TDS, UScellular’s parent company, is reportedly reviewing strategic paths for the mobile operator, with market whispers around a possible sale or welcoming new investors, guided by Citi advisor. Currently the fifth-largest mobile service provider in the U.S., UScellular’s assets, including investment in 5G and numerous mobile towers, make it an attractive prospect for big-name telecoms like T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. However, its segmented presence may pose challenges.
As Rakuten Symphony’s CEO, Tareq Amin, unexpectedly departs, it heightens the mystery around the company’s subdued performance this year. Despite a promising start and securing a deal with Germany’s greenfield mobile operator 1&1, Symphony’s momentum appears to have plateaued. Yet a recent MoU with Veon to explore Open RAN solutions offers a beacon of hope. Amidst tricky market conditions and scarce major RAN deals, all eyes are now on acting president Sharad Sriwastawa to breathe new life into Symphony.
In a strategic move, 1&1 penetrates the German 5G market through a new agreement with Vodafone, leaving Telefonica potentially at a loss. Details of the agreement, such as leveraging on Vodafone’s robust 5G, 2G, and 4G networks, and potential future technologies, raise various possibilities for 1&1’s continued growth.
Vocus, the Australian fibre giant, eyes a substantial expansion via a potential A$6.3 billion acquisition of TPG Telecom’s enterprise, wholesale, and government assets, including the wholesale infrastructure sector, Vision Network. However, TPG’s Board’s decision remains pending, casting doubt around the contract’s finalisation.
Cellnex, the Spanish infrastructure giant, is rumored to be considering a sale of a minority stake in its Nordic operations, specifically Sweden and Denmark. With nearly €1 billion at stake, this move aligns with earlier sentiments expressed by CEO Marco Patuano. Combining this potential sale with recent acquisitions, loan procurements and collaborations, Cellnex aims to streamline its operations, tackle its massive debts and redefine its strategy for the European tower infrastructure market. Let’s delve deeper into the winding paths and potential outcomes at the upcoming Total Telecom Congress.
Crown Castle, focusing on a restructuring plan, intends to trim its workforce by 15% in response to telecom firms reducing investment. Alongside staff reduction, it will cease tower installation services while continuing to offer site development. Despite lowered earnings predictions, the second quarter of 2021 showed strong revenue growth, highlighting the company’s resilience in a challenging market.
As telecom giants Ooredoo, Zain and infrastructure expert TASC Towers embark on exclusive negotiations to form a massive mobile towers firm, the telecommunications landscape beckons a potential shift. Combining assets from Qatar, Kuwait, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, and Jordan, they plan on creating an autonomous company with a whopping portfolio of approximately 30,000 towers, directly rivaling industry leaders. Their strategic vision embraces a dual approach: stimulate shareholder value and reduce the MENA region’s carbon footprint.
Spain’s government is pumping €448 million into the upgrade of over 8,000 isolated 5G base stations, an initiative set to stimulate economic and civil activity while bridging the digital divide. Interestingly, the bulk of the funds are being allocated to lesser-known entities, including wholesale and retail fibre providers Lyntia and Avatel. The rollout is part of Spain’s broader mission of delivering ultrafast broadband coverage by 2025, concurrently ramping up public access to high-speed connections. Furthermore, a €10 million fund invites proposals for innovative 5G projects in sectors such as agriculture and connected vehicles.
Telekom Austria advances in spinning off its towers business, appointing Ivo Ivanovski and Lars Mosdorf as future leaders. Tasked with preparing a Vienna listing in H2, the duo will oversee 12,900 towers potentially worth billions, enhancing Telekom Austria’s asset monetization.
Deutsche Bahn, Ericsson, O2 Telefónica, and Vantage Towers collaborate on the Gigabit Innovation Track project, securing €6.4 million to provide gigabit 5G speeds for German train passengers and explore resource-efficient implementation methods. The trial aims to deliver reliable 5G by 2024, potentially impacting global connectivity improvements.
