Will VM be short for Vodafone Media?

[qasdfdsaq]

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.

[Horizon]

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!

[Ignitionnet]

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.

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

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.

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

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

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.

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.

[Horizon]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

The suggested break-up of Liberty Global sees the European arm merging with Vodafone and the Latin American businesses going to Comcast.

This is news to me and seems workable.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

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.

Go on then, spill the beans

Originally Posted by Pierre

Go on then, spill the beans

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?

[tvtimes]

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.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Mr Banana

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

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

Originally Posted by tvtimes

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.

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 ----------

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

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

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

[tvtimes]

Originally Posted by Mr Banana

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

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.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by tvtimes

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.

What makes you think there'd be no debt?

[tvtimes]

Originally Posted by Pierre

What makes you think there'd be no debt?

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.

Originally Posted by tvtimes

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.

Motley Fool

Liberty has a $38bn market cap, and $40.1bn in net debt. Vodafone is worth $95.1bn, and has $34bn in net debt. Depending upon the premium offered by Vodafone, it’s reasonable to assume that the company’s debt would double, or even triple if it went ahead and acquired Liberty.