Eurobites: Telia to cut 3,000 jobs in decentralization drive

Telia plans to cut around 3,000 jobs this year as part of a wider revamp, with the axe falling mainly on central or "group" functions and its individual country units becoming more self-sufficient. The operator expects the restructuring to cost approximately 1.4 billion Swedish kronor (US$135 million) but hopes to reap annual savings of at least SEK2.6 billion ($252 million) as a result of the overhaul. In familiar corporate blather, Telia says the changes will lead to a "more customer-focused organization" with its workforce becoming "increasingly engaged" (apart from the ones who have lost their jobs, of course). As of December 31, 2023, Telia had approximately 18,000 employees and 1,370 resource consultants. The plan is subject to the usual negotiations with labor unions.

As the EU heads into its new political term, Ericsson, Nokia and Vodafone have joined forces to once again make the by-now-familiar case to policymakers for less regulation, a different approach to spectrum allocation and the creation of a more attractive investment climate across the bloc. Bigwigs from the three telecom giants have put their names to an opinion piece for the Politico website warning that unless a wholesale change of approach is adopted by Brussels, the telecom sector's long-term viability is under real threat, "putting Europe's own digital ambitions at risk." The companies see the passing of the Digital Networks Act as key to driving things forward: "It must not be allowed to drop down the priority list in the next EU mandate … Ultimately, this is an argument for the future of European competitiveness, and what it means to be European." Strong stuff, but then the EU policymakers have heard it all before. (See Eurobites: Telecom, tech heavyweights bang the drum for light-touch EU regulation (again), Eurobites: European telecom sounds its 'fair share' foghorn once more and Eurobites: EU's Vestager remains unconvinced by clamor for consolidation.)

Telefónica, Ericsson and Matsuko say they have completed successful joint trials of a form of holographic calling that allows such calls to be viewed on the standard dialling screen of a smartphone supporting IMS Data Channel technology without the need for a dedicated app. A Samsung Galaxy S series smartphone was used in the trials, which demonstrated the transmission of a one-way hologram (from presenter to viewer) with two-way audio between them, using IMS infrastructure.

Eutelsat has agreed a deal with MuxIP to bring free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) sports channels to the EMEA region via Eutelsat's Hotbird satellites. The first three channels to be launched under this new agreement cover poker, cricket and the great outdoors. They are currently distributed on FAST platforms in the US, Canada, Australia, India and other parts of the world – under this partnership, versions customized for European audiences will now be distributed in the UK, continental Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

Telecom recycling firm TXO has appointed Simon Wort as its new CEO. Wort was previously with ITS Technology Group. Darren Pearce, the former CEO, will join the board of directors as a non-executive director.

Virgin Media O2 has teamed up with the Technology Enabled Care Services Association (TSA) – a representative body for providers of technology-led care services – in a bid to better identify and support users of telecare products and support them through the migration from copper lines to digital ones. VMO2 also wants the UK government to get more involved in the switchover initiative, not least because it has found that more than four in five local authorities it has contacted have yet to agree to form data-sharing agreements, agreements which the operator sees as crucial to identifying telecare customers who may need extra assistance during the switchover. (Eurobites: VMO2 customers died after digital 'upgrade' compromised their telecare – report, Eurobites: VMO2 restarts digital switchover and Eurobites: BT tweaks digital migration strategy.)