The CEO of alternative broadband operator Netomnia, Jeremy Chelot, has provided a small update on what was previously merely a future aspiration to potentially introduce a mobile phone service to their retail ISP YouFibre (inc. Brsk). The plan now is to launch their first mobile plans sometime this year.

Just to recap. Netomnia is currently in the process of completing their merger with Brsk (here) and aims to expand their full fibre (FTTP) broadband network, which already covers over 2 million UK premises, to reach 3 million premises by the end of 2025 (inc. 1 million customers by 2028). The service is currently available across parts of over 90 cities and towns.

At present, the operator is still laser focused on broadband connectivity, although anybody who read our interview with Jeremy last April (here) will know that, when asked where the operator would be in 2030, he responded to say that they would “be in talks with a mobile operator to become a fixed and mobile provider“. But as it turns out, this seems to be happening considerably sooner than that.

According to a new interview with Jeremy, which was conducted by strategic consultancy firm Eight Advisory (see bottom of article for the video), the plan is to launch a mobile service this year. In addition, on the subject of FTTP take-up, Jeremy said their target is to hit 33% after 5 years, although “currently it sounds like we are getting there more in a 4-year type of period“, unless Openreach’s FTTP is there, then it tends to take about a year longer than that.

Jeremy Chelot, CEO of the Netomnia Group (inc. Brsk, YouFibre), said:

“There is a level of market share I will struggle to break, until I have a proposition which is a bit more complete. And that’s why we are planning to launch, for example, a mobile service at some point this year. Because I think otherwise there is a segment of the market that you can never tap.”

The difficulty above is that the mobile market is already extremely competitive and a lot of consumers often prefer to keep this part of their service separate (not bundled), as it allows for more flexibility when switching between deals. Lest we forget that trying to establish your own MVNO, assuming this is the approach Netomnia will take, can be an expensive process, and it’s one that doesn’t always work out (just ask TalkTalk).

In addition, once you have an MVNO relationship running, then that usually lasts 5-7 years before coming up for contract renewal. Often at this point, an internet provider may choose to switch Mobile suppliers, which is a process that can generate some problems for customers (SIM swaps, account/billing errors etc.) and thus a fair bit of negative press.

Suffice to say, we’d caution ISPs against taking a truly deep dive into mobile, although those that take a softer approach (closer to being a branded reseller) may sit at a disadvantage by virtue of only being able to offer less competitive plans. On the other hand, if anybody can come up with an attractive and different way of doing things, then Netomnia already has a good track record.

In somewhat of a surprising development, global software and technology giant Microsoft has just announced that they intend to close one of the internet’s most familiar Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) style brands, Skype, during May 2025.

Microsoft purchased Skype for $8.5bn in 2011, which was intended to deepen the company’s longstanding focus on real-time video and voice communications. But since then, many users have moved to alternative platforms, such as WhatsApp, and Microsoft itself has increasingly put more of their energy toward the ‘Teams’ platform.

Jeff Teper, the company’s president of collaborative apps and platforms, said: “With Teams, users have access to many of the same core features they use in Skype, such as one-on-one calls and group calls, messaging, and file sharing. Additionally, Teams offers enhanced features like hosting meetings, managing calendars, and building and joining communities for free.”

However, I personally still use Skype to communicate with quite a few family and friends around the world, not least because it still works across a lot of platforms where other apps do not. But now customers have been given a choice, switch to Microsoft Teams or export our Skype data (chats, contacts, history etc.). Nice, thanks Microsoft.

The Skype Website currently states: “Skype is retiring in May 2025. Beginning March 2025, you will be able to sign into Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype credentials, and your chats and contacts will be right there ready for you. Enjoy the features you love about Skype, including free calling and messaging, as well as new features like meetings and communities, all on Teams app.”

The only problem is you can’t currently access ‘Teams’ on nearly as many platforms as Skype.

Back in May 2024 we reported (here) that internet provider Yayzi Broadband were preparing to make some big changes, not least by launching a Mobile (SIM) service. The good news is that the ISP recently put their new mobile service live, which is harnessing Three UK’s national 4G and 5G network.

The “Stupidly SIMple Plans” attach no contracts or credit checks and start at £10 per month for a 10GB data (mobile broadband) allowance, which rises to £15 for 100GB and £20 for unlimited data. Each SIM-Only plan (available via either an eSIM or Physical SIM) also includes EU roaming, as well as unlimited UK calling minutes and texts. Yayzi are separately also selling refurbished Smartphones.

“I genuinely feel that there’s a symbiotic relationship between broadband and SIMS, as some of the leading providers have already incorporated, but as part of this we are also introducing eco sims in 2025 due to the environmental impact of plastic,” said Martin Gardner, CEO of Yayzi, to ISPreview.

Finally, the ISP’s website states that existing broadband customers will benefit from a 10% discount on their mobile plans. Yayzi also vaguely mentioned something about a “new partner being launched in March,” but this wasn’t given much detail or context.

Copenhagen – February 27th 2025 – Anritsu, a global leader in service assurance and network monitoring solutions, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Ookla®, a leading authority in network intelligence and connectivity insights. This collaboration will bring real-time visibility into network performance by integrating Ookla’s Downdetector® insights with Anritsu’s advanced anomaly detection solutions, providing operators with a more comprehensive understanding of user experience on the network.

By linking Ookla’s real-world user data with Anritsu’s AI-driven anomaly detection, service providers will gain proactive intelligence into customer-affecting issues before complaints escalate. This integration will enable telecom operators to identify, analyze, and resolve network disruptions faster, ensuring an optimal experience for subscribers worldwide.

Additionally, Anritsu and Ookla are exploring integrating Ookla’s Speedtest® data into Anritsu’s Service Assurance platform. This initiative will provide deeper insights into end-user performance, enabling CSPs to correlate real-world results taken with Speedtest alongside network-level analytics. Beyond this, the two companies are investigating the potential of Ookla’s broader portfolio of network intelligence solutions to further enhance Anritsu’s real-time monitoring, troubleshooting, and AI-driven automation capabilities.

“At Anritsu, our goal is to empower operators with real-time, data-driven insights to enhance service reliability and customer experience,” said Ralf Iding, CEO at Anritsu Service Assurance. “Our partnership with Ookla ensures operators have access to critical, real-world user insights, helping them stay ahead of network issues and deliver best-in-class connectivity.”

“Ookla is committed to providing data-driven intelligence that enhances network performance and customer satisfaction,” said Chip Strange, Chief Strategy Officer at Ookla. “By collaborating with Anritsu, we are bridging the gap between network analytics and real user experiences, and enabling CSPs to take a more proactive approach to service assurance.”

This partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to driving innovation in network intelligence and service assurance. It ensures that operators have the tools they need to deliver the highest-quality experience to their subscribers.

ABOUT OOKLA®

Ookla is a global leader in connectivity intelligence that provides consumers, businesses, and other organizations with data-driven insights to improve networks and connected experiences. We help our clients efficiently solve their biggest connectivity challenges and drive forward innovation.

Ookla is a division of Ziff Davis (NASDAQ: ZD), a vertically focused digital media and internet company whose portfolio includes leading brands in technology, entertainment, shopping, health, cybersecurity, and martech. Ooklaʼs world-renowned brands include Speedtest, Downdetector, Ekahau, RootMetrics, and more.

ABOUT ANRITSU SERVICE ASSURANCE

At Anritsu Service Assurance, we lead the evolution of automated networks through advanced customer, service, and network assurance solutions. Leveraging cutting-edge AI and machine learning, we enhance network performance and user experience, ensuring that our clients and their subscribers enjoy seamless connectivity.

As trusted advisors in the journey to 5G SA, automation, and AI, our solutions empower Mobile Network Operators to efficiently manage their networks with full visibility across all technologies and services, significantly reducing downtime and operational costs. We streamline the detection and resolution of network issues with automated, proactive monitoring and troubleshooting. Our end-to-end solutions support Operators in their cloud-native journeys, enabling rapid deployment, scalability, and improved service agility.

Beaming, a specialist internet service provider (ISP) serving thousands of businesses across the UK, today opened a new office in Medway’s Chatham Dockyard. The Medway office will be home to a new sales team, technical support, and a research and development function focused on IT network performance and enhanced cybersecurity.

Beaming’s new office is its first outside of Hastings and is situated within Fitted Rigging House, a renovated historic building that was once the largest storehouse constructed by the Royal Navy. The location provides Beaming with additional facilities for meeting customers, closer proximity to its data centres, and the opportunity to increase its workforce. 

Sonia Blizzard, Managing Director of Beaming, said: “Over the last 20 years, Beaming has become a leading independent alternative to the generalist telecommunications giants. We now provide thousands of businesses across the UK with rock-solid, resilient connectivity, networking and IT services, a direct line to technical support experts, and the personal touch that only comes from working with a specialist.”

“Our new office in Medway is an exciting step on our growth journey, enabling us to expand the team and broaden our skills base, as well as host more customers at this unique and historic location.”

Adelaide, Australia & Oslo, Norway  – 27 February 2025. Myriota, the provider of global satellite based connectivity optimized for IoT devices, today announces the availability of its ground breaking 5G compliant Myriota HyperPulse^TM network running on Nordic Semiconductor low power cellular IoT solutions.

The partnership delivers end-to-end 5G NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) standards-based connectivity solutions for battery-constrained IoT. The two companies are closely aligned in delivering ultra-low power IoT services with battery life measured in years for a wide range of applications across logistics, utilities, and industrial control systems.

Myriota has more than a decade of experience in delivering high security, power efficient direct-to-satellite IoT solutions through their UltraLite^TM connectivity service. The addition of the new HyperPulse 5G standards-based network builds on this knowledge, expanding their extensive infrastructure with a constellation of satellites in geostationary (GEO) orbit and L-Band frequency.

HyperPulse is the first solution of its kind powered by Viasat’s dynamic leasing capability, which allows Myriota to scale the network’s performance dynamically to suit the needs of customer devices deployed in the field. By leveraging Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF9151, the smallest and lowest power System-in-Package (SiP) module for IoT deployments, device makers can upgrade their connectivity to Myriota HyperPulse quickly and easily.

“Myriota’s connectivity, designed specifically for the Internet of Things, is changing the game globally, unlocking better outcomes through intelligence gathered from the field. This is only possible because traditionally prohibitive satellite-based hardware and connectivity costs have been decimated. The industry can finally deploy secure, low power sensor devices at the scale needed to have real impact,” said Ben Cade, CEO of Myriota. “By combining our decade plus experience together with Nordic Semiconductor’s similar track record, we are enhancing our existing IoT connectivity platform with a 5G standards-based network which opens up a range of new applications, all powered by off-the-shelf modules with battery life measured in years and costs measured in single digit dollars.”

“Myriota is an established player in the satellite market, and our collaboration will now bring 5G NTN compliant solutions to the market, opening new possibilities for device makers out there” said Oyvind Birkenes, EVP of Nordic’s Long Range Business Unit. “It is rewarding to now have nRF9151 based devices connected and sending data over Myriota satellites to our nRF Cloud.

The two companies will demonstrate the solution at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on the Nordic Semiconductor Booth #7G21 in Hall 7, showcasing a sensing application where the end user device incorporates the Nordic Semiconductor nRF9151 module. The data is passed via the Myriota HyperPulse network and made available via a Nordic Semiconductor Dashboard demo. 

Myriota is also now taking applications for its HyperPulse Early Access Program — interested parties can apply at https://myriota.com/hyperpulse-5g

For more information about Myriota visit myriota.com

For more information about Nordic Semiconductor visit nordicsemi.com

Internet provider Cuckoo, which is the retail full fibre (FTTP) ISP for the consolidated AllPoints Fibre (Fern Trading) network and also offers packages via Openreach and CityFibre’s networks, has launched a new offer for Cycling UK’s 70,000 members that gives them a £50 bill credit when they join the service.

Plus, for every new sign-up, Cycling UK will also get an additional £75 to “create happier, healthier and greener lives through cycling“. All of this forms part of the provider’s new Community Referral Scheme (CRS). The ISP wants local sports clubs, youth groups and charities to benefit from referrals so they can use the money to improve facilities and fund their work in local communities across the country.

The new offer follows Cuckoo’s recent partnership Octopus Energy, which meant that new customers placing an order through Octoplus Rewards could get their hands on an Amazon gift card worth up to £200.

Sarah Howells, MD of Cuckoo, said:

“At Cuckoo, we believe in the power of connection beyond the internet, and we want to help communities and charities nationwide grow as we expand our own footprint. This scheme lets us channel success directly back into communities, fuelling feel-good initiatives and fairness across the UK.”

Alternative network operator and UK ISP Quickline has today issued a small progress update on their £44 million state aid supported gigabit broadband roll-out contract for South Yorkshire (Lot 20 – here) in England, which ultimately aims to reach 32,100 additional premises in hard-to-reach rural areas (plus 29,000 via a complementary commercial build).

In short, 1,700 homes and businesses in the villages of Barnby Dun and Hatfield Woodhouse, just north of Doncaster, now have access to gigabit-capable broadband under the contract and can order their new service from the operator.

Customers of the service will typically pay from £29 per month for 200Mbps symmetric speeds on a 24-month term with free installation, which goes up to £32 for their top 900Mbps tier (£49 after 24 months).

Project Gigabit itself aims to help extend 1Gbps (download) capable networks to reach “nationwide” coverage (c. 99% of the UK) by 2030 (currently over 86%). Commercial investment has already delivered more than 80% of this, which leaves the government’s scheme to focus on tackling the final 10-20% (mostly rural and some suburban areas), where the private sector alone often fails.

Network operator Openreach (BT) has confirmed that they will kick off their project to close around 4,600 of their legacy exchanges from 1st April 2025, starting with the introduction of a “stop sell” on new service provisions for an initial batch of 105 sites (due to complete by around 2030/31). This will impact various broadband, PIA and Ethernet services from ISPs.

Just to recap. Openreach currently runs c. 5,600 UK exchanges, but only c. 1,000 of these – the Openreach Handover Points (OHPs) – are used to provide nationwide coverage of modern “fibre broadband” based services (FTTC, FTTP etc.). However, the rollout of full fibre, combined with the retirement of copper lines and legacy services (ADSL, WLR etc.), will make it economically unviable to support both the old and new exchanges.

The operator thus formed a long-term plan to close the vast majority of their older exchanges – known as the Exchange Exit Programme. The aim is to conduct an initial closure of 105 priority exchanges by 2030, with the rest following gradually in the years thereafter. Openreach is already in the process of piloting the closure of an initial 3 exchanges (Deddington, Ballyclare and Kenton Road), with all of those set to have been fully decommissioned by the end of May 2026.

The key goal of this “hugely complex” process is to ensure that all customers are migrated safely and with minimal disruption, which means that the process cannot be rushed, and each individual exchange will thus move toward decommissioning through a series of phases over a period of around 4-7 years (depending upon the complexity of each exchange) – starting with a Stop Sell. After that comes various planning, build and customer migration phases (the latter lasts for c.2 years or more).

In terms of the 4-year approach, the first 3 years would focus on encouraging voluntary migration and using “stop sells” on old products (i.e. you can’t buy them any more), while the final year will involve “supported migrations” or the risk of your service being ceased if the retail internet/phone provider fails to achieve this (in theory, most consumers won’t notice the change). ISPs will also be expected to remove their kit from exchanges in the final year.

Openreach has previously warned that a tiny portion of premises may still be negatively impacted by exchange closures, such as in locations where Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband coverage has not quite achieved universal reach (the vast majority of closures take place after 2030, thus most of the UK will have been reached by FTTP lines). In those cases, the operator may be unable to provide FTTP to every single property (i.e. issues of prohibitively high costs and permissions/consents to cross private land etc.) and “in these scenarios, customers may need to seek an alternative provider or technology solution.”

The operator is also having to grapple with the thorny issue of Ethernet, Dark Fibre (DFX) and PIA (access to existing cable ducts and poles) solutions, which are still supplied by quite a few of the old exchanges. Alternative networks have previously warned that the costs involved with adapting to this could be significant (here) – risking their investments becoming unviable. However, it is known that both Openreach and network operators have been working to find as many viable solutions to these challenges as possible, with some success. But a few operators still expect difficulties.

Otherwise, Openreach have chosen the first 105 exchanges based on a variety of different factors, such as their FTTP coverage, location (avoiding resources contention), volume of Ethernet and optical customers served, and complexity of the exchange itself. In addition, issues of expiring leases and other cost impacts have also played a role.

The operator has also previously said that they would prioritise exchanges where the potential benefits of exit are highest (e.g. those with very high running costs). But just to be clear, the operator will NOT be withdrawing exchanges in areas where doing so would leave lots of existing customers disconnected (i.e. no fibre or FTTC alternatives).

The First 108 Exchange Exits (inc. Pilots)

Satellite internet provider Brdy, which offered a mix of satellite and wireless (5G) broadband solutions to rural parts of the UK, appears to be in difficulty after customers of the service started reporting a lack of support and connection problems. Shortly after that, the same users noted how their accounts had been taken over by rival ISP Bentley Telecom.

The first sign of difficulties surfaced at the start of February 2025, after several customers reported a loss of internet service and an inability to reach support. A few days later, the service suddenly returned, albeit with customers now finding that their service was being delivered by Bentley Telecom instead of Brdy.

“Dreadful. Cut off for 3 days without any warning. Recorded message on telephone to send them an email! How do you do that without a Broadband service. No mobile signal so had to use a friend’s phone to email them then still no reply. Satellite came back but now with Bentley Telecom,” said one of several disgruntled customers via TrustPilot’s Brdy Reviews page. Several other users echoed the same experience.

Digging deeper, ISPreview found reference to a court case that was filed on 28th January 2025 (CR-2025-MAN-000088), which gave “Notice of Intention to appoint an administrator“. A quick look on Companies House for Brdy Broadband Ltd (06759661) reveals that their accounts are several months overdue, while The Gazette shows that the company’s creditors held a meeting on 18th February 2025 to discuss “liquidation” of the business.

Creditors Meeting Statement (The Gazette)

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Rule 15.13 of the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 that the Director of the above-named Company (the ‘convener(s)’) is seeking a decision from creditors on the nomination of Joint Liquidators by way of a virtual meeting. A resolution to wind up the Company is to be considered on 21 February 2025 prior to the virtual meeting. Decisions regarding the Joint Liquidators remuneration and the formation of a liquidation committee may also be sought at the meeting.

James Fennessey of Azets, Titanium 1, King’s Inch Place, Renfrew, PA4 8WF and Matthew Richards of Azets, 2nd Floor, Regis House, 45 King William Street, London, EC4R 9AN are persons qualified to act as insolvency practitioners in relation to the company who, during the period before the meeting date, will furnish creditors free of charge with such information concerning the Company’s affairs as they may reasonably require.

In addition, when visiting Bentley Telecom’s website, we were greeted by the following message: “Information for Ex Brdy, Big Blue customers. No activation costs, and if you use the antenna you already have, you will be connected to Bentley Telecom service. Offer valid for former Open Sky, BigBlu, Brdy customers.”

ISPreview has contacted both of the providers in the hope of securing a comment.