Xavier Neil, the French telecom magnate, is seeking financing to acquire the remaining 80% of Latin American telecom group Millicom through his investment vehicle, Atlas. The move was disclosed after media reports surfaced, prompting an official statement from Atlas Investissement. The statement confirmed that Atlas is exploring a cash tender offer for Millicom, aiming for a purchase price of $24 per share.
French telecommunications giant Orange has announced a strategic partnership with Nokia, aiming to broaden the reach of its network APIs. This collaboration will leverage Nokia’s Network as Code platform, incorporating a developer portal to invigorate the 5G market and stimulate revenue growth.
Sparkle, Italy’s leading international service provider, has successfully landed its BlueMed submarine cable in Chania, Crete. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Italian Ambassador’s Residence in Athens, attended by key figures including Paolo Cuculi, the Italian Ambassador, and Dimitris Papastergiou, Greece’s Minister of Digital Governance.
Australia’s Communications and Media Authority has initiated legal proceedings against Optus, the nation’s second-largest telecommunications provider, following a significant data breach in 2022. The ACMA has taken the matter to the Federal Court, accusing Optus of failing to secure its customers’ personal data, thereby breaching the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act of 1979.
Orange and Vodafone have announced significant progress in their collaborative Open RAN pilot project in Romania, now incorporating 2G capabilities. This development is part of their ongoing effort to innovate and optimize network technology.
Australian telecom giant Telstra announced plans to eliminate 2,800 jobs as part of a significant reorganisation aimed at revitalising its enterprise division. The company has been conducting a thorough review of Telstra Enterprise since February, responding to economic pressures that have impacted its corporate clientele.
Netcracker Technology has announced the extension of its long-term collaboration with Ooredoo Qatar. This partnership will see Netcracker continue to provide Managed Services for Ooredoo’s Revenue Management and CRM solutions, supporting both B2C and B2B customers. The enhanced services will cover a broad spectrum of telecom and other sectors, including ICT, IoT, and Cloud, with plans to extend into Fintech and Entertainment.
The UK’s telecommunications regulator, Ofcom, is advancing plans to facilitate shared access to the highly sought-after upper 6 GHz band, proposing two primary frameworks to balance the needs of both mobile and Wi-Fi providers. The first proposed approach, known as variable spectrum split, would allow both mobile and Wi-Fi services to use portions of the spectrum not occupied by the other.
Ericsson has announced an additional $50 million investment in its USA 5G Smart Factory in Lewisville, Texas, adding to an initial $100 million invested in 2020. This expansion aims to increase local production to meet the rising demand for US-made 5G infrastructure, aligning with the Build America Buy America Act (BABAA).
A recent study conducted by Germany’s Verband für Telekommunikation und Mehrwertdienste (VATM) has illuminated the rapid advancements within Germany’s fiber market. The study highlights a steady stride in the country’s fiber rollout, projecting that nearly 19 million households, approximately half of the German population, will have access to fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) connectivity by mid-year, marking a rise of 2 million households since the close of 2023.
