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Today Zayo expanded its infrastructure footprint with the launch of a new subsea cable. Not a long one, but nevertheless a key pipeline between the UK and continental Europe. They have named the new system Zeus. … [visit site to read more]
Today, reports from Bloomberg suggest that the government is seeking yet more information about billionaire Patrick Drahi’s increasing stake in BT.
The official deadline for the national security investigation’s conclusion was roughly a week ago, with the government now suggesting it needs more time to reach a conclusion.
French-Israeli billionaire Patrick Drahi first took a stake in BT back in the summer of 2021, specially forming Altice UK in order to buy a 12…
Today, reports from Bloomberg suggest that the government is seeking yet more information about billionaire Patrick Drahi’s increasing stake in BT.
The official deadline for the national security investigation’s conclusion was roughly a week ago, with the government now suggesting it needs more time to reach a conclusion.
French-Israeli billionaire Patrick Drahi first took a stake in BT back in the summer of 2021, specially forming Altice UK in order to buy a 12.1% stake for £2 billion.
The investment immediately triggered warning bells for BT’s management, with many onlookers suggesting that this initial investment from Drahi was merely a prelude to a larger takeover attempt later in the year.
Drahi, however, was quick to allay these fears, saying that he had no intention of launching a takeover bid. Following this statement of intent, UK law dictated that Drahi could not further increase his stake for six months, giving BT a window in which to shore up their defences.
But when the six-month deadline arrived, BT were not faced with the dreaded takeover bid but rather Drahi’s next step in stake-building, with the billionaire seeking to increase his stake from 12.1% to 18%. Once again, Drahi said that he had no interest of taking over BT, thereby removing his ability to increase his stake for another six months.
However, before this latest deadline could arrive in June this year, the UK government intervened, with business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng using new powers granted by the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021 to investigate stake increase on the grounds of national security. The results of the probe could see conditions imposed upon the deal, or even block it entirely.
This investigation was expected to have concluded by the start of July, but it seems the government wants yet more information before making their decision. A new deadline for the investigation’s conclusion has yet to be announced.
A similar investigation into Nexperia’s purchase of Newport Wafer Fab, announced at a similar time to the BT probe, is also being delayed.
The investigation comes at a time of great uncertainty for both BT and the UK government itself.
Last week saw UK ministers resign in droves, forcing the resignation of prime minister Boris Johnson and triggering a leadership race within the Conservative party. Kwarteng was notably not among the list of over 50 MPs who resigned.
Meanwhile, BT could be facing its own internal uprising, with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) confirming at the end of last month that workers were prepared to strike after BT announced that workers would receive a flat raise of £1,500 for 2022 – a pay cut in real terms, given the UK’s inflation of over 11%.
At the end of last week, the CWU said that BT had until the 13th of July to enter formal negotiations over pay, or else see strikes implemented.
« In short, next week we will either enter into serious negotiations with the company or we will announce strike action. The ball is firmly in the company’s court, » said the CWU in an email to members.
Want to find out all the latest action from the UK telecoms industry? Join the discussion with the operators themselves at this year’s live Connected Britain conference
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Keep up-to-date with all the latest news, articles, event and product updates posted on Developing Telecoms.
Subscribe to our FREE weekly email newsletters for the latest telecom info in developing and emerging markets globally.
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news, articles, event and product updates posted on Developing Telecoms.
Subscribe to our FREE weekly email newsletters for the latest telecom info in developing and emerging markets globally.
Kazakhstan’s state-backed operator Kazakhtelecom (KT) has published its roadmap for launching 5G in a bid to kick-start the digital transformation of the country’s economy.
CommsUpdate reports that the 5G Concept document was developed across 2021 and 2022 by KT under an agreement with the government, in line with a directive issued by the Prime Minister in May 2019 to create a plan for implementing 5G.
KT’s Chief Innovation Officer Nurlan Meirmanov claimed that the 5G Concept covers everything required to implement 5G, including allocating frequencies, boosting data speeds, economic impact, security, financing, regulation, and exploring how the population will react to the technology and its previously unavailable capabilities.
The document lays out several proposals for the use of different spectrum frequencies, as well as suggestions for reducing Kazakhstan’s dependence on network equipment manufactured overseas. This, it notes, would lower costs as well as encourage innovation from new vendors by changing Kazakhstan’s mindset of relying on imports.
Around 40 telecoms specialists contributed to the document, which proposes ideas including shutting down 2G and 3G networks, converting existing networks to virtual RAN (vRAN), and implementing Open RAN. 5G Concept outlines several routes for a gradual transition to Open RAN, detailing the resources and government support that would be required in each instance.
Kazakhstan is gearing up to hold an auction of 5G-ready 3.5GHz spectrum in line with its stated goal of launching 5G services in major cities by the end of 2022. In March this year, the Ministry of Justice suggested that auctions would be held before June, but the timeframe has evidently slipped. Nonetheless, operators – including KT’s mobile unit Kcell and its rival Tele2-Altel – are currently conducting 5G trials.
Time to catch up on the other stuff going on this week that we didn’t get to after the long weekend: … [visit site to read more]
This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Eric Carrasquilla, SVP of Digital Engagement Solutions at CSG
For years, communications service providers (CSPs) and streaming services have poured time, funds, and resources into advanced and exciting products and offerings – from unique streaming content to the speeds of 5G – to maintain an edge with their customers. Now, however, we’re seeing the old guard … [visit site to read more]
Earlier this week, UK full fibre builder CityFibre announced the appointment of Vicky Higgin as Chief Digital and Information Officer and Executive Director. Vicky joins CityFibre from National Highways where she has been working as CDIO until now.
& …
Earlier this week, UK full fibre builder CityFibre announced the appointment of Vicky Higgin as Chief Digital and Information Officer and Executive Director. Vicky joins CityFibre from National Highways where she has been working as CDIO until now.
Prior to her role at Highways England, Vicky has worked in various roles at National Grid, most recently as CIO & VP IT Transformation.
Commenting on her appointment, Vicky said: “It’s a fantastic time to be joining a company growing at such a phenomenal rate. There is a huge opportunity for CityFibre to put in place an IT framework that futureproofs it for the next decade and offers our customers a level of service they can’t find elsewhere on the market. I am looking forward to working with every team at CityFibre and placing IT enablement at the heart of our future-thinking mindset.”
Greg Mesch, Chief Executive Officer at CityFibre added: “We’re building a digital infrastructure platform that sets a new standard in the market and our IT strategy is critical as we deliver that vision. That’s why we’re delighted to welcome Vicky to CityFibre’s management team. Vicky’s experience of leading innovative IT transformation projects in infrastructure businesses couldn’t be better suited to our business and speed of development.”
Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone have joined BAI Communications’ neutral host mobile network on the London Underground. They join EE and Three, who have already signed up.
The announcement means that customers of all four of the UK’s major MNO’s will be able to access 4G and 5G…
Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone have joined BAI Communications’ neutral host mobile network on the London Underground. They join EE and Three, who have already signed up.
In June 2021, BAI Communications was awarded a 20-year contract by Transport for London (TfL) to deliver mobile connectivity on the London Underground.
Progress towards delivering 4G connectivity across the Tube network is already being made. A previous pilot section on the eastern end of the Jubilee Line was successfully transferred to BAI earlier in 2022. A further 5 stations are expected to go live within the next 6 months.
BAI’s neutral host network will also host the new Emergency Services Network (ESN).
Billy D’Arcy, CEO of BAI Communications UK, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 to our network and to reach another key milestone in our work to build a backbone of connectivity across the capital. Staying connected is more important than ever, and we are proud to be working with our partners to offer 5G-ready connectivity which will transform the way people move and work in the capital, allowing them to travel more smartly, safely, and securely.”
Shashi Verma, Chief Technology Officer at TfL, also commented: “Mobile connectivity across the stations and tunnels across the Tube network will help our customers stay connected more easily as well as work, shop and stay in touch on the move. I’m delighted that all four major mobile operators are set to provide high-speed, uninterrupted 4G coverage on the Tube. We are working hard with BAI Communications to get the next stations completed by the end of the year so our customers can benefit as soon as possible.”
