In the realm of mobile communication, Virginie Debris stands as a seasoned expert, navigating the evolution from ringtones to Rich Communication Services (RCS). With an illustrious career spanning over two decades, she recently captivated audiences at Mobile World Congress, delving into RCS’s transformative potential. In this exclusive interview, Virginie sheds light on her journey and shares invaluable insights into the future of messaging.
In a significant move for Spain’s telecom sector, the Spanish government has officially sanctioned the merger between Orange and MasMovil, following the European Union’s approval last month. This decision paves the way for the creation of Spain’s largest telecom operator, marking the culmination of a deal valued at approximately €18.6 billion.
As debate swirls around potential alterations to EU telecom sector merger regulations, European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager maintains her stance. Even with industry pressure for a shakeup due to challenges like 5G rollouts and shrinking profit margins, she insists on preserving existing rules.
Neterra, a telecommunications trailblazer for nearly three decades, recently secured the prestigious ‘Best Central & Eastern European Carrier’ award at the Global Carrier Awards 2023. In an exclusive interview with Svetoslava Bancheva, the PR and Digital Communications Manager, Neterra’s evolution from providing Bulgaria’s first internet connection to becoming a global telecom solution provider unfolds. Svetoslava highlights pivotal milestones, including running submarine cables under the Danube River and the establishment of the Sofia Data Center.
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.
In a futuristic leap, French telecom giant Orange, in partnership with IT leader Capgemini, has launched commercial operations of ‘Bleu’, a sophisticated cloud platform tailored specifically for the French clientele. This solution, engineered jointly with Microsoft, promises enhanced user access to Microsoft 365 and Azure services. Christel Heydemann, Orange’s new CEO, envisions the project addressing data protection challenges, even as it adheres to French authority standards.
In a strategic move to fortify the European Union’s standing in the global cloud computing sector, the European Commission has greenlit a substantial €1.2 billion state funding injection. The funding is earmarked for the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI CIS), a collaborative initiative involving seven member countries: France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.
Greek telecommunications heavyweight OTE appears to be changing course, with whispers abuzz of pivotal shifts in its future business plans. The rumored centerpiece is the potential sale of its Romanian mobile operations, Telekom Romania Mobile, to Quantum Projects Group. This points towards a strategic refocusing on OTE’s extensive Greek operations, signaling a departure from the international stage.
Italian telecom provider Wind Tre faces hurdles in selling infrastructure due to complex 5G network sharing negotiations with rivals Iliad and Fastweb. CK Hutchison delays the deal closure by three months to February 12, citing challenges with Iliad and Fastweb. Meanwhile, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison’s $6 billion merger in Indonesia with Huawei’s support achieves significant growth. France’s Orange introduces satellite broadband, while Norway’s Telenor sells its satellite operations. FCC’s new broadband rules target discrimination, raising concerns of unintended consequences. Mavenir and Nokia achieve remarkable Open RAN interoperability, overcoming past criticisms and showcasing commitment to multi-supplier systems.
Telecom News | Week #44: T Challenge, End of Vodafone Spain, Nokia’s Technology Strategy 2030, Samsung and O2 testing vRAN.
