Author: Rob Pritchard

ANS’ Sci-Net Acquisition Positioned as Driving UK AI Readiness

by Rob Pritchard, posted in Big Data, Cloud Enable
R. Pritchard

Summary Bullets:

  • ANS’ acquisition of Sci-Net Solutions expands its portfolio of value-added enterprise technology solutions in a highly competitive UK B2B market
  • AI is a hook everyone latches on to – there are even products and solutions out there – but this is an acquisition of a service provider with current revenues

The ANS acquisition of Sci-Net Business Solutions is positioned as a complement to previous acquisitions such as Makutu as part of the ANS strategy to exploit and deliver the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI). Sci-Net is an Oxford-based business solutions specialist with expertise in ERP, CRM, and cloud infrastructure solutions (e.g., 365 Business Central, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, CRM, and Microsoft Azure).

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BT Sells Radianz in Ongoing International Strategy Refocus

by Rob Pritchard, posted in Communicate
R. Pritchard

Summary Bullets:

• Sale of BT Radianz to Transaction Network Services (TNS) is the latest phase of BT ‘tidying up’ its international business as it looks to focus mainly on the UK market.

• Underlines how service providers are having to refocus their strategies from general goals to specific, achievable ambitions.

BT has announced that it is to sell its BT Radianz business, which connects financial information exchange networks and a base of brokers, institutions, exchanges, and clearing houses across capital markets worldwide, to TNS, a global provider of ultra-low-latency trading infrastructure, connectivity, and market data services.

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Carriers Grow Traffic Significantly While Also Delivering Energy Efficiency

by Rob Pritchard, posted in Cloud Enable, Communicate, IT Leader, Mobilize, Network
R. Pritchard

Summary Bullets:

  • Comcast has nearly doubled the energy efficiency of its network ahead of its 2030 target while also carrying 76% more data.
  • Other examples of greater energy efficiency through new technology include BT Global Fabric, where the replacement of legacy platforms will see a 79% energy consumption reduction.

Comcast announced that it is near to reaching its goal of doubling its network energy efficiency ahead of its 2030 target, stating that it is “delivering dramatically more data at faster speeds and greater reliability at the highest quality for our customers, all while conserving the amount of energy needed to power our network.”

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Verizon: Do or DEI Another Day, The Sequel

by Rob Pritchard, posted in Cloud Enable, Communicate, IT Leader, Mobilize
R. Pritchard

Summary Bullets:

• Any telco in the US making deals must be cognizant of the current administration’s efforts to destroy diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments.

• Service providers have traditionally understood benefits of progressive DEI but now need to conceal efforts from a dogmatic set of regulators for long-term strategic benefit.

Verizon has become the latest telecoms service provider to abandon its DEI programs under pressure from the US administration (please also see: T-Mobile USA: Do or DEI to Close Lumos Deal? – IT Connection, April 7, 2025). The move follows alleged demands from the FCC in exchange for its approval of the $20 billion acquisition of fiber broadband provider Frontier Communications and reflects a broader response across US corporations to the policies of the current administration.

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UK Altnets Show Strategic Naivete and Must Consolidate Rapidly for Relevance

by Rob Pritchard, posted in Communicate
R. Pritchard

Summary Bullets:

• UK infrastructure provider Neos Networks has published research into 100 UK alternative network (altnet) fiber providers, giving insight into altnet challenges and strategic plans.

• Altnet strategies look naïve and often unachievable. For long-term relevance, rapid consolidation cannot come soon enough – they know this and need to act fast.

UK-wide connectivity provider Neos Networks has published results of a survey of 100 decision-makers at UK altnet companies. The findings not only underline challenges faced in an overcrowded and competitive market, but also a lack of imagination when it comes to establishing differentiated market propositions.

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Orange Partners with Camusat to Address Scope 3 Sustainability Challenge

by Rob Pritchard, posted in Big Data, Cloud Enable, IT Leader
R. Pritchard

Summary Bullets:

• Orange and Camusat are looking jointly to decarbonize the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on telecoms infrastructure.

• Reducing Scope 3 (indirect) GHG emissions is a complex and substantial challenge as it accounts for over 80% of total emissions for Orange.

Orange is joining forces with Camusat to accelerate the decarbonization of its telecoms infrastructure in what it claims to be ‘a first-of-its-kind agreement’ that commits its suppliers to reducing GHG emissions. The plan sets measurable targets for the reduction of CO2eq for the products and services Camusat provides to Orange. Co2eq stands for ‘carbon dioxide equivalent,’ a measure of global warming potential that converts amounts of other gases to the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide.

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T-Mobile USA: Do or DEI to Close Lumos Deal?

by Rob Pritchard, posted in IT Leader
R. Pritchard

Summary Bullets:

• There can be no denying that the Trump presidency will have a lasting impact on many aspects of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies.

• Regional variations will extend, and service providers will need to accept, a level of pragmatism in their approach even when still committed to the principles.

On April 1, 2025, T-Mobile and EQT announced the successful close of their joint venture to acquire fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) provider Lumos. The deal has been positioned as marking “a major milestone in T-Mobile’s broadband growth” and builds on the Un-carrier’s success in delivering best-in-class connectivity.

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Heathrow: Planes, Flames, and Automated Data Center Power Resilience

by Rob Pritchard, posted in Cloud Enable, Communicate
R. Pritchard

Summary Bullets:

• The fire near the UK’s Heathrow Airport, which closed a key electricity substation, disrupted travel at the world’s second-largest air travel hub.

• The many data centers located nearby (about 10% of UK capacity) showed no disruption as they switched to back-up power supplies.

On Friday March 21, 2025, a fire at an electrical substation providing power to Heathrow, the UK’s leading airport and the second largest in the world, forced its closure, leading to the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights, affecting about 200,000 passengers, and having knock-on effects across the global air travel industry.

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European Telco Consolidation – Would It Work?

by Rob Pritchard, posted in Cloud Enable, Communicate, IT Leader
R. Pritchard

Summary Bullets:

  • There are increasing noises from European telco leaders and politicians that the market is too fragmented to succeed and needs consolidation. But consolidation won’t transform European tech.
  • Telefónica, BT, and others have divested non-core international operations as they refocus on the European market and look to grow regional strength and depth.

Marc Murtra, the new chairman at Telefónica, has been reported as wanting to pursue deals across Europe following the Spanish telco’s sale of its business in Argentina for EUR1.2 billion. Telefónica is also selling its stake in Telefónica Colombia to Millicom and has been reported to be planning to sell its Mexican operations.

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Sale of BT’s Irish Business Unit Underlines End of 20th Century Telco Global Domination Aspirations

by Rob Pritchard, posted in Cloud Enable, Communicate, IT Leader
R. Pritchard

Summary Bullets:

  • BT is selling Irish wholesale and enterprise operations, including about 3,400 km of managed fiber, 400 customers, and revenues of EUR57.6 million to challenger Speed Fibre Group.
  • BT’s move typifies many telcos as they scale back and restructure their global ambitions to refocus on fewer markets, presenting opportunities for challenger service providers.

BT has entered an agreement with Speed Fibre Group for the sale of its wholesale and enterprise business unit in Ireland. BT states it will “retain a strong presence to deliver connectivity, cloud, and security services to MNCs and large organizations.” The transaction is expected to be completed in 2025.

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