Orange acquires 100% ownership of MasOrange

Press Release

Posted by Harry Baldock, Orange today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the 50% stake in MasOrange held by Lorca, its joint venture partner in Spain. The Group now owns 100% of the operator’s capital and will fully consolidate MasOrange’s results in its financial statements from going forward.

This transaction follows the signing of a binding agreement with Lorca on 12 December 2025, under which Orange agreed to acquire full ownership of MasOrange for a cash consideration of €4.25 billion. Since then, Orange has obtained all the necessary approvals for the transaction to be completed, including from the European Commission.

A key milestone in the Group’s strategy in Spain

Christel Heydemann, Chief Executive Officer of the Orange group, said: “Acquiring full ownership of MasOrange is a strategic step of our Trust the future plan and strengthens Orange’s position in Spain, our second-largest market in Europe. It paves the way for accelerated industrial, operational and commercial synergies, supporting greater value creation. With full ownership comes full agility, MasOrange can now move at full speed backed by the strength and scale of the Orange group.”

Meinrad Spenger, Chief Executive Officer of MasOrange, added: “By becoming fully part of the Orange group, MasOrange now has an even stronger foundation for future growth. It will allow us to accelerate our momentum in the Spanish market, supported by a greater capacity for investment and innovation as well as global expertise. This is good news for the Spanish consumers, enterprises and public administrations, since we will continue to provide them high-quality and innovative services, while benefiting from the Orange group’s industrial strength and scale to create even more value in Spain.”

As a follow-up to this transaction, Meinrad Spenger will join the Orange group’s Executive Committee. This appointment reflects the strategic importance of Spain for the Group and will further leverage his recognized experience in the telecommunications market and his leadership in advancing MasOrange’s development.

MasOrange is currently the leading operator in the Spanish market by customer base and customer satisfaction. At the end of the first quarter of 2026, it had 26 million mobile customers and 7.1 million fixed broadband customers. MasOrange relies on the most advanced leading fiber and 5G mobile infrastructure, enabling it to provide high-quality connectivity and other innovative services across the country to meet the needs of public administrations, consumer and business customers.After closing, the Group intends to refinance MasOrange financial debt over time. Orange acquires 100% ownership of MasOrange - Total Telecom

Read More........ → June 15, 2026

AT&T to invest $250bn to expand and enhance networks

Press Release: Posted by Harry Baldock, AT&T (NYSE: T) is proud to announce an investment and spend of more than $250 billion in the future of U.S. advanced connectivity, building the high-speed networks and resilience required for the next era of innovation and economic growth.

Building on the legacy of founder Alexander Graham Bell’s first phone call 150 years ago, AT&T is reaffirming its leadership as the company driving America’s connected economy so every community, family, and business can participate in the promise of American progress.

“Today, we’re committing more than $250 billion to increase U.S. connectivity competitiveness and expand access to AT&T’s leading fiber and wireless networks – the best way to get on the internet,” said John Stankey, Chairman and CEO of AT&T. “Current Federal telecommunications policy is as strong as I’ve seen in my career, making our commitment to invest possible. We look forward to serving American communities and businesses for the next 150 years.”

What began with a single copper wire has evolved into the nation’s largest converged network of fiber internet and 5G wireless services, connecting people at home, at work, and on the go.

This next chapter of investment and long-term operating commitment builds on that foundation through three strategic areas: deploying always-on connectivity, investing in people and communities, and innovating to secure America’s connected economy. The current tax and regulatory environment are the most conducive to such investment in decades.

Deploying Always-On Connectivity

Ubiquitous networks that provide reliable, always-on connectivity are the critical conduits that make Artificial Intelligence, autonomous technologies, cloud computing, and data-heavy digital services possible. AT&T’s investment will expand future-ready fiber and wireless services, modernize critical infrastructure, and strengthen network resilience and security to support communities and the economy for decades to come, including:

• Accelerating the deployment of fiber, 5G home internet, wireless and satellite across urban, suburban, and rural America

AT&T’s satellite collaboration with AST SpaceMobile will extend coverage into remote areas.

• Strengthening FirstNet, Built by AT&T – the nation’s first and only network built with and for first responders – and modernizing vital infrastructure for public safety and resilience

With AT&T Dynamic Defense, we deliver the only network connectivity with comprehensive built-in security controls.

• Laying the groundwork for the next wave of American technological leadership through smart infrastructure and network optimization

AT&T’s Wi-Fi Personalization provides a tailored home experience that matches our customers’ daily habits, and AT&T Turbo Live allows customers to boost their data experience at live events to get the reliable connection they want, even in crowded venues.

Investing in People and Communities

Building the nation’s connectivity backbone requires dedicated, highly trained people. With approximately 110,000 U.S. employees today, AT&T will continue investing in America’s workforce, including supporting the largest unionized workforce in the U.S. telecom industry, with a focus on training and development.

Investing in education through connectivity also strengthens communities. When workers can train locally, communities retain talent, families gain stability, and local economies grow stronger. These are mission-critical roles that keep networks running safely and reliably – work that depends on skilled technicians, engineers, and customer-facing experts that will remain essential as technology evolves. Focus areas include:

• Recruiting and training more skilled technicians that are needed to build and maintain essential telecommunications infrastructure
• Hiring thousands of technicians in 2026 alone; Only 5% of jobs at AT&T require a four-year degree
• Investing in training, upskilling, and career pathways to keep roles current as tools and technology change – including AI fluency
• Supporting American families with competitive wages, employee benefits and exceptional wellness programs, and long-term financial security

Innovating to Secure America’s Connected Economy

As connectivity becomes more essential, so do trust, security and continued American leadership in innovation. AT&T will continue investing in technologies that advance and protect the connected economy, including:

• Scaling network security and AI-driven threat intelligence
• Enabling the next wave of American invention across industries by opening up our network to allow new entrants to innovate and supply telecommunications equipment.
• Strengthening collaboration with public-sector partners to support national resilience and first responders
• Supporting America’s leadership in global technology and innovation

With this commitment, AT&T will keep building the network Americans rely on, whether delivered by fiber, wireless, or satellite, so more people and businesses have access to fast, reliable connectivity. It’s the foundation for what’s next, from remote care, to autonomous vehicles to AI, and it will help keep America connected for the next 150 years.Join AT&T and the US connectivity ecosystem in discussion at Connected America 2026 AT&T to invest $250bn to expand and enhance networks - Total Telecom

Read More........ → March 20, 2026

MTN to take control of IHS Towers for $2.2 billion

Posted by Harry Baldock: The operator says reintegrating the tower assets will strengthen its African operations and improve financial metrics

African telco giant MTN Group is set to take full control of IHS Towers, one of Africa’s largest independent tower companies, in a deal valued at $6.2 billion.

The deal will see MTN acquire the 75% stake in IHS that it doesn’t already own for $2.2 billion in cash.

“This proposed transaction is a pivotal step in further strengthening MTN Group’s strategic and financial position for a future where digital infrastructure will become ever more essential to Africa’s growth and development. This transaction gives us a unique opportunity to buy back our towers and strengthen our ability to be partners for progress to the nation states in which we operate,” said MTN CEO Ralph Mupita.

The deal is subject to the typical regulatory approvals, with watchdogs likely to look closely at the impact on competition, given IHS also rents their infrastructure to MTN’s rivals across Africa.

For MTN, the move represents something of a strategic U-turn. The operator group has pursued an asset-light approach for the past decade, selling many of its towers – largely to IHS – in multiple markets.

In recent years, however, MTN’s relationship with the tower company has grown more complicated. The operator has repeatedly complained about IHS’s corporate governance, particularly that IHS had capped its voting rights at 20%, despite MTN owning a stake of around 26% in the business.

At the same time, IHS saw major losses from the devaluation of the Nigerian naira in 2023, leading MTN to attempt to seek adjusted lease terms to reduce foreign‑currency exposure.

Given this increasingly difficult operating relationship, MTN’s stake acquisition represents an opportunity to simplify and de-risk the company’s balance sheet by removing long‑term lease liabilities.Market watchers will be watching whether MTN’s reintegration of roughly 29,000 African sites delivers the financial and strategic gains management forecasts, and whether rivals respond with selective buybacks, new sharing deals, or continued reliance on independent towercos. MTN to take control of IHS Towers for $2.2 billion - Total Telecom

Read More........ → March 03, 2026