Yago Lopez , GM of Wireless & Transmission Networks at TPG Telecom , talks mergers , COVID-19 , and bringing next-generation 5G to Australia ’ s biggest metros .
TPG TELECOM
Yago Lopez , GM of Wireless & Transmission Networks at TPG Telecom , talks mergers , COVID-19 , and bringing next-generation 5G to Australia ’ s biggest metros .
WRITTEN BY : HARRY MENEAR
PRODUCED BY : STUART IRVING
The 5G rollout has presented a monumental financial and logistical challenge for telecom operators around the world over the past two years . Some carriers , however , have had to contend with greater challenges than others . TPG Telecom ’ s 5G rollout has occurred at the same time as it executed one of the biggest mergers in the history of the Australian telecom sector , contended with the loss of Huawei as a key equipment supplier following a ban by the Australian Government - and did it all in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ It ’ s been a challenging time , but when life hands you lemons you make lemonade ,” says Yago Lopez , TPG Telecom ’ s General Manager Wireless & Transmission Networks .
“ Of course , the rollout has had its challenges , chief among them being the Huawei ban , but it has given us the opportunity to end up with a legacy-free , standalone , 5G-native network .”
Now , with the merger complete , and the company on track to outperform its 5G coverage targets for the year , I sat down with Lopez to find out how a skillful integration , a diverse network of talented partners , and a refusal to succumb to the obstacles placed before it has resulted in TPG Telecom bringing a world class , state-of-the-art 5G experience to Australian consumers .
A “ Match Made in Heaven ” TPG Telecom is the result of a merger between TPG and Vodafone Hutchison Australia , which itself is a product of the merger between Vodafone Australia and Hutchison - better known in Europe and Asia as Three .
Prior to being united , TPG was the country ’ s second-largest internet service provider ( ISP ), and was “ very strong in the consumer and enterprise fixed line space ” but did not have a mobile network . Vodafone , on the other hand , was a mobile network operator with limited assets in the fixed domain . “ It was basically a match made in heaven ,” recalls Lopez . “ From an asset and market point of view , there wasn ' t much overlap between the two companies . As a merged company , we now have some of the most loved telco brands in Australia under one roof including Vodafone , iiNet , TPG and Lebara . This creates
“ We had to start our 5G buildout from square one ”
YAGO LOPEZ GENERAL MANAGER , WIRELESS & TRANSMISSION NETWORKS , TPG TELECOM businesschief . asia 45