internal switch of its Egyptian OpCo, following failed Saudi Telecom deal.
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Suppliers & SCM
Greek TowerCo ramps up tenancies with Sigfox deal
Sigfox taps Vantage’s Greek business for infra support in “nationwide” IoT deployment programme. Ten-year strategic agreement to increase mast tenancies by more than 250 over next three financial years.
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Premium
TPG Telecom pre-assembles 5G units to speed rollout
TPG accelerates 5G drive with new processes, spectrum, and research partnerships. Aims to cover 85% of population in six cities with 5G by the end of 2021.
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Premium
Vodafone IoT powers Westenergie’s renewable grid
Westenergie is a case study for digitalisation and IoT.
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Network & Infrastructure
Portuguese operators remain embroiled in epic 5G auction
Portugal’s 5G auction has completed 146 days of bidding, and counting. Government said to have no plans to intervene, but drag adds to 5G deadline pressure.