Week 21 in Telecoms, Internet, Media

CORPORATE

• Vodafone: 2020/2021 Annual Report, AGM 210727
• VodafoneZiggo: 21Q1 final
• Salt: 21Q1
• Singtel: 20/21Q4; plans sale of assets: towers (max 70% of Optus towers), satellites, subsea cables, datacenters; market valuations (EV/EBITDA): datacenters 24x, towers 18x, fibre 11x, satellite 9x
• Amazon: AGM: CEO Jeff Bezos to be replaced by Andy Jassy 210705 [see 210202]; acquires MGM (incl United Artists Releasing 67/33 JV with Annapurna Pictures; MGM Television; Epix premium cable channel), $8.45b (incl $2.1b debt, likely to be repaid on closing): catalog (IP) of 4k films, 17k episodes, complements Amazon Stuiod (focus on series), total >180 Oscars + >100 Emmys; latest James Bond movie (No time to die) to get worldwide theatrical release 211008 - To establish Medisa & Entertainment Group, headed by Jeff Blackburn (Amazon Studios, Prime Video, Amazon Music, podcaster Wondery, games, Twitch, MGM) - Moody's places MGM rating (corporate B1, sr secured credit Ba3) on review for upgrade - Part of catalog currently licensed to TCM = WarnerMedia (MGM films before 1986; UA films until 2022)
• Sony: IR Days: Day 1: Games, Music global, Music Japan, Pictures - Day 2: Electronics, Imaging & sensing, Financial services    
• Vimeo: IPO reference price $52.08, first trade $47.15, closes at $45.39
• Microsoft: Microsoft Build (developer conference)
• Doximity: Plans IPO; allocates max 15% of shares for physicians through reserved share program

CLOUD

• Orange: Establishes cloud JV Bleu with Capgemini (to comply with French gvt Cloud de Confiance label), working with Microsoft (Azure, 365), aimed at French gvt organisations, to join the Gaia-X initiative
• Google: Data Cloud Summit: launches Dataplex, Datastream, Analytics Hub - Partners with OSIsoft (cloud migration)
• Amazon: AWS partners with Mavenir (cloud-native open RAN, converged 4G & 5G packet core, IMS, messaging), aimed at operators
• Sinch (cloud comms platform) raises SEK 9.4b equity, plans acquisitions
• Wiz (cybersecurity) raises $120m https://www.pymnts.com/news/security-and-risk/2021/israeli-cloud-security-firm-wiz-raises-120-million/
• Nokia launches AVA AI use case library for CSPs, with Microsoft Azure

NETWORKS

• DNA (Telenor): Plans copper switch-off 2025, first in Raisio (Nov-Dec 2021)
• Cosmote TV demos broadcast TV over 5G (for transmission of audio & video from 2 remote controlled robotic cameras)
• Tele2 launches 5G-connected hotel (Comfort Hotel Xpress in Stockholm), with Nordic Choice Hotels, Speeron (IT services): fast mobile, WiFi-backhaul, new smart solutions, improved hotel experiences
• 3GPP: Release 18 to be called 5G-Advanced; to be initiated end 2021, frozen end 2023
• Telkomsel launches 5G (2300 band) 210527

VIDEO

• Netflix: Plans Geeked Week 210607-11: exclusive news, trailers, live art, interviews etc from originals
• NBCU (Comcast): 
• To premiere blockbuster film (animated film The Boss Baby: Family Business) day-and-date on VOD (Peacock) and in cinemas 210702
• Distr deal for Hayu (reality series; 5 EUR/mo, promo: first 6 mo for 1 EUR/mo) with Ziggo: STB integration
• ViacomCBS: Paramount+ to add 1000 movies to AVOD tier (5 $/mo), total 2500
• Lionsgate: Distr deal for Starzplay with Telekom DE for Magenta TV platform
• Walt Disney: May discontinue Premier Access after 2021
• WarnerMedia
• CNN Plans standalone streaming service (CNN+)
• HBO Max expands to Latam (39 countries) 210629, 2 tiers: Standard (3 streams, 5 profiles), Mobile (~3 $/mo; 1 stream, SD)
• Mediaset: Relaunches Infinity streaming service: live FTA channels, movies & series on demand, Champions League
• Safaricom launches Baze: mobile-first SVOD, short-form (entertainment, music, news, sports; local & regional)
• DAZN: To expand DAZN For Business (for restaurants, hotels, bars, hospitality) in DE
• Cinetree: Distr deal with Ziggo: STB integration; 8 EUR/mo
• Horrify: Closes 210731
• Struum
• Content deal with SPI/FilmBox for 280 films
• Launches (beta), 5 $/mo for 100 credits

SMART CITY

• eX² Technology completed underground communications network that transforms a 25km stretch of the Atlanta Beltline into a smart city corridor; supplies 45 in-town neighbourhoods that surround the trail system with critical connectivity for homes, businesses, roadways, schools, healthcare facilities, light poles, traffic signals, public safety infrastructure
• Ban Chan (Thailand) plans smart city based on 5G (Open RAN): real-time diagnostics of traffic, public safety, digital signage, sensitive environmental conditions applications

REGULATORY

• Telecoms/spectrum
• Global Partnership for Ethiopia (GPE; = Safaricom 55.7%, Vodafone Group, Vodacom Group 6.2%, CDC Group 10.9%, Sumitomo Corp 27.2%, Development Finance Corp) receives Ethiopian license
• Belgisch Overlegcomité approves Ministry's 5G auction set-up
• HAKOM (Croatia) plans Simultaneous Multi-Round Auction (SMRA) for 700 MHz, 3.6 GHz, 26 GHz and 3.6 GHz regionally; valid 15 yr),  applications by 210611, auction starts 210712, to end August 2021
• Google
• Roskomnadzor (Russia) orders prohibited content to be taken down within 24 hr on risk of fine, traffic slowdown
• Bundeskartellamt (DE) starts 2 proceedings (Google has paramount significance across markets; strategic advantage because its business model relies on processing user data and having access to it)
• WSJ: nears settlement in FR in antitrust case (ad server DoubleClick for Publishers gave advantage to ad auction house AdX, against other auction operators; DFP and AdX merged into Google Ad Manager in 2018)
• Facebook
• DPC resumes data sharing investigation
• EC starts antitrust investigation of classified ads business
• Platforms
• Florida adopts law (Stop Social Media Censorship Act) banning deplatforming of Floridian politicians, fine 25k-250k $/day [may violate Section 230]
• DE, FR, NL propose EU authority to judge all acquisitions by platforms (addition to DMA)
• Flemish gvt plans Solid (= Inrupt = Tim Berners-Lee) trial to provide consumers with Pod for personal data, single sign-on