Yazılar

T-Mobile US CEO Mike Sievert Expected to Step Down Early, COO Srini Gopalan Poised to Succeed

Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile US — the fast-growing and profitable U.S. arm of Germany’s Deutsche Telekom — is reportedly set to leave his post before the end of his current contract, according to German newspaper Handelsblatt on Monday.

Sievert, who has led the company since 2020 and was originally expected to remain CEO until 2028, is said to want to take a break. Handelsblatt identified Chief Operating Officer Srini Gopalan, formerly head of Deutsche Telekom’s Germany business, as the leading candidate to succeed him.

The CEO transition is expected to take place sometime this year or next. A T-Mobile US spokesperson declined to comment on the reports, noting Sievert’s passion for his job and highlighting the excitement over Gopalan’s recent appointment as COO to leverage his experience in the U.S. market.

Deutsche Telekom had not yet responded to requests for comment.

Despite earlier challenges, T-Mobile US has become a key revenue and profit engine for Deutsche Telekom, prompting the parent company to raise earnings targets multiple times. However, early 2025 saw slower-than-expected customer growth amid intensified price competition. The subsidiary still targets adding between 5.5 and 6 million new customers by the end of 2025.

Sievert originally joined T-Mobile in 2012 as head of marketing before ascending to CEO.

South Korea’s Hanwha Sells Entire 5.4% Stake in Eutelsat Amid Strategic Refocus

South Korean aerospace and defense company Hanwha Systems announced on Thursday that it is selling its entire 5.4% stake in the Franco-British satellite operator Eutelsat for €77.6 million ($88.5 million). This move comes as Eutelsat seeks new investors to support its second-generation low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite program and commitments to the European Union’s IRIS² project.

Eutelsat has faced significant financial challenges, accumulating hundreds of millions of euros in losses, largely due to its declining video business and delayed returns from its 2023 acquisition of OneWeb. The acquisition has struggled amid stiff competition and slower-than-expected technology deployment.

Hanwha’s sale price of €3.00 per share represented a 13.9% discount to Eutelsat’s previous closing price of €3.48 and reflects a steep loss of approximately 70.5% compared to Hanwha’s initial $300 million investment in OneWeb in 2021. Eutelsat’s shares reacted with a 14.8% drop on the Paris market following the announcement.

Hanwha emphasized that the sale aligns with a strategic pivot to focus more on its core businesses related to defense satellites and military communications, rather than civilian satellite operations. A Hanwha representative also resigned from Eutelsat’s board in April, signaling a reduced involvement.

Eutelsat is currently undergoing leadership changes and financial restructuring, with Jean-François Fallacher recently appointed as CEO. There are also reports that the French government is considering increasing its stake in Eutelsat, potentially doubling it with a capital injection of €1.5 billion to stabilize the company.

Meanwhile, both Starlink and Eutelsat OneWeb recently received licenses from South Korea’s Science Ministry to operate satellite internet services in the country, with service launches expected soon. Hanwha acts as a distributor for OneWeb in South Korea under a 2023 agreement targeting improved LEO communications for government and underserved areas.

Chinese Companies Embrace DeepSeek’s AI Amid Growing Frenzy

Chinese companies, including Great Wall Motor and major telecom providers, are quickly integrating the AI model released by DeepSeek, capitalizing on its attention and breakthroughs. Great Wall Motor, China’s first listed automaker, confirmed that it had embedded DeepSeek’s AI into its connected vehicle system, branded “Coffee Intelligence.” This integration marks a significant shift as the company seeks to enhance its technological offerings.

Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced that the country’s three largest telecom operators—China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom—are collaborating with DeepSeek to promote the inclusive application of AI technology. This move is part of a larger trend as companies rush to incorporate the model into their products.

DeepSeek’s AI platform has sparked investor interest, fueling speculation about its disruptive potential across China’s tech sector. Stocks of Chinese companies tied to AI, including chipmakers, software developers, and data center operators, have surged in response to this new development. Capitalonline Data Service and MeiG Smart Technology, two listed companies, experienced significant stock price jumps after announcing their integration of DeepSeek’s AI. However, both firms have cautioned investors, stating that the impact on their future business performance remains uncertain.

Other industry giants like Tencent and Huawei have also joined the wave, revealing they have integrated DeepSeek’s model into their own offerings. The rapid adoption highlights the growing impact of DeepSeek’s AI on China’s tech landscape.