Rural broadband ISP Wildanet, which is deploying a gigabit speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across rural parts of Cornwall and Devon (England), has joined forces with build contractor Dynamic Fibre to help pilot a new cable-laying process that could “dramatically reduce the carbon footprint” of their deployment.

The operator, which originally started life as a Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband provider in the same area, has more recently been deploying gigabit-capable full fibre lines – both commercially and via public investment – and is estimated to have so far covered around 30,000 premises (Ready for Service).

However, anything that can make the civil engineering side of this work less wasteful is always a positive, which is where Dynamic Fibre comes in. The street works firm has secured approval from Cornwall Council highways to use a sustainable trench excavation and reinstatement process – known as SMR (Structural Material for Reinstatement) – which recycles dug material back into excavations, after mixing it with a special binder.

The result is minimal excavated material being sent to landfill; less use of quarried aggregates; a halving of lorry movements; and 50% less asphalt needed to finish the top layer of footways. Wildanet claims the “environmental benefits are significant“, with each kilometre of trenching using the SMR technique saving an estimated:

• 153 tonnes of excavated material going to landfill
• 153 tonnes of quarried aggregate
• 32 tonnes of asphalt
• 20 fewer HGV lorry movements

Julie-anne Sunderland, Wildanet, said:

“Wildanet’s mission is to transform internet connectivity for rural and hard-to-reach communities in Cornwall, through the roll-out of the latest generation gigabit-enabled fibre to the premises, and to do so in the most sustainable way possible.

As a certified B Corp, we’re committed to building sustainability into the heart of everything we do. We are delighted to be working with Dynamic Fibre on the introduction of SMR into street works in Cornwall. We hope that by supporting this initiative we will not only improve the sustainability of our own network build but encourage and enable the adoption of more sustainable practices by other organisations and contractors across the county.”

According to John McGrath, Dynamic Fibre’s UK Operations Director, the company has so far carried out an initial 22km of installations for Wildanet, which is said to be the equivalent of 440 lorry movements saved (i.e. a considerable reduction in the environmental footprint of the network roll-out). Naturally, there’s a video of all this:

Contributed Article

by Rajiv Datta, CEO of nexfibre

In today’s digital age, full-fibre broadband is much more than a faster way to browse the internet; it is the backbone of our modern lives and a critical driver for economic growth. Connectivity has become an essential that touches nearly every aspect of our daily routines. A robust fibre market fuels the broader economy by enhancing productivity, fostering innovation, and making the UK more competitive on the global stage.

Any healthy and successful sector of the economy needs nationwide competition. To achieve this, there must be an appropriate balance of regulation that encourages fair competition, restricts anti-competitive behaviour by dominant players, and fosters a stable environment for investment and innovation. In the UK, the wholesale fibre access market has witnessed remarkable progress in recent years. However, this advancement remains precarious, and significant challenges still need to be addressed to ensure long-term sustainability.

A fibre market fit for the future?

The UK fibre market has come a long way, largely driven by the rise of alternative network providers (altnets). These new players have injected much-needed competition into the market, prompting Openreach, the dominant provider, to accelerate its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) rollout. This is a positive development, but it is crucial to understand that the progress made is fragile and far from assured.

While the current landscape might seem robust, the underlying market structure is not sustainable in its current form. This was a point our CEO Rajiv Datta made on the “Changing Landscape of the UK Fibre Market” panel at Connected Britain. The upcoming Telecoms Access Review (TAR) arrives at a critical moment and the regulator needs to take action to promote sustainable nationwide competition.

Significant progress, yet much more to accomplish

According to Ofcom’s latest data, the UK has reached 60% fibre coverage. Continued investment is essential to complete this transformation, and fostering sustainable, nationwide competition is key to maintaining momentum—not just for the current generation of technology, but for future advancements as well.

Stability attracts investment

Regulatory stability is crucial for attracting the necessary investment to complete the fibre rollout. Investors are more inclined to commit resources when they are confident that the regulatory environment is fair, predictable, and supportive of competition. A stable regulatory framework is essential to expanding and upgrading fibre networks across the country.

The need for market consolidation

The economics of fixed infrastructure mean there is room for only a small number of sustainable operators in the marketplace. High-interest rates are exerting increasing financial pressure on sub-scale altnets, many of which struggle with low penetration rates and have to juggle both retail and wholesale operations. Given these dynamics, consolidation in the market is both inevitable and necessary.

Working towards a sustainable future

At nexfibre, we are working closely and constructively with the regulator and policymakers to help shape a fibre market that benefits all stakeholders. We exist to provide that sustainable, nationwide competition and act as a platform for progress in the digital infrastructure market.

This commitment is backed by substantial investment. nexfibre is investing £1 billion in broadband infrastructure this year, reinforcing our intent to provide long-term competition in the full fibre market on a national scale, particularly in underserved areas. We are on track to reach 2 million premises before the end of the year, and with network expansion activities ramping up significantly, nexfibre is set to become the second-largest altnet in just our second year of operation.

Connectivity contributes to better outcomes for all

Genuine, lasting competition to Openreach will drive economic growth, help the UK realise its digital potential, and ensure it remains competitive on the global stage. Moreover, it will transform broadband access across the UK, closing the digital divide and reducing regional disparities across the UK. When this happens, everyone benefits—from individual consumers to businesses and the economy at large.

The UK fibre market stands at a crossroads

Despite the challenges facing the market today, we are confident they can be overcome if we create a dynamic market environment conducive to competition and progress. We had productive discussions at Connected Britain and look forward to continuing to work constructively with policymakers, Ofcom, and the rest of the industry as we move towards a digital infrastructure that is fit for the future.

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter   

Also in the news:
Nokia and Lenovo forge partnership to drive AI and automation in data centers
UK govt announces £22m investment in ‘smart data’
“We’re on track to close the loop”: Adtran talks data, AI, and network automation at Connected Britain

A new survey of over 1,000 UK smartphone users by Omdia, which was commissioned by network testing firm Ookla (i.e. Speedtest.net, Downdetector.co.uk), has revealed some of the biggest frustrations that UK Smartphone users have with their devices, with spam calls and messages, slow-loading web pages, and network outages as the top pain points.

The admittedly very small survey (i.e. take its results with a pinch of salt) – ‘Smartphone User Trends‘ – claims to have found that 27% of UK smartphone users are experiencing a “network outage” at least once a month and 81% of those are considering switching mobile operators due to poor handling of such outages.

More widely, over a quarter of UK respondents said they were likely to switch mobile providers in the next 12 months, with 54% citing cost savings as the main reason for switching. “As network outages and cost concerns mount, UK smartphone users are more inclined to consider switching providers,” said Luke Kehoe, industry analyst for Europe at Ookla. “Mobile operators in the UK need to differentiate themselves by addressing these pain points to better serve their customers and reduce churn.”

Summary of Key Findings

➤ Frequent network outages impacting user experience: 27% of UK respondents reported experiencing a network outage at least once a month, and 11% faced outages multiple times each month. Network outages were cited as the biggest frustration for 16% of UK respondents.

➤ High likelihood of switching providers: 26% of UK respondents indicated that they are likely or very likely to switch their mobile service provider within the next 12 months.

➤ Frustrations with slow web pages and interrupted streaming: Quality of experience issues like slow-loading web pages and interrupted video streams also proved frustrating, affecting 38% and 19% of users respectively.

➤ Users want more from their mobile contracts: While 54% of UK respondents cited cost savings as their primary motivation for switching providers, 20% are looking for better bundled content, 32% are looking for faster network speeds, and 27% want better reception.

➤ Communication from operators around outages: 89% of UK respondents noted that receiving notifications and status updates about network issues is important or very important to them.

➤ Speed and quality: For UK respondents, having a faster network and receiving better coverage were more important than promotional offers. Nearly a third (32%) of UK respondents, who are looking to switch providers, will do so because they want to get better speed from their mobile connection, and 27% want to improve their coverage experience.

➤ Ability to upgrade: UK consumers surveyed said that the ability to upgrade to the newest device is the least important consideration when selecting a mobile service provider, with only 14% citing it as “critical”.

➤ Consumer blame doesn’t always fall to operators: Although 57% of UK consumers surveyed said they blamed their mobile/home internet service provider when issues are experienced with streaming content, 19% said they would blame their device and a further 24% said they’d blame the streaming platform.

Kehoe added: “Ongoing frustrations with slow-loading webpages and interrupted video streaming highlights the importance of addressing bread-and-butter quality of experience (QoE) issues, even on faster 5G networks. Operators that can demonstrate the superior coverage and performance credentials of their networks, including ensuring there is proactive communication when outages arise, have a clear strategic opportunity to win the hearts of frustrated consumers.”

The catch here is with how you define a “network outage” when moving within a mobile network environment, where signal and service quality can vary significantly between locations, both indoors and outdoors. Not to mention the potential for faults on the Smartphone itself. Naturally, there are some limitations of mobile connectivity that cannot be easily overcome in every scenario, at least not in a way that would be considered economically or even practically viable for commercial operators.

The actual number of real network outages, such as where the network itself fails due to a fault within the operator’s network (as opposed to a failure of the device itself or when moving into an area of weak signal), is usually very low. But experiences do vary between locations, although we tend to only see a handful of major national-scale service disruptions each year.

Mobile network analyst firm Streetwave has used data gathered from across Northumberland (England) and Ceredigion (Wales) to examine the recent switch-off of 3G mobile services in those areas by Three UK, which resulted in median (average) mobile broadband download speeds rising by 22%, but “Essential Coverage” declined by 8%.

In case anybody has forgotten, Three UK is due to fully complete the process of switching off their old 3G network by the end of 2024 (here). Mobile operators have generally been compensating for the 3G switch-off in some areas by introducing upgrades to newer 4G and 5G services. The removal of 3G also freed up some radio spectrum that can be re-farmed for use by those modern services, which could boost network performance.

However, so far none of the mobile network operators have released any solid evidence to show the practical and statistical impacts of the 3G switch-off, which is what makes the latest data from Streetwave so useful when checking against their claims. Not to mention that the company’s approach to such testing goes a lot deeper and is more accurate than most other studies.

Streetwave has been using bin (lorries) collections to map mobile coverage and performance in both areas, in collaboration with the local authorities. In this setup, bin collection vehicles are installed with four off-the-shelf smartphones using software from Streetwave on top, which run continuous tests of signal coverage and network performance (once every 20 metres in rural areas and 5m in urban areas) as the vehicles go about their routes.

The latest work was commissioned following concerns raised by residents regarding potential disruptions to mobile networks after the 3G switch-off. The results reveal that, during the data collection period, the percentage of connections made via 3G on Three UK’s network in Northumberland and Ceredigion have fallen from an average of 6% to 1%.

However, the data also shows that as Three’s 3G connections fell, median throughput speeds improved, yet ‘Essential Coverage’ declined. Streetwave defines Essential Coverage as being reflective of locations where the network provides users with connectivity of above 1Mbps download speeds, 0.5Mbps upload, and below 100ms (milliseconds) of latency (i.e. covering or allowing only the most basic of use cases / needs).

The Results

The median download speeds experienced by users rose by 19% in Ceredigion and 25% in Northumberland. Likewise, the median upload speeds experienced by users also rose by 19% in Ceredigion, but there was no change to median upload speeds in Northumberland. But ‘Essential Coverage’ for Three’s network has fallen across both councils in the period of study – falling by 5% in Ceredigion and 8% in Northumberland between July and October.

Streetwave noted that they also conducted a similar survey with Norfolk County Council to assess the impact of Three’s 3G switch-off in Norwich. However, no 3G connections were made by Streetwave’s data collection equipment in either July or October 2024, which meant they couldn’t create a comparison for that region. In any case, the switch-off is still in progress in other areas and Streetwave plan to continue monitoring related developments.

The company previously posted a similar study covering Vodafone’s 3G switch-off, albeit only in Northumberland, which revealed that the operator was providing ‘Essential Coverage‘ across 92% of locations in Northumberland (up by 3%) and their average mobile (data) download and upload speeds were also faster by approximately 10% after the switch off (here).

However, it’s worth noting that we don’t yet know what kind of baseline of change these areas typically experience over a longer period of time, which makes it difficult to be certain that all of these differences can be directly attributed to the 3G switch-off. Various other impacts, such as tourism (networks often boost capacity around busy periods) and general network upgrades, will also be playing a role.

Alternative network operator and ISP Brsk has today announced that their 2Gbps Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network, which already covers “over” 700,000 UK homes and is in the process of being merged with Netomnia (here), is being expanded to cover a further 10,000 “rural” premises in 5 new locations across West Yorkshire (England).

The operator has already built their network to pass 130,000 premises across West Yorkshire, while the next batch of 10,000 premises due to join that figure will include deployments across the following five villages and towns: Denholme, Haworth, Crossroads, Wilsden, and Cullingworth. But it should be noted that some of these locations already have a degree of FTTP coverage from rivals, such as Openreach and Virgin Media etc.

Residents and businesses in Cullingworth have in fact already become the first to enjoy access to Brsk’s new network as the operator’s work has just completed, while the project is currently underway to connect Haworth, Crossflatts, Denholme and Wilsden, which should be completed by December this year.

Darryl Nieuwenhuizen, Brsk’s Regional Head, said:

“We have spent the last 3 years rolling out our full fibre network to a large proportion of the Bradford District and the take up of services has been fantastic. We have built a great reputation for ourselves throughout the region, with brsk becoming a household name in the area; we already have over 30% take up in our older cohorts. This success has given us the confidence to extend our network to more rural communities across West Yorkshire and ensure they are not left behind.

Brsk was piloted in the village of Cottingley back in 2021 and has seen significant growth across North, West, and South of the Bradford district since inception, with the network now spanning from Keighley to Calderdale, providing 130,000 homes and businesses with access to full fibre broadband across West Yorkshire.”

New customers of the service currently pay from just £19 per month on a 24-month term for symmetric speeds of 150Mbps, then £25 for 500Mbps, £30 for 900Mbps and £55 for their top 2Gbps (2000Mbps) tier. The packages all include free installation, a router and a pledge of no mid-contract price rises. Options also exist for Pay TV, phone, a WiFi mesh product, and static IP addresses.

The latest Q3 2024 results from Virgin Media (O2) have been published, which shows that they’re home to 5,726,900 fixed broadband customers (up by 16.2k in Q3 vs -12.2k in Q2) and expanded their full fibre (FTTP) network to 281,100 premises – primarily via nexfibre (down from 295k in Q2). VMO2 has also sold a minority 8.3% stake in Cornerstone (worth £186m).

According to the latest results, the combined VMO2 and nexfibre fixed broadband network currently reaches 17,770,100 Homes Serviceable (up from 17,489,000 in Q2) and the vast majority of that new build is from nexfibre. The nexfibre network alone now accounts for over 1.5 million UK premises passed of this total.

The results reveal that a total of around 5.3 million Virgin Media and nexfibre premises (footprint) are now covered by FTTP (XGS-PON and RFOG), which is up from 5m in Q2 2024. But a tiny portion of the nexfibre figures will include a bit of infill build for Virgin Media itself (e.g. existing new build homes sites).

The c.175,000 premises passed by Upp, which was acquired by nexfibre last year, have also yet to be fully integrated into VMO2’s totals, which is despite this update stating that Virgin has now completed the integration work (i.e. it sounds a bit contradictory when they talk about “successful completion of integration work“, yet for some reason the majority of the 175,000 acquired premises are “still to be transferred“).

Nexfibre Rollout Progress
Q3 2024 = 281,100 Premises
Q2 2024 = 295,300 Premises
Q1 2024 = 194,000 Premises
Q4 2023 = c.299,000 Premises
Q3 2023 = 250,800 Premises
Q2 2023 = 175,500 Premises
Q1 2023 = 107,800 Premises
Q4 2022 = 24,000 Premises

Just for context. Telefónica, Liberty Global and InfraVia Capital Partners setup a new £4.5bn joint venture called nexfibre in 2022 (here), which aims to deploy an open access full fibre (FTTP) network to reach “up to” 7 million UK homes (starting with 5m by 2026) in areas NOT served by Virgin Media’s own network of 16m+ premises. But Virgin Media, which shares some of the same parentage, is currently the only ISP on this network (here).

At the same time, Virgin Media’s Project Mustang programme is also upgrading their older Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) and FTTP based Radio Frequency over Glass (RFoG) network – covering over 16 million premises – to harness the same XGS-PON based FTTP technology as nexfibre. But this process isn’t due to complete until 2028, although it will eventually mean that VMO2 and nexfibre cover up to 23 million premises with full fibre.

The operator’s (O2) mobile base has also grown during Q1, while sadly Virgin Media has stopped giving any solid figures for their Pay TV (video) base (this often happens when a base is in decline).

VMO2 Q3 2024 UK Customer (Connection) Figures
5,726,900 Fixed Broadband – (up from 5,710,700 in Q2)
45,412,100 Mobile inc. Wholesale – (down from 45,486,400)

The total mobile base reduced by 74,300 connections in the quarter, include a small portion of contract users. But the main fall came from a reduction of 221,300 in IoT connections, which is attributable to the “expected loss of very low value connections following the introduction of a minimum charge pricing mechanism“. The latest results also state that outdoor 5G coverage is now available to 68% of the UK population (up from 65% in Q2).

On the financial front, VMO2 reported total revenue of £2,701.8m in Q3 2024, which is up from £2,673.7m last quarter.

Lutz Schüler, CEO of VMO2, said:

“During Q3 we have continued to make progress against our core strategy as we invest in the foundations for future growth.

We delivered on both volume and value in consumer fixed, with a return to customer growth coupled with an increase in fixed-line ARPU. In mobile, we saw a quarterly trend improvement in key metrics, supported by a reduction in O2 churn during a summer of key campaigns for our loyalty programme Priority and inclusive EU roaming.

Our 5G and fibre rollout continues at pace, and we have invested more than £1.5 billion so far this year as we focus on delivering a great customer experience with fast, reliable connectivity in more areas, increased loyalty benefits and improvements in our customer service performance.

In the first nine months we are tracking well against EBITDA guidance, enabling us to reiterate all guidance metrics with confidence, as we keep our foot on the gas with targeted investments in the salient final quarter.”

The latest results didn’t include any useful updates on Virgin Media’s plans for going wholesale via NetCo in 2025, but we might hear more about that in the near future. But VMO2 did finally confirm the sale of a minority 8.33% stake in mobile tower joint venture CTIL (Cornerstone), to funds managed by Equitix.

The above move follows on from, and is along equivalent terms to, a previous minority stake sale in CTIL by VMO2 in Q4 2023. The deal, which will see the company receive £186m in cash upon final completion, is structured through a 16.66% sale in a holding company which indirectly owns 50% of Cornerstone. Under the ownership structure, Virgin Media O2 will continue to proportionately consolidate Cornerstone as a joint operation.

Cornerstone is the UK’s largest mobile towers business, which owns and manages a nationwide network of around 20,000 sites used by O2 and Vodafone UK, providing critical services for approximately 60% of UK mobile subscribers. The money may help with investment in other areas, such as the £1.5bn+ that has already been spent this year on 5G and fibre roll-outs.

News  

Backed by £93 million from UKRI funding, the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) is envisaged as a centrepiece of the UK’s quantum strategy 

The UK’s NQCC officially opened last week by Science Minister Lord Vallance. Located at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, the 4,000-square-meter facility will house 12 quantum computers used for further research into quantum technology.  

Unlike similar facilities worldwide, the NQCC offers open access to researchers, industry, and students across the UK. With over 70 staff members, the centre aims to close skill gaps through the UK’s first dedicated quantum apprenticeship programme, as well as PhD placements.  

The initiative aligns with the UK’s goal of using quantum technology to drive advancements in sectors like healthcare, energy, and artificial intelligence. 

The NQCC is also set to play a major role in the UK’s ten-year quantum strategy, which will invest £2.5 billion on quantum research, innovation, and skills. Key projects within this strategy include optimising energy grids to reduce power loss, accelerating drug discovery, and improving climate predictions.  

Quantum computing is expected to be orders of magnitude more powerful than traditional supercomputers, allowing for calculations that would normally take years to be completed in minutes’  

The National Quantum Computing Centre marks a vital step forward in the UK’s efforts to advance quantum technologies,” said Science Minister Lord Vallance in a statement. 

“By making its facilities available to users from across industry and academia, and with its focus on making quantum computers practically useable at scale, this Centre will help them solve some of the biggest challenges we face, w 

hether it’s delivering advances in healthcare, enhancing energy efficiency, tackling climate change, or inventing new materials,” he continued. 

Join us at next year’s Connected North, 23-24 April in Manchester. Get your discounted tickets here! 

Also in the news:
Nokia and Lenovo forge partnership to drive AI and automation in data centers
UK govt announces £22m investment in ‘smart data’
“We’re on track to close the loop”: Adtran talks data, AI, and network automation at Connected Britain

The tediously named telecoms procurement specialist, Altnets (the company, not the sector), has launched a new system that attempts to address some of the complex engineering and compliance challenges that UK broadband ISPs face when installing in large residential buildings (MDUs / blocks of flats etc.), while also making those deployments more efficient.

The FTTXcellence B2ca MDU system claims to be the “only product of its kind” and one that features B2ca-rated cables, the highest Euroclass compliance rating available for fibre optic data cables. This rating, indicating minimal flame spread and heat release, is said to support ISPs in prioritising safety and “helping prevent risks associated with events like the Grenfell Tower disaster“.

Additionally, the system, which has been developed through industry collaboration to be quick and fully compliant with safety standards, also includes installation fixings, through-wall kits, and a variety of adapters to ensure easier installation and approvals from property owners.

Tackling MDUs can be a slow and expensive business, not least because each building is usually very different from the last one and will often require a bespoke solution. So anything that can be done to resolve that is usually a good thing. At least one FTTP broadband ISP, the London-focused G.Network, has already adopted the new system and have been calling it a fairly priced “game changer for us as an ISP and network provider“.

Leigh Buckwell, Technical Director at Altnets, said:

“Our FTTXcellence B2ca MDU System is revolutionary because it directly addresses the challenges faced by ISPs. We’ve developed a fully compliant, standardised solution that simplifies installation while ensuring ISPs meet stringent safety regulations. This includes CPR compliance as required by the BS6701 and BS7671 standards, which mandate the fire performance of telecommunications cables.

The FTTXcellence B2ca MDU System not only meets minimum safety requirements but surpasses them, making it the most compliant cabling solution in the industry. This ensures easier approval from private or local authority property owners, enhances the success of MDU builds, and improves the return on investment for ISPs.”

The announcement is a little bit heavy on the marketing speak and moves into an area that we don’t usually cover, although it would be interesting to know what other network providers think about this system? We should say that there are a number of fibre systems for tackling MDUs already on the market (e.g. InvisiLight, as used by Hyperoptic, Openreach etc.), although comparing them moves a bit too far outside our comfort zone of familiarity.

News 

The deal will make SBA Communications “the leading tower company across all of Central America”, according to CEO Brendan Cavanagh 

Florida-based tower infrastructure company SBA communications has purchased 7,000 telecoms towers situated across South America from Millicom, in a deal worth $795 million. 

The sites are located in Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, and are expected to bring SBA an annual revenue of $129 million, with $89 million projected in cash flow in their first full year, according to the company. 

Millicom will continue to be served by the sold sites, with signing a leaseback agreement with SBA for 15 years. The agreements will also extend the current leases on 1,500 sites with SBA for another 15 years. 

“As a result of this transaction and the strength of our existing portfolio, SBA Communications will be the leading tower company across all of Central America,” said Brendan Cavanagh, President & CEO of SBA Communications in a press release. 

“By monetizing non-core assets, we are optimizing our operational and capital efficiency, positioning the company for sustainable growth and long-term value creation,” added Marcelo Benitez, CEP of Millicom in a statement. 

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval, expecting to close in mid-2025. 

Currently, SBA either owns or operates 39,762 communication sites, with over 17,000 located in the US and 22,200 internationally. 

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter   

Also in the news:
Nokia and Lenovo forge partnership to drive AI and automation in data centers
UK govt announces £22m investment in ‘smart data’
“We’re on track to close the loop”: Adtran talks data, AI, and network automation at Connected Britain 

Mobile network operator Vodafone has today announced that they’ve teamed-up with wireless infrastructure provider Freshwave to provide “improved high-speed” 4G and 5G (mobile broadband) connectivity at Haven’s many holiday parks across Yorkshire, Norfolk and Kent in England, as well as Scotland, North Wales and various coastal communities.

The Primrose Valley Holiday Park, located in Filey, Yorkshire, was the first park to undergo 4G and 5G enhancements earlier this year as part of the new multi-million-pound deal, which was then followed by Kent Coast in Kent, Craig Tara in Scotland, Caister-on-Sea in Norfolk, and Hafan y Mor in North Wales.

The CEO of Freshwave, Simon Frumkin, added that he was “delighted” to be working on the project and that the coverage enhancements they were delivering with Vodafone would also extend mobile connectivity to the communities around the parks. Previously, many of the parks could only access 4G services.

Andrea Donà, Network Director at Vodafone UK, said:

“Our partnership with Haven and Freshwave means our customers are starting to enjoy some of the fastest mobile data speeds in the UK as well as a stronger and more reliable voice signal while enjoying their holiday. Vodafone customers will automatically benefit from superfast access via their mobile phones and devices around the park and inside holiday homes – whether that’s checking emails, streaming their favourite show or staying in touch with loved ones.

At the same time, Haven has the connectivity it needs to support its business applications. We now look forward to working together with Haven to see how the improved coverage can continue supporting both their guests and their business.”

Sadly, the press release doesn’t elaborate on precisely what sort of network setup and upgrades are being delivered, other than to reference general support for 4G and 5G connectivity. But Freshwave are well-known for their use of small cells and neutral host networks, which could mean that these upgrades might not only benefit Vodafone. But for now that’s the only operator being named by Haven itself.