Euronews: Vodafone Confirms Zain DealEuronews: Vodafone Confirms Zain Deal

As predicted last week in Euronews, Vodafone has struck a multi-country partnership agreement with Kuwait-based Zain. Vodafone, which already has regional operations in Egypt and Qatar, hopes the non-equity deal will expand its presence in the Middle East by enhancing network coverage and harmonizing roaming rates. (See Vodafone, Zain Strike Partner Deal and Euronews: Vodafone Eyes Middle East Expansion.)

Vodafone is also collaborating with IBM on M2M (machine-to-machine) matters. It is using the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin to demonstrate the remote management of a washing machine and other so-called "smart home" devices connected by Vodafone's Global M2M Platform running on IBM's new SmartCloud service delivery platform. (This "platform" business is getting out of hand...) (See Vodafone, IBM Team on Smart Home.)

German cable operator Kabel Deutschland GmbH is making moves on carrier Wi-Fi as it plans to deploy wireless hotspots to extend the reach of broadband services to smartphone and tablet users, according to this article on Heise Online (in German).

U.K. broadband provider TalkTalk is creating around 500 jobs through its planned launch of pay-TV services, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.

Dublin-based Sea Fibre Networks Ltd. , which owns and operates the CeltixConnect subsea network that connects Ireland and the U.K., has launched a new managed dark-fiber service, called Bright Fibre. Bright Fibre, says the company, offers fiber, co-location services and the customer's optical gear, all managed from a single point of contact. (See Sea Fibre Networks Offers Managed Dark Fiber and CeltixConnect Goes Live.)

TV5MONDE, the French language channel that is available globally in a variety of formats, has extended Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC)'s broadcast-platform contract until the end of 2018. (See TV5MONDE Expands Ericsson Deal.)

— Paul Rainford, Assistant Editor, Europe, Light Reading