Deutsche Telekom vs Vodafone

Deutsche Telekom Targets €2.5B AI Cost Savings by 2030

Deutsche Telekom announced at its AI Investor Day in Bonn plans to leverage AI to save approximately €2.5 billion in indirect annual costs by 2030, a significant increase from the €1.1 billion target for 2027. The company aims to grow AI-related enterprise revenue outside the US to €800 million by 2030, up from around €250 million this year. Key achievements include the 'Frag Magenta' (Magenta AI Assistant) handling 2.6 million calls in H1, reducing customer service calls by 55% at T-Mobile US, and the 'RAN Guardian Agent' cutting network response times to one minute. Telekom has trained over 100,000 employees on AI tools like AskT, ChatGPT Enterprise, and Microsoft Copilot, and founded Syntelligence with SoftBank to develop telecom AI solutions. CEO Tim Höttges highlighted AI's role in smarter networks and new business models, including 'sovereign AI' for enterprises and public institutions.

• Deutsche Telekom targets €2.5 billion in indirect cost savings by 2030 through AI and automation.
• The company expects €1.1 billion in gross AI savings by 2027.
• Telekom aims for €800 million in AI-related revenue by 2030, up from €250 million this year.

Schalke Top in Worst Football Passwords Ranking

The German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom has published a negative ranking of the most commonly used passwords related to football clubs. The name 'Schalke04' emerged as the most frequently found football-related password in Germany, with approximately 539,000 instances, followed by 'Schalke04' with 203,000. Other clubs like Hannover 96 and BVB also appear high on the list. The ranking is based on passwords that were stolen by cybercriminals and offered on dark web channels, which Telekom's security division discovered and warned customers about. The list also highlights other simple passwords such as 'abc123' and 'password1' as highly common and insecure. Telekom advises users to avoid such simple passwords and considers passwords a legacy concept, recommending the use of passkeys as a more secure authentication method.

• Deutsche Telekom published a negative ranking of football-related passwords.
• The password 'schalke04' was found approximately 539,000 times in Germany.
• Other simple passwords like 'abc123' and 'password1' were found over 1 million times each.

Deutsche Telekom, Cloudflare Expand Strategic Partnership

Deutsche Telekom and Cloudflare are expanding their collaboration through a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening security, resilience, and performance of digital infrastructure for European enterprises. Telekom will integrate Cloudflare's Connectivity Cloud into its business customer portfolio and connect its networks directly with Cloudflare's global platform. T-Systems will play a central role in consulting, implementation, and operation, with staff being certified to offer managed security services. The partnership includes technical network interconnection for improved end-to-end quality and availability, and a focus on developing new security approaches, including quantum-resistant cryptography. For Cloudflare, this provides broader access to the European enterprise market, while Telekom expands its cloud and security offerings. The collaboration is broader than a pure sales partnership, encompassing network integration, managed services, and joint technology development.

• Deutsche Telekom and Cloudflare announced a strategic partnership on September 30, 2026.
• Telekom will integrate Cloudflare's Connectivity Cloud into its business customer portfolio.
• T-Systems will provide consulting, implementation, and managed security services, with staff certified on Cloudflare platform.

AffiliateBLOG Breakfast Cologne: AI Insights and New Perspectives

The AffiliateBLOG Breakfast in Cologne brought together around 25 affiliate and digital industry professionals on October 1, 2026, at Salon Schmitz for networking and knowledge exchange. Two keynote presentations focused on AI's impact on the customer journey and the interplay between affiliate marketing and user experience. Steffen Grunwald from Awin discussed how generative AI is changing product search, shifting focus from SEO to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and the importance of affiliate and review content in AI-generated answers. Martin Rausch-Beschnitt from MAI Group highlighted that more traffic does not solve poor user experience, citing a case where improved experience increased conversion rates from 4.43% to 6.12%, a 38% uplift. He advocated for integrating affiliate, UX, and customer experience strategies. The event also facilitated personal discussions and was sponsored by Vodafone, Awin, lead alliance, and Sage. The next AffiliateBLOG Breakfast is planned for March 19, 2027, in Munich.

• AffiliateBLOG Breakfast took place on October 1, 2026, in Cologne with around 25 guests.
• Steffen Grunwald from Awin highlighted the shift from SEO to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).
• Martin Rausch-Beschnitt from MAI Group showed a 38% increase in conversion rate through better user experience (4.43% to 6.12%).

6-K Financial Filing Analysis for Vodafone (2026-09-21)

Vodafone Group Plc submitted a Form 6-K filing notifying the market of a transaction by a Person Discharging Managerial Responsibilities (PDMR) in compliance with the UK Market Abuse Regulation. Joakim Reiter, Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer, executed a disposal of ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange on September 18, 2026. The transaction involved the sale of 500,000 ordinary shares at a price of £1.26725 per share, representing an aggregate transaction value of £633,625. Such insider sales reflect routine executive portfolio management and do not alter the company's operating strategy or capital structure.

• Joakim Reiter, Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer, sold 500,000 ordinary shares of Vodafone Group Plc on September 18, 2026.
• The shares were executed on the London Stock Exchange (XLON) at a price of £1.26725 per share, totaling an aggregate value of £633,625.

Internet Shutdowns Global Record; Vodafone Calls for Stricter Rules

The article covers the global record in internet shutdowns, highlighting the increasing frequency of government-ordered internet blackouts. Vodafone, a telecommunications company, is advocating for stricter regulations against such digital blackouts. The report likely discusses the impact on users, businesses, and the digital economy, emphasizing the need for legal frameworks to prevent arbitrary internet disruptions. Given the paywall, only the headline and teaser are accessible, which is insufficient for detailed analysis. The article is relevant to the AdTech industry because internet shutdowns directly impact digital advertising and media consumption, disrupting campaigns and reducing audience reach.