Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

I'd be interested to see if they ever leverage their own fibre backhaul and radio spectrum to actually deploy a viable home-broadband replacement over LTE. Pre-BT-EE merger they had the among the best allocation of high-frequency, high-capacity spectrum suitable for it.

Fixed line offerings though - meh. Best they'll do is as you say - resell Openreach last-mile FTTC or LLU.

I do believe the regulatory framework for sub-local-loop-unbundling still exists, and if Vodafone's plans for LTE microsites on every street corner actually comes to fruition they may indeed end up with a big enough fibre footprint for sub-LLU.

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

Despite what the media said the other day, Vodafone is still piling on the pressure for BT to be broken up according to their results today. So, they're clearly still interested in broadband over fibre lines as well as their LTE plans. Interesting times ahead, especially if BT does get broken up!

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

Vodafone are alarmed as they'll be the smallest of the major mobile network operators soon. 3/O2 will be a far larger mobile operator, BT/EE a larger operator in every way.

They know they're going to have to spend some serious cash to keep up with the Joneses.

Liberty Global is an option, but then I've heard rumours of another interested party in that one that is potentially a better fit, and Liberty's more recent corporate structuring work would make it far easier for this party to acquire the group and divest where required.

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

Lots of rumours re Liberty at the moment, share price is up 3 dollars in 5 days. Results call may be interesting.

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

I think a lot of these rumours eminate from interested parties who pitch them to the companies concerned in the hope that they will get some of the work.
The suggested break-up of Liberty Global sees the European arm merging with Vodafone and the Latin American businesses going to Comcast. I don't think Vodafone has many other options in the UK. It could of course purchase TalkTalk and operate it as a budget brand in a similar same way to which BT operates PlusNet but it would still have to introduce its own premium broadband/TV offering. TalkTalk would give it a head start and economies of scale in purchasing content but may just complicate matters.

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

This is news to me and seems workable.

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

Go on then, spill the beans

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

I think the challenge is that Liberty have absolutely no need to sell, so it will need to be a hostile take over or an astronomical offer.

I also keep hearing that Liberty have some big plans of their own?

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

It would make perfect sense from a Vodafone business perspective to want to buy Virgin. Vodafone are at a huge risk of falling behind in an industry where one the dominant providers. If BT buy EE and Hutchison O2, then Vodafone become the smallest! Then there are the added benefits that Virgin already offer quadplay service's and also a fibre network. Both would hugely benefit Vf.

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

Have you heard any clues as to what those plans might be?

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

But would Liberty want to sell off VM, from what I can tell, they see it as their Crown Jewels within their portfolio.

---------- Post added at 15:29 ---------- Previous post was at 15:28 ----------

No only that it's imminent, whatever it is.
earnings call is next week I think

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

You never know if the price is right or the right deal comes along like shares?
It would be amazing to see Vodafone buy Virgin Media. It could signal the first time cable in this country hasn't been saddled with massive debt.

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

What makes you think there'd be no debt?

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

Wishful thinking more than anything. Liberty Global are in big debt even though they're still a rich company, Vodafone are unbelievably rich after selling Verizon. I would hope the debt could be cleared as the repayments are just a burden on cable in this country which has stifled its chances of expanding and investing pretty much since its inception. A debt free company could revolutionise cable in this country.

Re: Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?
 

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