Original article Total Telecom:Read More

News

The deal includes a pre-arranged $10 billion equity investment from Berkshire Hathaway

Today, Alphabet has announced it will raise $80 billion in equity, the company’s first stock offering in over 20 years.

The transaction includes a $30 billion underwritten stock offering, a $40 billion at-the-market share programme, and a $10 billion strategic investment from investment giant Berkshire Hathaway.

According to the filing, roughly half the proceeds will be used ‘for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures to scale AI infrastructure and global compute’. The rest will be used to meet tax obligations connected with the “vesting of employee equity awards”.

The document also notes the company’s predicted capex for the 2026 financial year to be $180–$190 billion, with expectations that 2027 capex will “significantly increase”.

The move represents a notable shift in strategy for Alphabet, which had only recently authorised a $70 billion share repurchase programme in April 2025. The issuing of new shares suggests that the company not only believes that the demand for connectivity and infrastructure will remain robust, but that ownership of the physical infrastructure that powers AI will be increasingly important.

Of course, Alphabet is not alone in seeking public funding for its AI infrastructure investments. SpaceX filed for an IPO late last month, claiming a total addressable market of $28.5 trillion largely based on a continued boom of AI integration in every aspect of our lives. Anthropic has now also followed suit, according to reports, with ChatGPT’s parent company OpenAI expected to do likewise in the near future.

Also in the news
TELUS and L-SPARK give Canadian startups access to AI supercomputer
Belden to acquire RUCKUS Networks for $1.85bn
VMO2 taps Suffolk solar farm for 10 years of clean energy

The post Alphabet issues shares to raise $80bn for AI infra appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

A new report from consultancy firm FarrPoint has confirmed that the Swansea Bay City Deal’s Digital Infrastructure Programme in Wales has so far secured £44.8m of investment in digital connectivity during 2024–25, which went towards various broadband and dark fibre roll-out projects.

Readers might recall that the UK and Welsh Governments gave approval for a £55m digital infrastructure investment under the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Region project back in 2021 (here), which among other things aimed to expand full fibre and 5G mobile connectivity to benefit homes, businesses and the public sector across Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea. Some of this investment also came from the Local Broadband Fund (LBF) for Wales.

A number of related projects have since been awarded and made good progress, such as the £1.9m Full Fibre Infrastructure Build project with BT that helped to upgrade 69 key public sector sites (here), among others. The latest Digital Infrastructure Programme Report produced by Farrpoint, shows the overall £44.8m investment has been driven by a combination of City Deal funding, wider public sector support and sustained private sector commercial rollout.

Of the total investment, £2.2m was delivered through the Swansea Bay City Deal Digital Infrastructure Programme, funding major projects such as Dark Fibre East and the PSBA Full Fibre Infrastructure Build, alongside programme activity that helps unlock long term economic growth.

A further £6.1m of public sector funding supported connectivity in areas less likely to benefit from commercial rollout alone, particularly in rural and hard to reach communities. But the majority of this investment, £36.4m, came from the private sector.

Jonathan Burnes, Swansea Bay City Deal’s Portfolio Director, said:

“This investment is about far more than digital infrastructure. It is about creating lasting benefits for people, businesses and communities across the Swansea Bay City Region. Strong digital connectivity supports inclusive economic growth, helping businesses to innovate, attract investment and create quality jobs, while enhancing skills, education and access to services. It also enables improvements in public service delivery, including supporting wellbeing and more efficient ways of working.

City Deal funding is playing a vital role in unlocking wider public and private investment and ensuring that communities across the region, including rural areas, are able to fully participate in and benefit from a modern digital economy.”

A lot more detail can be found in the full report.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Mobile operator Three UK (VodafoneThree) recently kicked off their Summer Sale 2026 across various plans, which among other things says they’ve reduced their unlimited Three 5G Home Broadband package to just £18 per month on a 24-month contract term (although it was just £16 when we tried just now).

The aforementioned package comes with a Three 5G Hub MC888AD Wi-Fi 6 router from ZTE, a 30-day money-back guarantee, the ability to claim up to £200 in switching credit where applicable (terms apply) and a promise that the service will deliver average download speeds of 150Mbps (varying between locations).

However, the availability of Three’s Home Broadband packages is still a bit of a postcode lottery across the UK (some areas can get it and others cannot), which often also seems to be irrespective of whether or not your location can already access a strong 5G signal from the operator.

The other catch stems from Three’s mid-contract price hikes, which means that their 5G Home Broadband package may start at £16 (our checking) per month, but then it rises to £19.50 from 1st April 2027 and £23 from 1st April 2028. Lots of Three UK’s other mobile plans and handset bundles have also been discounted in price.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Network access provider Openreach (BT) has today notified communication providers of their intention to introduce geographic connection charges on high-capacity Ethernet Access Direct (EAD) lines, which provide dedicated point-to-point data connectivity between sites for businesses, from 1st July 2026.

The move reflects a change introduced via Ofcom’s recent Telecoms Access Review 2026 (TAR), which has in turn prompted Openreach to introduce Geographic Area Codes (GAC) to support location-based pricing and billing. The change gives the operator the ability to geographically price EAD connections based on the delivery location (Area 2, Area 3, IEC [Inter-Exchange Connectivity], CLA [Central London Area] or HNR [High Network Reach]) – as defined by the regulator.

However, once the system is live on 1st July, there will be “no price change“, as all geographic connection charges will continue to align with the preceding national price. “This system capability will allow us to comply with our regulatory obligations and is in line with the Telecoms Access Review framework which was recently introduced,” said a spokesperson for Openreach to ISPreview.

The change has no impact on EAD rental and main link charges, which will continue to be set on a national basis, at least until geographic-based rental pricing is introduced and formally notified. Further details can be found in the official briefing documents. But this does admittedly make EAD pricing even more complex than it was before, even if the hope is it should eventually ensure pricing is more reflective of competition when assessed at postcode or building level.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Mobile operator Three UK (VodafoneThree) recently kicked off their Summer Sale 2026 across various plans, which among other things says they’ve reduced their unlimited Three 5G Home Broadband package to just £18 per month on a 24-month contract term (although it was just £16 when we tried just now).

The aforementioned package comes with a Three 5G Hub MC888AD Wi-Fi 6 router from ZTE, a 30-day money-back guarantee, the ability to claim up to £200 in switching credit where applicable (terms apply) and a promise that the service will deliver average download speeds of 150Mbps (varying between locations).

However, the availability of Three’s Home Broadband packages is still a bit of a postcode lottery across the UK (some areas can get it and others cannot), which often also seems to be irrespective of whether or not your location can already access a strong 5G signal from the operator.

The other catch stems from Three’s mid-contract price hikes, which means that their 5G Home Broadband package may start at £16 (our checking) per month, but then it rises to £19.50 from 1st April 2027 and £23 from 1st April 2028. Lots of Three UK’s other mobile plans and handset bundles have also been discounted in price.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Mobile operator Three UK (VodafoneThree) recently kicked off their Summer Sale 2026 across various plans, which among other things says they’ve reduced their unlimited Three 5G Home Broadband package to just £18 per month on a 24-month contract term (although it was just £16 when we tried just now).

The aforementioned package comes with a Three 5G Hub MC888AD Wi-Fi 6 router from ZTE, a 30-day money-back guarantee, the ability to claim up to £200 in switching credit where applicable (terms apply) and a promise that the service will deliver average download speeds of 150Mbps (varying between locations).

However, the availability of Three’s Home Broadband packages is still a bit of a postcode lottery across the UK (some areas can get it and others cannot), which often also seems to be irrespective of whether or not your location can already access a strong 5G signal from the operator.

The other catch stems from Three’s mid-contract price hikes, which means that their 5G Home Broadband package may start at £16 (our checking) per month, but then it rises to £19.50 from 1st April 2027 and £23 from 1st April 2028. Lots of Three UK’s other mobile plans and handset bundles have also been discounted in price.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Mobile operator Three UK (VodafoneThree) recently kicked off their Summer Sale 2026 across various plans, which among other things says they’ve reduced their unlimited Three 5G Home Broadband package to just £18 per month on a 24-month contract term (although it was just £16 when we tried just now).

The aforementioned package comes with a Three 5G Hub MC888AD Wi-Fi 6 router from ZTE, a 30-day money-back guarantee, the ability to claim up to £200 in switching credit where applicable (terms apply) and a promise that the service will deliver average download speeds of 150Mbps (varying between locations).

However, the availability of Three’s Home Broadband packages is still a bit of a postcode lottery across the UK (some areas can get it and others cannot), which often also seems to be irrespective of whether or not your location can already access a strong 5G signal from the operator.

The other catch stems from Three’s mid-contract price hikes, which means that their 5G Home Broadband package may start at £16 (our checking) per month, but then it rises to £19.50 from 1st April 2027 and £23 from 1st April 2028. Lots of Three UK’s other mobile plans and handset bundles have also been discounted in price.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Mobile operator Three UK (VodafoneThree) recently kicked off their Summer Sale 2026 across various plans, which among other things says they’ve reduced their unlimited Three 5G Home Broadband package to just £18 per month on a 24-month contract term (although it was just £16 when we tried just now).

The aforementioned package comes with a Three 5G Hub MC888AD Wi-Fi 6 router from ZTE, a 30-day money-back guarantee, the ability to claim up to £200 in switching credit where applicable (terms apply) and a promise that the service will deliver average download speeds of 150Mbps (varying between locations).

However, the availability of Three’s Home Broadband packages is still a bit of a postcode lottery across the UK (some areas can get it and others cannot), which often also seems to be irrespective of whether or not your location can already access a strong 5G signal from the operator.

The other catch stems from Three’s mid-contract price hikes, which means that their 5G Home Broadband package may start at £16 (our checking) per month, but then it rises to £19.50 from 1st April 2027 and £23 from 1st April 2028. Lots of Three UK’s other mobile plans and handset bundles have also been discounted in price.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Mobile operator Three UK (VodafoneThree) recently kicked off their Summer Sale 2026 across various plans, which among other things says they’ve reduced their unlimited Three 5G Home Broadband package to just £18 per month on a 24-month contract term (although it was just £16 when we tried just now).

The aforementioned package comes with a Three 5G Hub MC888AD Wi-Fi 6 router from ZTE, a 30-day money-back guarantee, the ability to claim up to £200 in switching credit where applicable (terms apply) and a promise that the service will deliver average download speeds of 150Mbps (varying between locations).

However, the availability of Three’s Home Broadband packages is still a bit of a postcode lottery across the UK (some areas can get it and others cannot), which often also seems to be irrespective of whether or not your location can already access a strong 5G signal from the operator.

The other catch stems from Three’s mid-contract price hikes, which means that their 5G Home Broadband package may start at £16 (our checking) per month, but then it rises to £19.50 from 1st April 2027 and £23 from 1st April 2028. Lots of Three UK’s other mobile plans and handset bundles have also been discounted in price.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Mobile operator Three UK (VodafoneThree) recently kicked off their Summer Sale 2026 across various plans, which among other things says they’ve reduced their unlimited Three 5G Home Broadband package to just £18 per month on a 24-month contract term (although it was just £16 when we tried just now).

The aforementioned package comes with a Three 5G Hub MC888AD Wi-Fi 6 router from ZTE, a 30-day money-back guarantee, the ability to claim up to £200 in switching credit where applicable (terms apply) and a promise that the service will deliver average download speeds of 150Mbps (varying between locations).

However, the availability of Three’s Home Broadband packages is still a bit of a postcode lottery across the UK (some areas can get it and others cannot), which often also seems to be irrespective of whether or not your location can already access a strong 5G signal from the operator.

The other catch stems from Three’s mid-contract price hikes, which means that their 5G Home Broadband package may start at £16 (our checking) per month, but then it rises to £19.50 from 1st April 2027 and £23 from 1st April 2028. Lots of Three UK’s other mobile plans and handset bundles have also been discounted in price.