Retail

Oct 16, 2020

Broadband Britain: Who is Buying the UK’s ISPs?

Earlier this month, UK fixed-line operator TalkTalk received a proposal from its minority shareholder Toscafund Asset Management.

Toscafund made an offer of GBP0.97 per share in a bid to take the company private. If approved by the company’s owners—who include founder Sir Charles Dunstone, the telco’s majority shareholder—the deal will value TalkTalk at a cool GBP1.1 billion.

Oct 7, 2020

Trouble for Telcos in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s telecom providers are facing a growing crisis as the dual effects of an ongoing economic meltdown and the COVID-19 outbreak hit hard.

Sep 17, 2020

Merger Mania: Has Altice USA Triggered the Next Phase of Cable Consolidation?

Altice USA recently saw its shocking takeover bid for Canada’s Cogeco rejected by the latter’s controlling shareholders, the Audet Family.

The unusually-structured deal would have seen U.S. cable player Altice retain Cogeco’s U.S. business, Atlantic Broadband. However, it would sell the company’s Canadian assets to Rogers Communications, which came as a surprise to industry observers in both markets.

Sep 10, 2020

Ten Groups Control 40% of Global Wireless Subscribers

After four months of work, the GlobalComms Team is thrilled to unveil a new section of the GlobalComms Database Service. Users can now explore our hub for all things groups, ownership, and M&A in the world of retail mobile, fixed broadband, and fixed voice.

To mark the new addition, we’re looking at some of the world’s largest multi-country wireless operators and the extent of their reach, as well as major telcos that are still under state control.

Aug 3, 2020

5G Slowly Makes Its Way Across U.S.

AT&T Communications is claiming “nationwide” coverage for its 5G network seven months after going live.

The firm’s 5G service is now available to 205 million consumers in 395 markets across the U.S.; notable recent additions to its network footprint include Little Rock, AR; Jacksonville, FL; Minneapolis, MN; and Houston, TX.

Jul 9, 2020

The Companies Competing to Break One of Africa’s Last Mobile Monopolies

After years of speculation that market liberalization was coming in Ethiopia, in May 2020 authorities kick-started the long-awaited licensing process. The Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA) issued a request for expressions of interest (EoI) for two new telecom licenses.

With the deadline now passed, we look at the bidders vying to disrupt one of Africa’s last mobile monopolies.

Jul 1, 2020

Telia and Turkcell Part Company

Sweden’s Telia Company is one step closer to concentrating operations on its core Scandinavia and Baltic units. A recent agreement cemented the plan to offload its stake in Turkcell.

Jun 18, 2020

The Billion Dollar Bidding War for America’s 5G Spectrum

Following back-to-back 5G-suitable spectrum auctions, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revealed the registered bidders ahead of this summer’s planned 3.5GHz sale.

Today, we look at 5G auctions to date and identify the operators who are spending big to strengthen their spectrum portfolios.

Jun 2, 2020

A Maverick Operator is Hoping to Challenge the Status Quo in Colombia

With a wireless population penetration rate exceeding 120% and a competitive landscape that includes five mobile network operators and several prominent MVNOs, few people would consider Colombia an enticing target market.

One intrepid telco disagrees.

May 28, 2020

Liberty vs Security: The Battle Over SIM Registration

Would you be happy to have your fingerprints taken or get a facial scan to access phone services? Or would you consider it intrusive?