China Expands Guowang Internet Constellation with New Satellite Launch
China launched the eighth batch of Guowang satellites on August 13 using a Long March 5B rocket, progressing toward its goal of a 13,000-satellite internet network. Devamını Oku
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BT CEO Kirkby Signals AI Could Accelerate Job Cuts, Openreach Spin-Off Possible – Financial Times
BT Group CEO Allison Kirkby indicated in an interview with the Financial Times that advances in artificial intelligence (AI) might deepen the extensive job cuts already planned at the British telecom giant.
Kirkby noted that BT’s current plan to cut over 40,000 jobs and reduce costs by £3 billion ($4 billion) by 2030 “did not reflect the full potential of AI.” She suggested that depending on AI developments, BT could become “even smaller by the end of the decade.”
The company had previously announced plans to cut up to 55,000 jobs, including contractors, by 2030 under former CEO Philip Jansen, aiming for a leaner workforce and substantially lowered costs by decade’s end.
Kirkby, who took over from Jansen a year ago, also hinted at the possibility of spinning off Openreach, BT’s network infrastructure arm. She expressed concerns that Openreach’s value is not currently reflected in BT’s share price, stating that if this undervaluation continues, BT “would absolutely have to look at options.”
In response to Reuters, BT clarified that a spin-off of Openreach is not an active consideration at this time and did not comment further on Kirkby’s remarks.
BT’s recent financial update highlighted strong fibre broadband demand and over £900 million in cost savings, which helped sustain full-year earnings and improve cash flow. Growth in Openreach compensated for revenue and profit declines in the business and consumer segments, where legacy voice services and handset sales continue to decline.
DigitalBridge-Led Group Advances in Bid to Acquire WideOpenWest, Deal Expected Soon
A group led by DigitalBridge and Crestview Partners is moving forward with negotiations to acquire WideOpenWest (WOW), a broadband and cable services provider, in a potential deal that could conclude a year-long effort to take the company private, according to sources familiar with the talks.
The discussions between the bidding group and WideOpenWest have intensified in recent weeks, and the deal could come together in the next few weeks unless there are any unforeseen complications. However, the parties are still working through some of the deal’s terms, and it remains uncertain whether an agreement will be finalized.
In May, WideOpenWest received a non-binding offer from the group, valued at approximately $406 million, representing a 32% premium over the company’s closing price at the time. The latest market price of the company’s shares is near the offer price.
WideOpenWest, headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, provides broadband and cable services to nearly 2 million customers across the Midwest and Southeast United States. The company has also made efforts to restructure its debt in recent months, raising about $200 million in October.