A major Spanish trade union has strongly opposed Vodafone Spain’s decision to cut over 1,000 jobs, prompting calls for strike action. The Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT) has vocally criticized the job cuts, blaming the company, the Spanish government, and regulatory environment for the situation.
Vodafone Spain is collaborating with Ericsson to promote the transformative capabilities of private 5G networks for enterprises. The initiative includes a series of conferences across Spain, showcasing the technology’s potential to revolutionize various industrial sectors.
The sale of Vodafone Spain to Zegona Communications has been finalized following approval from Spanish regulators. This landmark deal, valued at €5 billion, includes €4.1 billion in cash and €0.9 billion in redeemable preference shares. Initially announced last October, the transaction received regulatory approval earlier this month. Zegona hailed the deal as the “largest ever reverse takeover.”
Vodafone explores potential sale of its Spanish operations as the European Commission investigates Orange Spain and MasMovil merger, impacting competition in the telecom sector. The outcome could influence Vodafone’s decision, with potential investors such as Apollo Global Management and Apax Partners being considered.
In collaboration with the i2CAT Foundation, Vodafone is advancing an automated multi-vendor management system tailored for Open RAN. This initiative aims to streamline the integration of diverse hardware and software components from multiple vendors, a key feature of Open RAN technology.
In a surprising turn of events, Vodafone has once again declined an enhanced merger proposal from Iliad for its Italian operations, despite the latter’s efforts to sweeten the deal. Iliad had revised its initial offer, made two years ago, in December, proposing a 50:50 joint venture that valued Vodafone Italia at €10.45 billion. This arrangement would have netted Vodafone €6.5 billion in cash and a €2 billion shareholder loan, with additional cash influx opportunities through a buyout option.
Vodafone, Xiaomi, and Qualcomm Technologies Inc have achieved a pivotal breakthrough in 5G advancements. Successfully trialing an innovative 5G uplink technology, these giants have demonstrated unprecedented upload speeds, reshaping the digital landscape.
European telecoms investment firm, Zegona Communications, is reportedly in advanced talks with Vodafone to acquire a hefty stake in Vodafone Spain. Negotiations heat up amid rising competition in Spain’s telecoms market and looming industry-wide reshuffles. However, questions remain about the potential investment’s structure and implications for Vodafone’s balance sheet.
The UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, has finalized plans to auction off mmWave spectrum for mobile services, with an eye on potential effects a pending Vodafone/Three UK merger might have. This move underscores the regulatory body’s diligent efforts to enhance 5G spectrum allocations, allocating citywide licenses to 68 major UK locations. Despite the anticipated delay due to the merger’s evaluation, Ofcom plans to award licenses on a first-come, first-served basis in less densely populated areas, promising a balanced landscape for both telecom giants and early adopters.
Vodafone’s Spanish operations have caught the eyes of Zegona, an investment group primarily focused on European TMT sector investment. While speculative reports suggest a valuation of over €5 billion for the entity, Zegona’s possible stake acquisition might be limited to 50%. Amid fluctuating price estimates, discussions are unfolding, revealing a potentially significant shift in the telecommunications landscape.
