Drive towards telecoms convergence clearing the way for more M&A

13 August, 2020

More convergence-related telecoms deals are expected to defy pandemic, economic and other challenges as Liberty Global blazes a path in Switzerland. The group’s plan to buy Swiss MNO Sunrise surprised analysts because last year it was its local fixed-line unit UPC Switzerland that was the target.

The turnaround underlines renewed momentum towards convergence in...

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Online channel focus helps Xiaomi escape global smartphone decline

2 June, 2020

An aggressive online channel focus helped China’s Xiaomi buck a trend that saw the global smartphone market’s worse ever decline in Q1 2020. With analysts predicting further shifts to online stores post-pandemic, its growth strategy will be closely followed by other vendors.

“There will be some geographic differences but I am expecting a more favourable mix towards online sales vs. offline,” Gartner research VP Annette Zimmermann told Connectivity Business. “As stores start to re-open...

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European telecoms consolidation back in spotlight after US shows the way

16 April, 2020

Prospects for European telecoms consolidation got a boost after Deutsche Telekom closed its US merger, freeing it up for significant deal-making across the region. But while the US is showing the path, regulatory and other obstacles in Europe still dim the M&A outlook.

Europe’s regulatory environment remains resistant to consolidation, but there is an ongoing trend towards...

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