Vodafone to cut 11,000 jobs as part of turnaround plans

vodafone europe telecoms margherita della valle job cuts

Vodafone is undergoing a major restructuring effort under its new CEO, Margherita Della Valle.

The company has announced plans to cut 11,000 jobs across Europe as part of its turnaround strategy. Della Valle stated that the company's performance has not been up to par and that changes are necessary for Vodafone to consistently deliver.

One area where Vodafone sees potential for growth is its business segment. Despite representing only 27 percent of group service revenue,...

17 May 2023 | 5G

CMA approves Inmarsat-Viasat merger

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cleared the merger between satellite communications companies Viasat and Inmarsat after an extensive Phase 2 review.

The deal had been referred for further investigation following a Phase 1 inquiry that identified concerns over its potential impact on competition.

The CMA panel examined a range of evidence, including internal documents from the merging companies and competitors, as well as feedback from airlines and...

9 May 2023 | Networks

Vodafone and Three prepare to announce merger

Vodafone and Three are close to agreeing on a merger of their UK telecoms businesses, creating the biggest mobile operator in the country.

The deal is expected to be worth £15 billion ($19 billion) and will knock BT-owned EE from the top spot in terms of mobile subscribers.

The merged company's equity is valued at around £9 billion, with £6 billion in debt. The merger is expected to be agreed this month, with a formal announcement due to be made "very...

4 May 2023 | 5G

UKTIN launches plan to boost telecoms ecosystem

The UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN) has launched a plan to boost research, development and innovation within the UK telecoms industry.

The aim of the inclusive industry forum is to help organisations accelerate R&D investment, collaboration and commercialisation of emerging technologies.

Nick Johnson, Head of UKTIN, said:

“The launch of our services is a pivotal moment for the UK telecoms sector.  Fragmentation across the ecosystem has...

27 April 2023 | 5G

85% of telcos had projects delayed by supply chain issues

Research by TXO reveals that 85 percent of operators have experienced project timeline disruptions due to supply chain issues.

The research highlights sourcing new equipment from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as a major problem.

Over a third of operators (34%) have been delayed by six months or more. All operators surveyed reported supply chain issues affecting their business.

Over three-quarters (78%) of operators had to wait over three months while...

26 April 2023 | 5G

AT&T conducts ‘space-based’ call using a regular smartphone

AT&T has achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducting the first-ever two-way audio call using satellites with a standard smartphone.

The call was made from AT&T in Midland, Texas, to mobile carrier Rakuten in Japan on a Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone using AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 3 satellite. 

Abel Avellan, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, commented:

“Achieving what many once considered impossible, we have reached the most...

25 April 2023 | AT&T

Telefónica will phase out copper in Spain by 2024

Telefónica has reaffirmed its commitment to transform its fixed infrastructure by completely switching to Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) and closing all its copper exchanges by 2024.

The copper switch-off will coincide with the company’s centenary. The move is in line with Telefónica’s strategy to increase the performance and speed of service while reducing energy consumption and its carbon footprint.

José María Álvarez-Pallete, Chairman of Telefónica,...

20 April 2023 | Broadband

UK publishes new Wireless Infrastructure Strategy

The UK government has launched a new Wireless Infrastructure Strategy aimed at delivering 5G connectivity to all populated areas by 2030, as well as investing in the next generation of connectivity.

The strategy includes a comprehensive 6G plan to ensure that the UK is at the forefront of the next generation of wireless technology. The government has also established a national mission, supported by up to £100m ($130m) of initial funding, to secure the UK’s place in “future...

11 April 2023 | 5G

Five reasons why CSPs and enterprises should start their telecom SaaS journey

It was Albert Einstein who said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

And true enough, we live today in an era of disruption, a world where new ways of thinking are re-inventing markets and providing exciting new solutions to old problems for communication service providers (CSPs) and enterprises alike.

Since the introduction of Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), software has been disaggregating from hardware and...

30 March 2023 | Telecoms

OneWeb is ready to rival Starlink after weekend launches

OneWeb successfully launched 36 new satellites over the weekend, marking a key milestone for the UK-based outfit.

The successful deployment and contact of the satellites were confirmed by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) after a launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

“NSIL would like to thank OneWeb for believing in our capabilities and giving us this important opportunity to undertake the mission,” said Radhakrishnan D, Chairman-cum-Managing...

28 March 2023 | Hot Topics