The South African telecom giant, Telkom, recently rejected an acquisition bid from a consortium led by its former Chief, Sipho Maseko. The bid, whose details remain undisclosed, sparked extensive board deliberations and was followed by a 7% fall in Telkom’s share price. CEO Serame Taukobong maintains, however, that offers for a takeover will remain on hold until viable proof of deliverability is presented.
As the UK’s fibre landscape intensifies with rising competition, leading players are racing to expand gigabit-capable broadband nationwide. Noteworthy, alternative network providers, referred to as “AltNets”, are displaying proactive strategies to swiftly deploy networks. On the other hand, traditional companies are recognising opportunities in fibre rollout, as seen in Openreach’s pricing approach of their wholesale lines.
Telefonica and Entel are poised to merge their fiber infrastructure in Peru, with KKR being the expected majority stakeholder, following Telefonica’s previous success in other Latin American markets. This move anticipates significant expansion of Peru’s high-speed connectivity by leveraging KKR’s successful fiber ventures in Chile and Colombia, amidst the industry’s race to a digitally-empowered future. Details of the deal remain discreet as it awaits regulatory approval.
Ningbo, a vibrant economic hub in China, is transforming into a smart manufacturing center, committing itself to superior digital infrastructure. The heart of this strategy encompasses a six-layered approach focused on efficient information transmission that fosters industry digitization. With established leadership in 5G industrial internet, and over 600 private networks already deployed, the city provides a gateway to the digital future. Innovation extends beyond large corporations, with solutions ranging from on-premise to lightweight 5G private networks, thus catering to businesses of all sizes. The impact is far-reaching and the future, promising, as China Mobile Ningbo aims to address industry-specific challenges with targeted 5G solutions.
stra, the Australian telecommunications company, has announced a new partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. The collaboration aims to provide home phone and broadband services to customers in remote areas. Telstra’s satellite connectivity services will offer expanded options for businesses and consumers who previously had limited access to broadband, potentially bringing them online for the first time.
The UK faces a digital exclusion dilemma, with lack of strategy and leadership leaving millions potentially unconnected. Baroness Stowell highlights the imperative of bridging this gap for global competitiveness. However, the effectiveness of suggested solutions remains debatable, and conversations around online safety further complicate the situation. With potential threats to end-to-end encryption, a revised approach to digital skills may be necessary.
While Europe’s increasing $227 billion investment in IoT assures advancements, it particularly underlines the businesses’ focus on operational cost reduction and process optimization. However, economic strains and geopolitical disturbances, like the war in Ukraine and Covid-19, impede this spending surge, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. IDC, nevertheless, forecasts an upturn by 2027, with IoT remaining a viable tool in organization performance enhancement amidst challenges. For telecom providers, these shifting sands offer both opportunities and considerable challenges.
Virgin Media O2 Plans Job Cuts Virgin Media O2 is reportedly planning job cuts, with anywhere between 800 and 2,000 jobs at risk of elimination. The company has rescheduled an imminent pay rise for staff to avoid including it in redundancy packages. This news disappoints staff who were led to believe they would have the opportunity to transfer to different departments, but anonymous sources suggest suitable alternative roles may not be available. The job cuts are part of the ongoing integration process between O2 and Virgin Media, following their merger in 2021, and are expected due to real estate consolidation and eliminating overlapping roles, common methods in mergers. Read the full article T-Mobile and Bellevue Pilot Road Safety Tech T-Mobile US and the city of Bellevue, Washington, are partnering to pilot Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology, aimed at enhancing road and pedestrian safety through real-time information. T-Mobile will provide 5G connectivity,…
Vodafone UK is proclaiming the promise of 5G, with over 50% of UK adults agreeing that it could significantly impact their daily lives. But the telecom giant is also sparking conversation around its proposed merger with Three, a move believed to accelerate the UK’s digital future. The benefits of this merger extend to healthcare, utilities, and railways, showing strong potential to enhance these sectors through technologies enabled by 5G connectivity. However, this ambitious union faces challenges, including the controversial issue of spectrum distribution, crucial for 5G delivery. Yet, in the ever-evolving telecom landscape, it might be the willingness to navigate these challenges that determines their success.
Industry expert Jonny Parkinson illuminates the landscape of telecommunications mergers and acquisitions amidst economic shake-ups and global tensions. Despite a dip in deal-making activity, recent predictions suggest a strategic surge in the back half of 2023. Drawing upon the resilience of telecom firms in the face of change, Parkinson underscores the potential offered by technologies like AI and cloud computing to maintain competitiveness, even encouraging alternative structuring concepts and careful due diligence for prospective M&A targets.
