Core Points - Verizon is donating $100,000 to Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) to support search, rescue, and recovery operations following the Central Texas floods [1][9] - The company is waiving domestic call, text, and data usage from July 7 to August 3 for affected customers in 95 zip codes across 28 counties [2][9] - Verizon's network remains operational despite the floods, and the company is actively monitoring the situation to ensure safety and connectivity [3] Company Support and Initiatives - Verizon's donation is aimed at enhancing the capabilities of volunteer first responders in Central Texas [3][9] - The company is providing low-earth orbit satellite devices to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety in their drone search and recovery operations [3][9] - Verizon's satellite technology allows customers to access messaging and emergency SOS features in areas without traditional cellular coverage [4] Company Overview - Verizon Communications Inc. generated revenues of $134.8 billion in 2024 and serves nearly all Fortune 500 companies [6] - The company is headquartered in New York City and focuses on delivering mobility, reliable network connectivity, and security to its customers [6]

Core Viewpoint - Investing in high-yielding stocks can be attractive for income investors, but it is essential to consider the stability and growth potential of the companies behind these dividends [1][2]. Group 1: Verizon Communications - Verizon offers a dividend yield of 6.3%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.2% [4]. - The company reported sales of $134.8 billion in 2024, showing minimal growth from $133.6 billion in 2021 [4]. - Verizon has a profit margin exceeding 13% and trades at 10 times its trailing earnings, making it a solid income investment [5]. - The company has increased its dividend for 18 consecutive years, with a sustainable payout ratio of 64% [5][6]. Group 2: Duke Energy - Duke Energy provides a dividend yield of 3.5% and operates in essential utility services, offering stability [7]. - The company generated $30.9 billion in revenue and $4.7 billion in earnings over the past 12 months, resulting in a profit margin of 15% [8]. - Duke has paid dividends for 99 straight years, with a 31% increase in its quarterly per-share dividend over the past decade [9]. - The payout ratio of 69% indicates potential for future dividend increases, making it a strong long-term investment [9]. Group 3: Kimberly-Clark - Kimberly-Clark, known for brands like Huggies and Kleenex, has maintained sales around $20 billion for the past three years with profit margins typically around 10% [10][11]. - The company has raised its dividend for 53 consecutive years, earning the title of Dividend King, indicating a commitment to growing its payouts [12]. - With a dividend yield of 3.9% and a payout ratio of approximately 67%, Kimberly-Clark is positioned as a low-volatility stock suitable for long-term investment [12][13].

Group 1: Oneok - Oneok operates a large and integrated energy infrastructure platform, generating stable cash flow with approximately 90% of its revenue from fee-based contracts [3] - The company has delivered over 25 years of dividend stability and growth, raising its dividend by more than 1,200% since 2000 [3] - Recent acquisitions, including the $18.8 billion purchase of Magellan Midstream Partners, are expected to fuel earnings growth through 2027 [4][5] - Oneok anticipates annual dividend growth of 3% to 4% in the coming years due to ongoing expansion projects and merger synergies [5] Group 2: Verizon - Verizon's mobile and broadband businesses generate significant recurring revenue, allowing for investment in 5G and fiber networks while maintaining a high-yielding dividend [6] - The company expects to generate $17.5 billion to $18.5 billion in free cash flow this year, covering its annual dividend cost of over $11 billion [6] - Verizon's acquisition of Frontier Communications for $20 billion, expected to close in 2026, will enhance its fiber operations and generate over $500 million in annual cost savings [7] - The company has delivered its 18th consecutive annual dividend increase, the longest current streak in the U.S. telecom sector [8] Group 3: Vici Properties - Vici Properties is a REIT focused on gaming, hospitality, and entertainment, leasing properties under long-term, triple net agreements, providing stable cash flow [9] - The REIT pays out about 75% of its stable cash flow in dividends and retains the rest for portfolio growth [10] - Vici Properties has raised its dividend every year since its formation, achieving a 7.4% compound annual growth rate, outperforming its peers [11] Group 4: Investment Opportunity - Investing in high-quality, high-yielding dividend stocks like Oneok, Verizon, and Vici Properties can generate a meaningful and growing stream of dividend income [12]

Core Viewpoint - Telenor has announced the acquisition of GlobalConnect's consumer business in Norway for NOK 6.0 billion, aiming to strengthen its position in the Norwegian fibre market [1][3]. Group 1: Strategic Importance - The acquisition includes fibre infrastructure and approximately 140,000 fibre customers, serving as a key component in Telenor's long-term strategy to enhance its fibre footprint in Norway [3][5]. - Telenor's market share of fibre subscriptions is expected to increase from 22% to 29% as a result of this transaction, based on 2024 NKOM data [7]. Group 2: Customer and Employee Benefits - Customers will gain access to a variety of services, including advanced digital security and premium home networks, supported by Telenor's high-quality connectivity [4][5]. - Telenor emphasizes its commitment to continued investments in fraud prevention, secure WiFi, and digital protection, enhancing the overall customer experience [4]. Group 3: Financial Aspects - GlobalConnect's consumer portfolio generated revenues exceeding NOK 0.6 billion in 2024, with Telenor expecting an EBITDA of around NOK 0.3 billion in each of the first two years post-integration [8]. - Annual post-integration cost savings are estimated at approximately NOK 0.15 billion, driven by efficiencies in sales, operations, and maintenance [9]. - Integration capital expenditures are projected to be around NOK 0.3 billion from 2026 to 2028, primarily incurred in the first two years [9].

Core Insights - Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison partners with Nokia to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in its radio access network [1][11] - The collaboration utilizes AI and machine learning to optimize network operations and minimize energy consumption during low demand periods [2][4] - Indosat aims to transform from a traditional telecom operator to an AI-driven technology company, emphasizing sustainability and operational excellence [4][5] Energy Efficiency Solution - Nokia Energy Efficiency allows automatic adjustment or shutdown of idle radio equipment, significantly lowering energy costs without compromising network performance [2][3] - The solution is offered as a SaaS model, reducing upfront capital expenditure and maintenance needs [2][3] - The implementation of this solution can be completed within weeks, showcasing its rapid deployment capabilities [3] Sustainability Commitment - Indosat has received regional recognition for its sustainability efforts, being the first Southeast Asian operator to achieve ISO 50001 certification for energy management [6] - The partnership builds on a successful pilot project that demonstrated the effectiveness of the AI-powered solution in real network conditions [6][7] - The initiative aligns with Indosat's commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable innovation [5][8] Technological Advancements - Nokia's Autonomous Networks portfolio, which includes the Energy Efficiency solution, aims to provide operators with a comprehensive view of their networks, enhancing both energy savings and performance [9][10] - The Autonomous Networks Fabric integrates various network functions, allowing for a unified and adaptive system across different vendors and architectures [10]

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced a pilot program for number protection services, aimed at reducing the risk of personal phone number leakage by providing temporary numbers for users of various internet platforms [1]. Group 1: Number Protection Service Overview - Number protection service involves assigning temporary numbers (referred to as "intermediate numbers" or "privacy numbers") to users, which can be used instead of their real phone numbers [1]. - The daily order volume for number protection services in China currently stands at at least 350 million, with plans to allocate 700 dedicated numbers to meet the future demand for billions of code resources in delivery, takeaway, and ride-hailing scenarios [1]. Group 2: Implementation and Management - The notification outlines the responsibilities and requirements for three parties involved: application platform providers, basic telecom service operators, and business users, emphasizing compliance, prevention of telecom fraud, and control of commercial marketing calls [1]. - The pilot program will consist of a three-month preparation phase, a three-month transition phase, and a two-year formal pilot phase, after which all number protection services will utilize the 700 dedicated numbers [1]. Group 3: Communication and Security - Experts have indicated that the number protection service will not affect normal communication, as both parties will see and dial the "intermediate number," which will be translated to the actual number for communication purposes [3]. - There are concerns regarding the potential misuse of the 700 dedicated numbers, and experts are discussing measures to prevent such abuse and the penalties for serious violations by participating parties [2][3].

Core Points - The article discusses the total number of shares and voting rights of Orange, in compliance with French commercial regulations [1] - A double voting right is granted to fully paid-up shares held in registered form for at least two years, effective from April 3, 2016 [1] Summary by Category Share Information - As of January 31, 2025, Orange has a total of 2,660,056,599 shares, with 3,835,000 treasury shares without voting rights, resulting in 3,172,669,760 theoretical voting rights and 3,169,834,760 exercisable voting rights [2] - By June 30, 2025, the total number of shares remains the same at 2,660,056,599, with treasury shares decreasing to 1,456,848, leading to 3,180,452,886 theoretical voting rights and 3,178,996,038 exercisable voting rights [2] Voting Rights - The number of theoretical voting rights fluctuates slightly over the months, starting from 3,172,669,760 in January 2025 and reaching 3,180,452,886 by June 2025 [2] - The number of exercisable voting rights also shows a similar trend, starting at 3,169,834,760 in January and increasing to 3,178,996,038 by June [2]

Core Insights - The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will enable AT&T to accelerate fiber infrastructure deployment, adding 1 million fiber customer locations annually starting in 2026 [1][2] - The legislation aims to enhance U.S. leadership in innovation and create economic opportunities nationwide [2] - The bill includes provisions for midband spectrum, addressing consumer demand and maintaining technological competitiveness [3] Company Impact - AT&T anticipates a significant increase in investment in next-generation networks due to the new policies, which will facilitate faster infrastructure builds [2][3] - The company plans to provide an update on the financial impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act during its second quarter results announcement on July 23, 2025 [5] Legislative Support - Key political figures, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, played a crucial role in establishing the spectrum pipeline and renewing FCC auction authority [4] - The bill is seen as a strategic move to restore America's global lead in wireless technology through effective policy [3]

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is initiating a pilot program for number protection services to reduce the risk of personal phone number leakage through temporary numbers, also known as "intermediate numbers" or "privacy numbers" [1] Group 1: Number Protection Service Overview - Number protection service involves assigning temporary numbers to users on behalf of internet platform companies and other organizations, allowing communication without revealing the user's real phone number [1] - The service aims to mitigate risks associated with personal data exposure in sectors like express delivery, food delivery, and ride-hailing [1] Group 2: Implementation and Regulation - The MIIT has designated the 700 number range for number protection services, with a management length of 11 digits and a usage length of 15 digits to distinguish from fixed and mobile user numbers [1] - All participating entities are required to comply with regulations on number resource management, prevention of telecom network fraud, real-name registration, and control of unsolicited commercial electronic information [1]

Core Viewpoint - The tech sector offers attractive dividend opportunities, with IBM and AT&T being prime examples of companies that have delivered solid dividends and impressive gains for investors over recent years [1]. Group 1: IBM - IBM's shares have more than doubled in the past three years due to a successful turnaround, driven by its focus on hybrid cloud computing and artificial intelligence [3]. - The company anticipates at least 5% growth in currency-adjusted revenue for 2025, alongside projected free cash flow of approximately $13.5 billion [3]. - IBM has secured $6 billion in generative AI-related bookings, leveraging its watsonx platform and consulting services to address enterprise needs [4]. - The latest dividend increase was minimal, raising the quarterly dividend to $1.68 per share, resulting in a yield of around 2.3% [5]. - With rising free cash flow, IBM's dividend is expected to consume less than half of its free cash flow in 2025, allowing for potential debt reduction and future dividend hikes [6]. Group 2: AT&T - AT&T's shares have surged about 110% since mid-2023, as investor sentiment has improved following previous challenges related to media acquisitions [7]. - The company is concentrating on expanding its 5G wireless and fiber networks, having recently reached its 30 millionth fiber location and planning to double this by 2030 [8]. - For 2025, AT&T projects a 3% growth in mobility service revenue and a mid-teens percentage increase in consumer fiber revenue, with free cash flow expected to exceed $16 billion [9]. - The current quarterly dividend stands at $0.2775 per share, yielding 3.8%, with approximately $8 billion allocated for dividends this year, representing about half of its free cash flow [10]. - AT&T has maintained its dividend payments since cutting them during the WarnerMedia spin-off, but plans to resume share repurchases and may consider a dividend increase soon [11].