Week 42 in Telecoms, Internet, Media

Networks

FTTH

• Macquarie: KCOM (UK) to expand across Humber to Barton and Brigg, 10k HH, GBP 100m
• Spectrum (UK): Spectrum raises GBP 200m for 150k FTTP HP in south Wales
• Antin, Goldman Sachs: Cityfibre starts roll-out in Slough, GBP 24m
EQT: Deutsche Glasfaser reaches 650k FTTP HP in >700 projects in 150 towns in NRW, total cost >EUR 1b; to add >6m premises in DE in medium term, EUR 7b 
• GCI (US) to expand to Aleutian communities with $25m federal grant (total cost $58m)
• Vivacom (Bulgaria) orders XGS-PON from Nokia to replace active ethernet & to extend
• Bharti Airtel (India): Rumor: Bharti Airtel plans FTTH to 40m HH in >1000 cities in 12-18 m

4G

• Telenet launches FWA over 4G service for low-income families, 5 EUR/mo

5G

• Nokia 5G Readiness Report
• Telstra reaches 2000 5G sites in 60 cities, pops coverage 40%
• Optus opens 5G for wholesale, has 12 MVNOs (2SG, Acurus, Amaysim Group, Bendigo Telco, BTB, Circles.Life, Commander, Dodo, iPrimus, Moose Mobile, SpinTel, Southern Phone, Vocus); reaches 900 5G sites
• Telefonica ES reaches all 50 provincial capitals + 400 towns
• EE (BT) expands 5G to 12 new cities: Aberdeen, Aldershot, Barrhead, Blackpool, Castleford, Crawley, Mirfield, Oxford, Porthcawl, Shipley, Stafford, Warwick (total 112)
• Rakuten Mobile partners with STC (KSA) to develop virtualised Open RAN
• Verizon's 5G UWB (mmave, ma 4 Gb/s) reaches 55 cities (target 60 YE 2020), 43 stadiums, 7 airports; 5G Nationwide (based on DSS, 30% faster than 4G) reaches 200m pops in 1800 cities
• Apple launches iPhone 1 ith 5G, 4 models https://www.telecompaper.com/news/apple-introduces-four-new-iphone-12-models-with-5g--1357703
• Samsung launches its cheapest 5G smartphone Galaxy A42 5G
• Spark expands to Auckland (Viaduct area)
• Rogers expands 5G to total 130 cities
• OnePlus launches OnePlus 8T smartphone with 5G, 2 models: 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage for EUR 600; 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage for EUR 700
• KPN renews core network, with Ericsson
• Telekom DE (DT) partners with 1. FC Köln to develop AR/VR over 5G, 3 yr from 2021/22 season
• Polish MNOs (Orange, Play, Plus, T-Mobile) expect no demand for mmWave (26 GHz) services before 2022/23 for lack of CPE
• Tango (Proximus) to launch 5G in Lxembourg City 201023, no add-on price
• Orange ES to offer wholesale to Euskaltel, to launch 220101
• Verizon offers 5G wholeale to Comcast, Charter
• Rakuten targets 'level 4' network automation in 2 yr

6G

• ATIS establishes Next G Alliance to advance North American leadership in 6G; with AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, US Cellular, Facebook, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Bell Canada, Telus, Ciena, InterDigital, JMA Wireless, Telnyx

M&A

• Deutsche Telekom: T-Mobile NL acquires Simpel (MVNO, 1m subs, 23 employees) from Parcom, mgt
• EQT: EQT Infrastructure V to co-invest in Deutsche Glasfaser for 12% stake
• Orange: Les Echos: plans partial sale of rural OA FTTP networks (Orange Concessions, 4m HP), valuation EUR 1.8-2.0b
• GTT: Sells infra division (sub-sea fiber, datacenters) to I Squared Capital, $2.02b cah + $130m earn-out
• Liberty Global: Sunrise offer: 82% accepted (minimum acceptance was 67%), additional acceptance period 15-28 Oct 2020, Sunrise EGM 201109, settlement 201111
• Stripe: Acquires Paystack (Nigeria), rumored price >$200m

Corporate

• Telefonica: Merges 3 global units (wholesale, roaming, MNE) into Telefónica Global Solutions
• China Broadcasting Network Co (CBN) to launch as #4 MNO (has 700 MHz & 4.9 GHz spectrum) in China via 51/49 JV with others (State Grid Information & Telecomm, Alibaba Venture Capital Mgt, Guangdong RTV Network, Beijing All Media & Culture) [see 200521]
• Walt Disney: Plans reorganisation to focus on streaming/D2C: content creation units Studios, General Entertainment, Sports; distr unit Media & Entertainment Distribution; other unit (Disney Parks, Experiences & Products) remains; plan Virtual Investtor Day 201210
• AMC Entertainment: May face liquidity problem from end 2020 due to corona virus

IPO

• Big Hit Entertainment: IPO price KRW 135k, first trade 270k
• Roblox: Confidential IPO filing SEC; >150m MAU
• CurioityStream: Plans IPO through merger with SPAC, symbol CURI; trading starts 201015: closes at $1.43

Video

• Netflix
• Ends free trial in all markets
• Distr deal for Narcos (series, 5 seasons) with Pluto (AVOD, = ViacomCBS) in US from 201020 (1 eaon per  month)
• ViacomCBS: To close SVOD service Smithsonian Channel Plus, all content moves to CBS All Access
• WarnerMedia: Launches WarnerMedia Ride (app): in-car streaming
• Chili: Adds AVOD tier
• DAZN: Applies for linear license in DE for DAZN1 & DAZN2
• Snap: Snapchat launches Sounds: add music to Snaps & Stories

Communication

• Google: Plans to launch Chat 2021 as standalone app & integrated in Gmail (as upgrade to Hangouts)

Hardware

• Google
• Nest launches new Nest Thermostat, $130
• X develops farming robot (project Mineral)
• Integrates Meet in Google Glass Edition 2 (beta for Google Workspace users)
• Amazon: Amazon Prime Day (201013-201014) in 19 countrie: US, UK UAE Spain, Singapore, Netherlands, Mexico, Luxembourg, Japan, Italy, Germany, France, China, Canada, Belgium, Austria, Australia, Turkey, Brazil; to spend >$100m on promotional activities to help SMEs; early deals on Amazon products & services start 200928 - 3rd-party sellers sold $3.5b (+60% yoy), savings for Prime subs $1.4b - Strikes in DE
• Apple: Hi, Speed event: launches
• iPhone 12 (5G, iOS 14, A14 Bionic chip; USB-C adapter, 4 models; Mini : 5.4 inch from $700; 6.1 inch from $800; 6.1 Pro from $1000; Pro Max 6.7 inch from $1100)
• HomePod mini smart speaker ($100; with Siri; S5 & U1 chips, central hub for HomeKit devices, supports Pandora, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, with Siri-controlled Intercom feature for all iOS devices)
• MagSafe to iPhone 12 & Apple Watch: magnetically attached chargers ($40), wallet ($60), cover ($50)

Regulatory

Telecom

• Min EZK (NL) to submit Telecom Code (EECC) implementation law to Raad van State end 2020, then to Parliament, EU deadline for implementation 201221

Self-regulation

• YouTube
• Bans coronavirus vaccine misinformation
• To ban content targeting individuals & groups with conspiracy theories (QAnon, pizzagate)
• Facebook: Bans Holocaust denial, distortion posts; not for other genocide (Armenia, Randa) - Bans anti-vaccination ads
• Twitter: Bans Holocaust denial posts

Platform regulation

• Amazon: Reuters: EU antitrust case (started July 2019) to focus on dual role (selling platform & private label product seller); separate investigation into data used in selection of Buy Box winners
• Internet Platforms advise EU to leave regulating harmful content out of DSA
• FT: EU to focus on 20 largest platforms; to share data, increase transparency
• NL & FR propose separate EU regulator for gatekeeper platforms; platform subject to intervention should at least have considerable market power in at least one market; propose principle-based obligations (right to data portability for business users, fair contracts) & prohibited practices (disruptive self-preferencing, halting access for 3rd-party providers of services or goods, incl APIs & data without objective justification), case-by-case remedies (access obliigations: obligation to proactively offer alternatives to users, safeguarding interoperability, data sharing obligations)
• FCC proposes Section 230 interpretation to deny special immunity to social media, plans rulemaking - FCC jurisdiction disputed
• Facebook and Twitter limit sharing NY Post article over containing hacked material and private information - US Senate to subpoena Twitter CEO Dorsey to testify 201023