Original article Total Telecom:Read More

PHOENIX (June 4, 2026) — Sparklight® has invested nearly $1 billion over the past three years to expand and enhance its fiber-rich network across its 24-state footprint, helping deliver faster connectivity and greater capacity for residential and business customers and critical community services.

As part of its continued network evolution, Sparklight has expanded fiber deeper into its service areas to build a future-ready network that supports long-term growth and economic development. With a fiber-rich network spanning more than 31,000 route miles, Sparklight’s investments help create the infrastructure needed to support emerging technologies, increasing digital demands and the evolving connectivity needs of homes and businesses.

Gigabit internet service is now available across all Sparklight markets, and Multi-Gig speeds are available in more than half its service areas. The company also continues advancing its long-term 10G technology roadmap to support the next generation of connected experiences.

Together, these investments and services help deliver:

• Faster speeds for streaming, gaming and video conferencing
• Optimal performance across multiple connected devices
• Reliable connectivity for remote work, online learning and business operations
• Scalable connectivity solutions for businesses of all sizes

“Reliable connectivity is essential for how people work, learn, get entertained and stay connected every day,” said Jim Holanda, CEO of Cable One, Sparklight’s parent company. “Our investments help ensure families and businesses across the communities we serve have access to the fast, dependable connectivity they need today, while continuing to strengthen network performance and reliability for the future.”

Sparklight’s investments also support the company’s suite of connectivity products and services, including:

• Intelligent whole-home Wi-Fi powered by eero Wi-Fi 7 technology
• Sparklight Mobile, a no-contract wireless service with 5G nationwide coverage and unlimited talk and text starting at $15/month when bundled with Sparklight home internet
• Tech Assist, a U.S.-based support and protection service for connected home devices, smart TVs, gaming systems and more

To learn more about Sparklight’s residential and business services, visit www.sparklight.com and business.sparklight.com or follow the company on Facebook, Instagram and X. 

###

The post Sparklight Invests Nearly $1 Billion to Enhance Connectivity Across Its Footprint appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Designed to support rapidly growing Nordic data traffic and rising international demand for secure, high-quality connectivity routes, the 630-kilometre cable system Verena is scheduled to be Ready for Service (RFS) in the fourth quarter of 2028.

The commencement of marine survey activities marks the transition from planning into delivery and represents a critical step in delivering a resilient and future-ready subsea cable system.

Survey activities will take place across summer 2026, enabling the programme to take advantage of the more favourable seasonal weather conditions. 

Marine survey operations are essential to the successful design and installation of submarine infrastructure. Through advanced offshore data acquisition and seabed analysis, the survey provides the detailed understanding required to optimise cable routing and reduce delivery risk.

“The North Sea presents a complex operating environment, and high-quality survey data is fundamental to reducing risk before installation begins. The survey programme will provide the detailed seabed and route intelligence needed to support informed engineering decisions, optimise system design and ensure Verena is delivered to the highest standards of resilience and reliability.”

Espen Vestli, Chief Operating Officer, Midgard Infra

Survey data collected will enable the project team to:

• Identify the safest and most resilient route alignment.
• Understand seabed conditions and burial requirements to maximise long-term system protection.
• Safely manage interactions with existing offshore infrastructure including telecommunications cables, power assets and pipelines.
• Support environmental and regulatory approvals.
• Improve installation efficiency and reduce intervention requirements over the operational life of the system.

Delivery of the Verena programme is being led end-to-end by JTD Associates, whose programme leadership and delivery expertise continue to provide the governance, coordination and execution capability, instrumental to enabling this milestone and maintaining momentum toward service readiness in 2028.

“In subsea delivery, good decisions come from good data. The marine survey is our opportunity to learn everything we can about the route before we put a cable anywhere near the seabed.”

Diane Hill, Chief Delivery Officer, JTD Associates

Survey activities are being delivered in partnership with Pelagian Ltd acting as Engineering Consultants, and XOCEAN, utilising their fleet of advanced Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) to conduct offshore data acquisition. The use of USVs supports a more sustainable approach to offshore data acquisition through lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions and simplified offshore logistics compared with traditional survey operations.

The approach aligns with Midgard Infra’s commitment to delivering resilient digital infrastructure while supporting broader sustainability objectives.

“Verena is exactly the type of forward-looking infrastructure project that benefits from modern survey technology. Our USVs enable safe, efficient and environmentally responsible data collection, and we are proud to be supporting Midgard Infra and its partners as they take this important step towards delivering a major new North Sea connectivity asset.”

James Ives, Chief Executive Officer, XOCEAN

About Midgard Infra
Midgard Infra provides international connectivity and high-speed data services across the Nordics and Europe. The company operates the NO-UK subsea cable between Norway and the UK and the Skagen Fiber West cable between Norway and Denmark, supported by an extensive terrestrial network. Midgard Infra is also developing Verena, a new high-capacity subsea cable system between the UK and Denmark designed to strengthen digital resilience and meet the growing demands of hyperscalers and data-driven industries.

Co-owned by Lyse and HitecVision, Midgard Infra connects major data centre hubs across Northern Europe—including Hamburg, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Brussels, London, and Dublin—along with high-speed connectivity to the Americas via the Havfrue (AEC-2) trans-Atlantic cable. The network also includes one of the largest metro fibre systems in Oslo, providing robust and scalable infrastructure for global carriers, cloud providers, and enterprises.

About XOCEAN

XOCEAN is a global ocean data delivery partner, providing full scope geophysical, geotechnical and environmental data to support offshore developments and operations. By using a more efficient operating model, XOCEAN enables faster delivery, greater flexibility and more predictable outcomes than traditional survey methods.

The company transforms ocean data delivery through a digitally integrated operating platform that connects data acquisition, remote operations and processing into a single, scalable system. This allows data to be delivered quickly and consistently across a wide range of offshore environments.

Operating across more than 20 international markets, XOCEAN supports leading offshore operators and infrastructure developers. XOCEAN delivers high quality ocean data across offshore wind, subsea cable infrastructure and telecoms, supporting critical offshore decisions across the full lifecycle of offshore assets.

The post Marine Survey Begins for Verena UK–Denmark Subsea Fibre System appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Springfield, NJ, and Austin, TX (June 1, 2026) – Telinta, a global leader in cloud-based Softswitch solutions, and Vida Global Inc. (NYSE American: VIDA), a leading AI agent operating system, have partnered to bring intelligent multi-language, multi-modal AI agent capabilities to telecom service providers using Telinta’s hosted Softswitch and Billing platform.

Telinta has integrated Vida’s AI agent technology into its TeliCore^TM platform, enabling telecom service providers to add the power of AI agents to popular services like Hosted PBX, SIP Trunking, UCaaS, VoIP calling via brandable Mobile and Desktop Softphones, WebRTC, and other business telecom services.

With Vida, Telinta customers get access to Vida’s platform to provide AI agents to their end-user business customers. Vida AI agents answer inbound calls with intelligent, natural-language responses informed by the end user’s knowledge base and CRM data. During a call, agents can send SMS messages with links to make purchases, access documentation, book reservations, or complete other online transactions. Agents also place outbound calls from predefined lists and return missed calls automatically, so that no customer interaction is lost.

To learn more, join Telinta and Vida for a free joint webinar on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 1:00pm Eastern Time.

To register, please visit:  www.telinta.com/vida

Vida’s AI Agent OS powers tons of communications and operations across many businesses. Built to move companies from proof of concept to full production, Vida gives enterprises, MSPs, and telecom service providers the tools to build, deploy, and manage AI agent workforces across voice, text, email, and chat — with the visibility, control, and compliance required to operate at scale. Vida AI Agents speak 10 languages by default, and have developed a unique method to register as SIP devices on existing phone systems, making deployment seamless for telecom providers.

Telinta’s cloud-based TeliCore platform is the largest of its kind in the world and has served VoIP providers around the globe since 2002, offering integrated switching, real-time billing, and more. The company offers white-label solutions that enable service providers and their resellers to offer a full portfolio of profitable VoIP services under their own brand and at their own prices.

Both companies will offer special promotions for new customers who sign up in 2026. Telinta will offer new customers a $400 discount on their first monthly invoice. Vida will offer $200 off platform fees for Telinta customers ($500/month plan) for the first three months of service. Vida is also happy to build a no-cost, no-commitment Proof of Concept agent to demonstrate its capabilities firsthand.

“Telecom providers have always been the infrastructure layer for business communication, and with this partnership, they can now be the AI layer too,” said Jordan Gadapee, CMO of Vida. “Vida isn’t just an AI feature. It’s the operating system that lets Telinta’s customers run their entire AI agent business, from deployment to monetization. Together, we believe Telinta and Vida give service providers what they need to deploy intelligent agents across voice, SMS, email, and chat, and turn that into a revenue-generating service for their own clients.”

“For over two decades, Telinta has built a comprehensive ecosystem of industry-leading partners like Vida to help our ITSP customers grow,” said Alex Ferdman, Telinta CEO. “Telecom service providers can use Vida’s AI together with Telinta’s TeliCore platform to better compete and win in the marketplace.”

About Telinta

Founded in 2002, Telinta, Inc. offers secure and reliable cloud-based Switching and Billing solutions for VoIP service providers worldwide. Telinta’s full portfolio of white-label carrier-grade solutions is highly customizable for VoIP service providers and their resellers.  This includes Hosted PBX, SIP Trunks, Business and Residential VoIP, UCaaS, VoIP calling with brandable Mobile and Desktop Softphones, WebRTC, and other hosted solutions.  Please visit us at http://www.telinta.com for more information.

About Vida

Vida is an AI agent operating system that enables businesses to build, deploy, manage, and monetize AI agents capable of running business operations and communications. The platform is LLM-agnostic, orchestrating Vida’s proprietary technology with leading large language models and other ancillary AI technologies, including voice, transcription, and OpenClaw, to deliver intelligent, full-stack agents across industries. Vida serves direct enterprise customers and a global network of resellers, agencies, and partners. For more information, visit vida.io.

Media Contacts:

Anthony Stiso

Vice President – Marketing and Sales

Telinta, Inc.

+1 973 467-3364 (menu option 1)

Illume PR for Vida

vida@illumepr.com

The post Telinta and Vida Team Up to Bring AI Agents to Telecom Service Providers appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

News

The vehicle will target startups across North America, Asia, and Europe to accelerate the commercial ecosystem for all-photonics networks

Japan’s largest telco, NTT, is preparing to create an investment fund worth roughly $500 million to support the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) initiative and related AI development, according to reports from Yomiuri Shimbun.

South Korea’s SK Group, Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom, and the Development Bank of Japan are reportedly partners in the ‘IOWN AI Fund’.

More than 10 additional Japanese corporations – spanning tech giants like Toshiba, Sony, and Fujitsu, alongside major financial institutions including MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho – have also expressed intent to participate.

The ‘IOWN AI Fund’, which will be set up by the end of the month, aims to expand IOWN’s growing ecosystem and the AI infrastructure supporting it. This will be achieved by targeting tech startups across North America, Asia, and Europe, focusing on photoelectric fusion, AI semiconductors, and the development of next-generation, IOWN-native AI models.

The concept of IOWN was introduced by NTT in 2019, with the central premise of shifting telco network topology from electronics to photonics (i.e., data transmission via light rather than electricity).

Currently, typical backbone networks carry optical signals over fibre but are forced to convert these photonic signals into electrical signals for processing. IOWN envisions an end-to-end optical network that would remove this translational bottleneck, delivering major benefits like lower power consumption, higher speeds, and larger capacity.

As generative AI data centres place unprecedented strain on global energy grids, it should be no surprise that the IOWN initiative is gaining momentum.

Indeed, IOWN is already beginning to show signs of moving from technical R&D to commercial scaling. In 2024 deployment by NTT and Chunghwa Telecom successfully activated a 3,000km subsea IOWN link between Japan and Taiwan, achieving a one-way latency of just 17 milliseconds.

By leveraging a formidable cross-border alliance of East Asian telecom, semiconductor, and financial giants, the IOWN AI fund is betting all-photonic network architecture will be a major alternative to traditional network strategy in the not-so-distant future.

How is AI supercharging the UK’s digital economy? Join the discussions at Connected Britain 2026

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 NTT preparing $500m fund to boost IOWN AI initiative appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Designed to support rapidly growing Nordic data traffic and rising international demand for secure, high-quality connectivity routes, the 630-kilometre cable system Verena is scheduled to be Ready for Service (RFS) in the fourth quarter of 2028.

The commencement of marine survey activities marks the transition from planning into delivery and represents a critical step in delivering a resilient and future-ready subsea cable system.

Survey activities will take place across summer 2026, enabling the programme to take advantage of the more favourable seasonal weather conditions. 

Marine survey operations are essential to the successful design and installation of submarine infrastructure. Through advanced offshore data acquisition and seabed analysis, the survey provides the detailed understanding required to optimise cable routing and reduce delivery risk.

“The North Sea presents a complex operating environment, and high-quality survey data is fundamental to reducing risk before installation begins. The survey programme will provide the detailed seabed and route intelligence needed to support informed engineering decisions, optimise system design and ensure Verena is delivered to the highest standards of resilience and reliability.”

Espen Vestli, Chief Operating Officer, Midgard Infra

Survey data collected will enable the project team to:

• Identify the safest and most resilient route alignment.
• Understand seabed conditions and burial requirements to maximise long-term system protection.
• Safely manage interactions with existing offshore infrastructure including telecommunications cables, power assets and pipelines.
• Support environmental and regulatory approvals.
• Improve installation efficiency and reduce intervention requirements over the operational life of the system.

Delivery of the Verena programme is being led end-to-end by JTD Associates, whose programme leadership and delivery expertise continue to provide the governance, coordination and execution capability, instrumental to enabling this milestone and maintaining momentum toward service readiness in 2028.

“In subsea delivery, good decisions come from good data. The marine survey is our opportunity to learn everything we can about the route before we put a cable anywhere near the seabed.”

Diane Hill, Chief Delivery Officer, JTD Associates

Survey activities are being delivered in partnership with Pelagian Ltd acting as Engineering Consultants, and XOCEAN, utilising their fleet of advanced Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) to conduct offshore data acquisition. The use of USVs supports a more sustainable approach to offshore data acquisition through lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions and simplified offshore logistics compared with traditional survey operations.

The approach aligns with Midgard Infra’s commitment to delivering resilient digital infrastructure while supporting broader sustainability objectives.

“Verena is exactly the type of forward-looking infrastructure project that benefits from modern survey technology. Our USVs enable safe, efficient and environmentally responsible data collection, and we are proud to be supporting Midgard Infra and its partners as they take this important step towards delivering a major new North Sea connectivity asset.”

James Ives, Chief Executive Officer, XOCEAN

About Midgard Infra
Midgard Infra provides international connectivity and high-speed data services across the Nordics and Europe. The company operates the NO-UK subsea cable between Norway and the UK and the Skagen Fiber West cable between Norway and Denmark, supported by an extensive terrestrial network. Midgard Infra is also developing Verena, a new high-capacity subsea cable system between the UK and Denmark designed to strengthen digital resilience and meet the growing demands of hyperscalers and data-driven industries.

Co-owned by Lyse and HitecVision, Midgard Infra connects major data centre hubs across Northern Europe—including Hamburg, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Brussels, London, and Dublin—along with high-speed connectivity to the Americas via the Havfrue (AEC-2) trans-Atlantic cable. The network also includes one of the largest metro fibre systems in Oslo, providing robust and scalable infrastructure for global carriers, cloud providers, and enterprises.

About XOCEAN

XOCEAN is a global ocean data delivery partner, providing full scope geophysical, geotechnical and environmental data to support offshore developments and operations. By using a more efficient operating model, XOCEAN enables faster delivery, greater flexibility and more predictable outcomes than traditional survey methods.

The company transforms ocean data delivery through a digitally integrated operating platform that connects data acquisition, remote operations and processing into a single, scalable system. This allows data to be delivered quickly and consistently across a wide range of offshore environments.

Operating across more than 20 international markets, XOCEAN supports leading offshore operators and infrastructure developers. XOCEAN delivers high quality ocean data across offshore wind, subsea cable infrastructure and telecoms, supporting critical offshore decisions across the full lifecycle of offshore assets.

The post Marine Survey Begins for Verena UK–Denmark Subsea Fibre System appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Designed to support rapidly growing Nordic data traffic and rising international demand for secure, high-quality connectivity routes, the 630-kilometre cable system Verena is scheduled to be Ready for Service (RFS) in the fourth quarter of 2028.

The commencement of marine survey activities marks the transition from planning into delivery and represents a critical step in delivering a resilient and future-ready subsea cable system.

Survey activities will take place across summer 2026, enabling the programme to take advantage of the more favourable seasonal weather conditions. 

Marine survey operations are essential to the successful design and installation of submarine infrastructure. Through advanced offshore data acquisition and seabed analysis, the survey provides the detailed understanding required to optimise cable routing and reduce delivery risk.

“The North Sea presents a complex operating environment, and high-quality survey data is fundamental to reducing risk before installation begins. The survey programme will provide the detailed seabed and route intelligence needed to support informed engineering decisions, optimise system design and ensure Verena is delivered to the highest standards of resilience and reliability.”

Espen Vestli, Chief Operating Officer, Midgard Infra

Survey data collected will enable the project team to:

• Identify the safest and most resilient route alignment.
• Understand seabed conditions and burial requirements to maximise long-term system protection.
• Safely manage interactions with existing offshore infrastructure including telecommunications cables, power assets and pipelines.
• Support environmental and regulatory approvals.
• Improve installation efficiency and reduce intervention requirements over the operational life of the system.

Delivery of the Verena programme is being led end-to-end by JTD Associates, whose programme leadership and delivery expertise continue to provide the governance, coordination and execution capability, instrumental to enabling this milestone and maintaining momentum toward service readiness in 2028.

“In subsea delivery, good decisions come from good data. The marine survey is our opportunity to learn everything we can about the route before we put a cable anywhere near the seabed.”

Diane Hill, Chief Delivery Officer, JTD Associates

Survey activities are being delivered in partnership with Pelagian Ltd acting as Engineering Consultants, and XOCEAN, utilising their fleet of advanced Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) to conduct offshore data acquisition. The use of USVs supports a more sustainable approach to offshore data acquisition through lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions and simplified offshore logistics compared with traditional survey operations.

The approach aligns with Midgard Infra’s commitment to delivering resilient digital infrastructure while supporting broader sustainability objectives.

“Verena is exactly the type of forward-looking infrastructure project that benefits from modern survey technology. Our USVs enable safe, efficient and environmentally responsible data collection, and we are proud to be supporting Midgard Infra and its partners as they take this important step towards delivering a major new North Sea connectivity asset.”

James Ives, Chief Executive Officer, XOCEAN

About Midgard Infra
Midgard Infra provides international connectivity and high-speed data services across the Nordics and Europe. The company operates the NO-UK subsea cable between Norway and the UK and the Skagen Fiber West cable between Norway and Denmark, supported by an extensive terrestrial network. Midgard Infra is also developing Verena, a new high-capacity subsea cable system between the UK and Denmark designed to strengthen digital resilience and meet the growing demands of hyperscalers and data-driven industries.

Co-owned by Lyse and HitecVision, Midgard Infra connects major data centre hubs across Northern Europe—including Hamburg, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Brussels, London, and Dublin—along with high-speed connectivity to the Americas via the Havfrue (AEC-2) trans-Atlantic cable. The network also includes one of the largest metro fibre systems in Oslo, providing robust and scalable infrastructure for global carriers, cloud providers, and enterprises.

About XOCEAN

XOCEAN is a global ocean data delivery partner, providing full scope geophysical, geotechnical and environmental data to support offshore developments and operations. By using a more efficient operating model, XOCEAN enables faster delivery, greater flexibility and more predictable outcomes than traditional survey methods.

The company transforms ocean data delivery through a digitally integrated operating platform that connects data acquisition, remote operations and processing into a single, scalable system. This allows data to be delivered quickly and consistently across a wide range of offshore environments.

Operating across more than 20 international markets, XOCEAN supports leading offshore operators and infrastructure developers. XOCEAN delivers high quality ocean data across offshore wind, subsea cable infrastructure and telecoms, supporting critical offshore decisions across the full lifecycle of offshore assets.

The post Marine Survey Begins for Verena UK–Denmark Subsea Fibre System appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

PHOENIX (June 4, 2026) — Sparklight® has invested nearly $1 billion over the past three years to expand and enhance its fiber-rich network across its 24-state footprint, helping deliver faster connectivity and greater capacity for residential and business customers and critical community services.

As part of its continued network evolution, Sparklight has expanded fiber deeper into its service areas to build a future-ready network that supports long-term growth and economic development. With a fiber-rich network spanning more than 31,000 route miles, Sparklight’s investments help create the infrastructure needed to support emerging technologies, increasing digital demands and the evolving connectivity needs of homes and businesses.

Gigabit internet service is now available across all Sparklight markets, and Multi-Gig speeds are available in more than half its service areas. The company also continues advancing its long-term 10G technology roadmap to support the next generation of connected experiences.

Together, these investments and services help deliver:

• Faster speeds for streaming, gaming and video conferencing
• Optimal performance across multiple connected devices
• Reliable connectivity for remote work, online learning and business operations
• Scalable connectivity solutions for businesses of all sizes

“Reliable connectivity is essential for how people work, learn, get entertained and stay connected every day,” said Jim Holanda, CEO of Cable One, Sparklight’s parent company. “Our investments help ensure families and businesses across the communities we serve have access to the fast, dependable connectivity they need today, while continuing to strengthen network performance and reliability for the future.”

Sparklight’s investments also support the company’s suite of connectivity products and services, including:

• Intelligent whole-home Wi-Fi powered by eero Wi-Fi 7 technology
• Sparklight Mobile, a no-contract wireless service with 5G nationwide coverage and unlimited talk and text starting at $15/month when bundled with Sparklight home internet
• Tech Assist, a U.S.-based support and protection service for connected home devices, smart TVs, gaming systems and more

To learn more about Sparklight’s residential and business services, visit www.sparklight.com and business.sparklight.com or follow the company on Facebook, Instagram and X. 

###

The post Sparklight Invests Nearly $1 Billion to Enhance Connectivity Across Its Footprint appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Retail ISP Brillband has announced that, from 1st July 2026, consumers will finally be able to order broadband packages over the full fibre network built by parent company AllPoints Fibre Networks (APFN), which reflects the former (pre-consolidation) brands of Jurassic Fibre, Giganet and Swish Fibre. But there’s a catch for the provider’s Openreach and CityFibre base.

Just to recap. The three gigabit-speed alternative networks were all consolidated under the control of APFN’s wholesale platform, while their associated (existing) retail customers ended up being sent to UK ISP Cuckoo, which did form part of the same group (much like Brillband) until Onestream picked up the customer base last month (here). Take note that APFN also supplies wholesale access via various other networks too (off-net) using their Aquila platform.

However, despite APFN via Fern Trading having sunk hundreds of millions of pounds into building their own FTTP broadband network, APFN have been preventing new customers from actually being able to sign up to it for some time, which created a few awkward problems (example). Not to mention the negative impact upon revenue generation from leaving a built network asset to languish.

Despite the problems, APFN did indicate, as part of their recent Cuckoo sale, that they still intended to bring their own Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network back into service. The good news today is that this is finally about to happen at the start of next month. Homes on this footprint will be able to choose Brillband from 1st July 2026 for their 900Mbps full fibre broadband service.

The catch is that Brillband intends to make a “strategic shift” as part of this announcement, which will see them focusing “exclusively” on the APFN network, while “pausing new customer sales on Openreach and CityFibre infrastructure“.

Duncan Di Biase, CEO and Founder of Brillband, said:

“We’re delighted to begin offering services across the AllPoints Fibre network.

The UK broadband market has become increasingly distorted by below-cost pricing from some of the largest providers. While this may appear attractive in the short term, it creates an unsustainable environment for challenger ISPs and alternative network operators that are working hard to bring competition and innovation to the sector.

Rather than chasing market share at any cost, we’ve taken the decision to focus on areas where we can continue to provide excellent service, fair pricing and a sustainable business model. The AllPoints Fibre network gives us the opportunity to do exactly that.”

A number of trial customers are already using Brillband’s new APFN network and others can sign-up for the waitlist, which will enable new customers to take their 900Mbps package for just £25 per month. Brillband said they would also continue to offer “no mid contract price hikes” and a Wi-Fi 7 router as standard to all new customers. Obviously, you’ll need to be living within an area covered by the Jurassic Fibre, Giganet and Swish Fibre footprint in order to benefit.

The move will of course cause some concern among Brillband’s existing base of CityFibre and Openreach broadband customers, which may be left to wonder whether or when they might be sold off to another ISP. Fern Trading backed providers have developed quite a reputation for customer migrations.

On the bright side, it’s good to see that those living in an APFN covered (on-net) area will finally be able to harness the network again.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Internet connection benchmarking firm Ookla (Accenture), which operates the popular broadband and mobile Speedtest.net service and app, has published a general summary of WiFi technology adoption across the world that reveals how the UK has a fairly strong level of Wi-Fi 6 and 7 adoption vs most of Europe.

On these pages we often talk about service speeds from fixed broadband connections. But it remains important to understand that most of the devices we actually connect to such services these days will usually do so via a wireless link to our router, which is often much more variable in its performance than the fixed line component.

Suffice to say that the prevalence of different Wi-Fi standards between devices can have a significant impact upon the broadband performance we perceive at home, with older standards tending to be slower than newer ones. The latest Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 standards can also harness the 6GHz band (big speed boost nearer to your router), as well as being better at functioning in environments that are highly congested by other Wi-Fi networks.

In that sense it’s good to see the latest Wi-Fi data from Ookla, which appears to show that people in the UK have a “relatively” high level of Wi-Fi 6 / 802.11ax (43.4% share) adoption across Europe, with the latest Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) holding 3.8%. But some 14.1% still use old Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) technology and Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) remains strong at 38.7%.

Ookla Statement

Europe has largely moved in the same direction in allocating the lower portion of the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use, with some markets following hot on the heels of the U.S. allocation of the entire band in 2020. Within the European Union, this was driven by a regionwide harmonization measure, with the European Commission issuing a binding Implementing Decision in 2021 requiring Member States to update their national spectrum plans to accommodate WAS/RLAN use in the lower portion of the band, specifically 5945–6425 MHz, by year-end.

The UK moved separately and slightly earlier, with Ofcom making the lower 6 GHz band available in 2020, and uses the marginally wider 5925–6425 MHz range. Other non-EU European countries are generally pulled toward the same lower-band framework through CEPT/ECC harmonization, although implementation remains a national matter rather than an EU legal obligation.

The upper half, 6425–7125 MHz, remains the live policy battleground, with mobile operators pushing for it to support 5G and future 6G networks, while the Wi-Fi industry continues to argue for broader unlicensed access closer to the U.S. and Canadian model. The UK has moved toward a more explicit sharing model, while the EU process remains more cautious, with recent policy direction pointing toward mobile priority for much of the upper band rather than a full-band Wi-Fi allocation. Despite this relatively early move to 6 GHz, Europe’s adoption of the 6 GHz spectrum trails North America. According to Speedtest data, as of Q1 2026 just 1.6% of the 6 GHz spectrum band in the EU is being used for Wi-Fi. The majority of Wi-Fi usage (66%) in the EU is being handled by the 5 GHz band and that is an increase from 45.7% in Q1 2022.

At the country level, France has the highest percentage of Wi-Fi in the 6 GHz band compared to other EU countries, with 8.6% of Wi-Fi usage as of Q1 2026, followed by Norway with 6.5%. Some European countries, like Spain, which feature among the highest levels of fibre coverage in the world, exhibit notably lower usage of the 6 GHz band (reflecting the focus on price competition, like in Italy, rather than CPE differentiation and in-home experience, in contrast to the “box war” in markets like France).

We should point out that most people will have a patchwork network of devices that will mix different Wi-Fi generations and capabilities, but obviously the most important ones for performance are your main broadband router and the devices you use to get online for daily tasks and entertainment (Computer, Smartphone etc.).

Overall, the global speedtest data shows Wi-Fi 7 emerging with just a 1.8% share of samples in Q1 2026, but that will change over time. For example, Wi-Fi 6 has risen – globally – from just 6% in Q1 2022 to 27% in Q1 2026, while there has been a gradual decline of older Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 4 generations, which fell to 39% and 34% respectively.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Mobile and internet provider giffgaff has this morning announced the launch of a new special offer on their 24-month fixed full fibre broadband plans (available via nexfibre’s network), which will give new customers any of their 200Mbps to 900Mbps speed packages at just £5 per month for the first six months of service.

The packages typically return to their normal prices thereafter (e.g. 200Mbps is £25 per month, 500Mbps is £28 and 900Mbps is £32). All packages include unlimited usage, free setup, an included wireless router (eero 6+) and a pledge of “no mid-term price rises” (discount period not withstanding).

The limited time ‘Full Fibre For a Fiver‘ promotion is available from now until 28th August 2026. Once the six months at £5 offer ends, there’s also the flexibility for members to change their broadband speed up or down each month should they wish, to help manage their bills. So you could sign up to 900Mbps with the £5 offer and then downgrade to 200Mbps after six months to get the most value.

Kate Dohaney, giffgaff CEO, said: “At a time when prices notoriously inflate for the summer months and costs rack up, we’re offering greater value to our members with broadband for just £5 a month and no price hikes to our members’ contracts for the remainder of their term. This reflects our commitment to fairness, ensuring people have clarity and confidence over their bills.”