Alternative full fibre operator and ISP Brsk, which now covers “over” 633,000 UK homes with their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network and is in the process of being merged into Netomnia (here), has today launched their new 2Gbps (symmetric speed) broadband package and introduced some early Black Friday discounts.

The new 2Gbps speed package has actually been in trial since early September 2024 with a variety of customers, although the full product launch will occur this month. The new package will include both a TP-Link EX820v router and the HX710 Pro mesh access points to help boost wireless coverage.

The new router and mesh devices, which were chosen after the ISP undertook a “comprehensive evaluation of various equipment options from multiple vendors, using CDRouter from QA Cafe for this process“, are said to have since “undergone rigorous testing to ensure optimal performance and reliability“.

Jody Botham, Head of Networks at brsk, said:

“While no wireless system is perfect, we understand that it is key to our customers’ experience when using our broadband products, and so for the 2Gbps product it was really important for us to make sure we selected equipment that can deliver the performance to make the most of this product.

We’ve made a significant investment in our CPE testing platform, which has allowed us to validate the functionality and benchmark the performance of a number of vendors’ CPE models, that on paper should have very similar performance, whereas in reality we saw some big differences. We selected the TP-Link devices based on its superior performance.”

The new 2Gbps package is expected to cost £55 per month on a 24-month minimum term, including free installation and a pledge of no mid-contract price rises. Speaking of pricing, some of Brsk’s other packages will also be getting early Black Friday discounts.

Brsk Black Friday Discounts

BetterNet150 (150Mbps upload and download): Was £25pm, now £19pm on a 24-month contract

BetterNet500 (500Mbps upload and download): Was £33pm, now £25pm on a 24-month contract

BetterNet1000 (900Mbps upload and download): Was £40pm, now £30pm on a 24-month contract

BetterNet2000 (2000Mbps upload and download): £55pm on a 24-month contract

Eastbourne-based alternative broadband builder and ISP Lightning Fibre, which over the past few years have been building a new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across parts of Sussex and Kent in England, has confirmed to ISPreview that they’ve hit staff with another round of redundancies and slowed their network build.

The operator, which has built to a number of locations like Eastbourne, Hastings, Hailsham, St Leonard’s, Heathfield and more, originally planned to cover 140,000 premises with their gigabit-capable network. But it remains unclear how many premises they actually reached before going through a rapid administration earlier this year and suffering some redundancies in the process (here).

However, back in August 2024 we noted that the operator sent a strong signal of their desire to “facilitate the extension of the network“, which came through an application for Code Powers from Ofcom (here). But the latest development suggests that the way they approach this may be going through some changes.

The situation came to light after ISPreview noticed a surge in redundancy notices toward the end of last week, seemingly all from the operator’s internal build team. Upon investigating this, we were told, by sources, that the operator had suddenly informed staff about a further round of redundancies – allegedly impacting up to 30 internal staff (mostly members of their build team). For a smaller altnet, this can have a big impact.

Lightning Fibre Statement to ISPreview

Our network is now mostly completed in Eastbourne, Hailsham, Heathfield, Hastings, Polegate and Tenterden, and our roll out will now slow down considerably.

We regret the redundancies that this decision has necessitated.

Whilst we operate in a highly-competitive and cost-sensitive market, we are continuing to grow both our network and our customer base, providing great value and service to our residential and business users.

We remain a committed local employer and our HQ will remain fully operational in Polegate, with our commercial teams (sales, installs, customer services) remaining based in Eastbourne.

According to our sources, Lightning Fibre may now be using the contractor ‘Nets‘ to continue their build going forward, albeit clearly at a slower pace. This is perhaps not a particularly surprisingly development, given the currently very difficult trading environment for many alternative networks. But that will come as little consolation to those who are either about to be out of work or have already gone.

Regular readers will know that a growing number of network operators, both big and small alike, have over the past couple of years moved to slow their network deployments (resulting in job losses) and switched their focus toward growing take-up to ensure some future stability. Such moves are a prudent course of action in the current climate of rising build costs and high interest rates, which makes it harder to raise fresh investment.

Interview

As the telecoms industry gradually moves towards tackling Scope 3 emissions and the wider challenge of sustainability, Unipart Logistics’ Steve Carter discusses making the supply chain more circular at Connected Britain 2024

You can view our full interview below!

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News

The deal covers over 6,000 towers across all 50 states and Washington D.C.

Verizon has announced this week that it intends to sell the rights to lease, operate, and manage 6,339 mobile towers to infrastructure giant Vertical Bridge.

The towers, which are reportedly located across the US, are currently owned by various Verizon subsidiaries and have a collective value of $3.3 billion.

Upfront proceeds from the deal are expected to total around $2.8 billion in cash.

As is typical of tower infrastructure divestments, the deal will see Verizon become the anchor tenant on the towers, with a 10-year deal to lease back capacity on the infrastructure and options to increase this term up to 50 years.

“As the nation’s largest mobility provider, we are well positioned with greater financial flexibility to invest in our business, return value to our shareholders and make the nation’s best network even better for customers,” said Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg. “This transaction builds on our existing relationship with Vertical Bridge while realizing substantial value for this unique set of assets and allows us to be agile in optimizing the network with one of the best operating partners.”

The deal is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to the typical regulatory approvals.

Vertical Bridge is already the largest independent mobile infrastructure provider in the US, with over 500,000 sites across the country.

Join thousands of telecoms professionals to discuss the latest developments in the US telecoms market at Connected America 2025

Also in the news:
Meta resumes use of UK user posts to train its AI models
Verizon’s 4,800 job cuts will cost over $1.9 billion
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News 

A final decision on the merger is expected by the end of the year 

This week, Vodafone and Three have published a joint statement on the company’s merger in response to a statement from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) earlier this month, which outlined its provisional findings. 

Following a second probe earlier this month, the CMA once again raised concerns that the deal could lead to higher prices and reduced service quality for millions of UK mobile customers. Specifically, it related to three key areas: 

Potential price increases
Impact on Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), such as Sky Mobile or Lyca Mobile
Uncertainties over on network quality claims

At the time, the CMA said, “we will now consider how Vodafone and Three might address our concerns about the likely impact of the merger on retail and wholesale customers while securing the potential longer-term benefits of the merger, including by guaranteeing future network investments.” 

Today, the two companies have responded to the CMA’s findings, saying they disagree with its conclusions and arguing the “merger will be pro-growth, pro-customer, pro-investment and pro-competitive for the UK”.  

“It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform UK digital infrastructure,” the companies continued 

The companies have proposed solutions to address the CMA’s concerns, including a legal commitment to invest £11 billion in the UK’s network, which will be overseen by Ofcom. They also plan to sell part of their spectrum and enter a network-sharing agreement with Virgin Media O2 (VMO2), which they say will benefit over 50 million customers across the country. 

In response to worries about price increases, Vodafone and Three have pledged to keep tariffs at £10 or lower for two years on the SMARTY brand and on social tariffs for the VOXI and SMARTY brands. On the wholesale front, they will offer more access to their network for mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) to ensure better deals for customers. 

While these pledges are sure to go some way towards reassuring the CMA, whether they will ultimately be enough remains to be seen. Vodafone and Three have long said that the merger would enable them to invest £11 billion in their infrastructure, so making that a legal pledge does not seem to be a major change. Similarly, promises to keep tariffs below £10 on some of their budget brands for two years is promising, but does not represent a long-term fix for consumer affordability. 

Nonetheless, Vodafone and Three say they will continue to work closely with the CMA, and “remain confident that they can secure approval”.  

A final decision on the merger is expected by 7 December. 

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

Also in the news:
Meta resumes use of UK user posts to train its AI models
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News

The deal includes the creation of a “Korea-customised” AI model based on OpeAI’s GPT-4o 

South Korean telco Korea Telecom (KT) and Microsoft have announced a five-year, multibillion-dollar partnership to drive AI innovation across the country. The collaboration will bring AI-powered solutions to over 650,000 businesses and 17 million consumers, with a focus on industries such as finance, healthcare, and education, the companies have said. 

A key aspect of the partnership is the development of AI models tailored specifically for the Korean market. KT and Microsoft will collaborate on a localised version of OpenAI’s GPT-4o, which will use KT’s data to create AI solutions for both consumer-facing and enterprise applications. These models will be developed through Microsoft’s Copilot Studio and Azure AI Studio. 

The two companies will also launch sovereign cloud services for Korea’s public sector and regulated industries. KT’s “Secure Public Cloud,” built on Microsoft’s Cloud for Sovereignty, will help businesses and government agencies follow data security rules while using the latest AI and cloud technology. 

“The partnership with Microsoft presents a pivotal opportunity, not only for technological collaboration but also for expanding Korea’s AI foundation and driving transformative innovation across industries and daily life,” said KT CEO Young-Shub Kim in a press release. “Leveraging this strategic partnership, we aim to rapidly evolve into an AICT company with unparalleled competitiveness in domestic and global markets.”. 

“We will help accelerate the AI transformation of Korean organizations across the private and public sector and build new AI-powered experiences for millions of consumers,” echoed Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella. 

To help businesses adopt AI, KT will launch a new company that focuses on delivering Microsoft-powered AI solutions to enterprises, which is set to later expand into the wider Southeast Asian market. Microsoft will provide support and consulting to build the company over the next three years.  

KT and Microsoft will also set up a co-innovation center to boost AI research in South Korea. This center will help businesses develop new AI solutions and will support AI startups to drive innovation across the company. 

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

Also in the news:
Meta resumes use of UK user posts to train its AI models
Verizon’s 4,800 job cuts will cost over $1.9 billion
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Alternative broadband provider Pulse Fibre, which is aiming to complete over 250,000 unique “full fibre” (FTTP) connections into new build dwellings and MDUs (here), has today announced that they’ve signed a new deal with property developer Cavanna Homes to extend their service and cover new build homes in Dorset.

The first Cavanna Homes site to benefit from this will be the new development at Warmwell Rise (Crossways, Dorchester) in Dorset (England), which currently starting to build 140 energy-efficient homes. The deal means that new homeowners will be able to enjoy instant internet access as soon as they move in via the new 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network.

Nathan, Head of Business Development at Pulse Fibre, added: “We’re thrilled to partner with Cavanna Homes to bring high-speed fibre connectivity to new homes in Dorset. Together, we’re enhancing the modern living experience, ensuring that every home is equipped with reliable, future-proof technology from day one.”

Prices for the service typically start at £30 per month for speeds of 100Mbps on a 12-month term (a £29.99 one-off setup fee applies), which rises to £60 for their top 1000Mbps tier. A social tariff is also available, which we believe still costs £18 per month for 100Mbps on a monthly term (they don’t make the details clear for this on their website).

Interview

At this year’s Connected Britain, we caught up with TP-Link’s ISP Presales Director Paul Howard to discuss the enormous impact Wi-Fi 7 is having on the connected home sector

Our interview covers everything from the latest technologies to the relationship between Wi-Fi and WAN, and the ongoing evolution of the connected home.

Check out our full interview here!

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

Also in the news:
Meta resumes use of UK user posts to train its AI models
Verizon’s 4,800 job cuts will cost over $1.9 billion
CMA questions Vodafone–Three merger after second probe

Customers of UK broadband ISP Virgin Media (O2), specifically those who also take their pay TV service and have kids, may like to know that the provider will be offering free access to children’s TV channels throughout the whole of October 2024 “as a way of saying thank you to customers and helping to keep families entertained throughout the month“.

In other words, from Tuesday 1st October until 6am on 31st October 2024, all Virgin TV customers will be given access to additional kids TV channels including Sky Kids, Cartoon Network, Boomerang HD, Cartoonito HD, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nick Jr. Too and Nicktoons. All shows will also be available on demand.

The premium channels are normally part of the paid ‘Kids TV Pick‘, which is priced at £5 per month.

David Bouchier, Chief TV & Entertainment Officer at VMO2, said:

“With half-term fast approaching, we’re offering a helping hand to keep the whole family entertained throughout October, by giving our customers access to a host of premium kids and teen TV channels at no extra cost.

Virgin TV is all about bringing together brilliant entertainment, and this is part of our commitment to give our customers access to a range of top-quality TV all year round so there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”

Network operator Brsk, which is in the process of being merged into Netomnia (here), are facing an investigation by Ofcom after the regulator suggested that the operator may have “failed to comply with its obligations” under Code Powers during the roll-out of new “telegraph poles” as part of their new full fibre (FTTP) broadband ISP network in Birmingham.

The operator, which has already reached 633,000 homes, is currently building out its new network across parts of West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, and the West Midlands (Birmingham and The Black Country). Much of this work has involved the deployment of wood poles to run overhead fibre, which is a common practice, albeit one that has attracted a fair few complaints over the past few years (a lot of people find them ugly, particularly when deployed in areas that haven’t had them before).

Such poles are quick and cost-effective to build, can be deployed in areas where there may be no space or access agreement to safely put new underground cables, are less disruptive (avoiding the noise, access restrictions and damage to pavements of street works) and can be built under Permitted Development (PD) rights with only minimal prior notice. But it’s the last one in this list that seems to be causing problems for brsk today.

Ofcom states that, following a complaint, they have opened an investigation into “whether BRSK failed to comply with its obligations under the ECC Regulations to consult with, and provide 28 days’ written notice to, a local planning authority before installing telegraph poles in the Birmingham area.”

Ofcom’s Statement

In May 2024, Ofcom received a complaint and supporting evidence which gave Ofcom reasonable grounds to suspect that BRSK may have breached Regulation 3(1)(b) and/or Regulation 5(1) of the Regulations when installing telecommunications poles to build its broadband network in the Birmingham City area.

Ofcom takes compliance with the Regulations very seriously. Meaningfully engaging with local planning authorities prior to installing network apparatus is an important element of the regulatory framework, not least because it enables the planning authority to bring relevant local considerations to the Code Operator’s attention and set appropriate conditions governing the installation of apparatus. Failure to follow the process set by the Regulations can therefore increase the risk of apparatus adversely impacting on the visual amenity of properties and posing hazards.

Ofcom’s investigation will examine whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that BRSK has failed to comply with Regulation 3(1)(b) and/or Regulation 5(1) of the Regulations when exercising its rights as a Code Operator under the Electronic Communications Code.

We will provide an update on this investigation in due course.

At present, we don’t have any details on the case itself beyond Ofcom’s vague overview, but we have asked Brsk to comment (they are working on that response now). The government has recently been signalling that they wanted to “end the deployment of unnecessary telegraph poles” (here), although Ofcom has warned that its powers are very limited in this area (here).

However, it would be very unusual for an operator not to notify a local planning authority about such deployments, and thus we don’t expect Ofcom’s probe to result in any major shifts for the wider industry. But we don’t yet have all of the key details or know the scale of this specific breach. Not to mention that this is the first such complaint we’ve seen, which means it still has the potential for setting a new precedent.