Eastbourne-based alternative network and UK ISP Lightning Fibre has announced that they’ve just connected their first customer in the seaside town of Worthing (West Sussex) to FTTP broadband. This is part of their recently agreed expansion (here) to harness CityFibre’s existing network across the Brighton & Hove and Worthing areas.

The operator has also built their own full fibre network across a number of locations like Eastbourne, Hastings, Hailsham, St Leonard’s, Heathfield and more. But Lightning Fibre’s own build has recently slowed down “considerably” and they’ve had to make redundancies after a turbulent year (here). The focus now is thus more on growing take-up within their existing areas of coverage, while also expanding via some of CityFibre’s areas.

Lightning Fibre’s Consumer packages (including social tariff) in their CityFibre based areas will remain broadly the same (price etc.) as their current plans. Prices for the service start at £26 per month for their 150Mbps package on a 24-month term and rise to £39 for their 1Gbps tier. The provider also offers a 2Gbps+ package for £99, but this is currently only available to their own-build areas and not via CityFibre.

In a separate development, the ISP has revealed that one of their customers just won a full year of free broadband service (as well as a special food hamper) after successfully referring 12 new customers to the provider via their ‘Refer a Friend‘ scheme.

Existing customers of UK mobile operator Vodafone, specifically those who take their Pay As You Go 1 plan, have been informed that the daily cost of the service will increase by 100% – from £1 to £2 – on 11th December 2024. The cost of data (broadband) usage per 50MB (charged after the first 250kb) is also rising from £1 to £2!

Just to be clear. Vodafone’s PAYG1 plan currently charges just £1 on the days you use your phone (£0 if you don’t use it), which grants access to the following allowances until midnight of each day (unlimited minutes, calls and just 50 MegaBytes of data). This is quite expensive when compared with many entry-level Pay Monthly or other PAYG plans, but it makes sense for infrequent mobile users who are unlikely to be going online.

Sadly, customers recently got somewhat of a shock when they received the following text message (credits to Steve for sharing with ISPreview): “Hello. We hope you’re enjoying your flexible Pay as you go 1 plan. From 11 December 2024 the cost of Pay as you go 1 will be changing from £1 to £2 a day. This applies only to the days you use your phone, where you’ll get unlimited minutes and texts plus 50MB data. For further info, visit vodafone.co.uk/2024-change.”

Increasing the price of such a plan by 100% represents a major change, one what would appear to make the plan significantly less attractive for its customers, which we suspect may be part of Vodafone’s intention (i.e. pushing customers toward their newer plans). But naturally, Vodafone’s price change page puts a different spin on things: “Changes to our Pay as you go 1 pricing are necessary to allow us to continue offering ultimate flexibility on our reliable, award-winning network.”

The operator states that they’ve given all impacted customers 30 days’ notice and the right to leave your agreement: “If you want to exercise your right to leave, you’ll need to tell us within that 30-day period. If no action is taken within the 30-day period, the new Pay as you go 1 charge will take effect from 10 December 2024.”

Alternative broadband ISP Airband, which was aiming to cover 400,000 premises in rural parts of Wales and South West England via a mix of fixed wireless access (FWA) and full fibre (FTTP) networks by 2026, appears to have quietly introduced symmetric speeds to their fibre packages for new customers. New subscribers can also get 6 months of free service.

Until recently the provider only offered asymmetric speeds, which for example meant that their 150Mbps package came with a slower upload rate of 50Mbps, while their top 900Mbps tier offered an upload of 200Mbps. But one of ISPreview’s readers (credits to William) helped us to spot that they recently upgraded their full fibre plans to offer symmetric speeds at no extra cost (i.e. same top speed both ways).

In addition, Airband recently started running an early Black Friday discount that offers the first 6 months of broadband service for free to new customers, which applies to both their FTTP and FWA packages – this makes for a significant cost saving.

A spokesperson for Airband told ISPreview:

“We introduced the change in early September and are working to migrate existing customers to symmetrical speeds. Any customers who are wanting to upgrade their speeds can give us a call and the team will implement for them.”

The operator currently claims to have brought “superfast connectivity access” to 315,000 UK premises in over 200 communities across 7 counties (here). But we believe this reflects 230,000 RFS premises (Ready for Service) and combines both their wireless and full fibre deployments (they also have 19,000 customers). We think upwards of 220k premises from that 315k total are being catered for solely by FTTP.

The latest move could perhaps be seen as part of Airband’s efforts to improve take-up of their service(s), which follows after a period of restructuring that disrupted some builds and caused redundancies (here and here). But since then, the operator has been able to secure additional investment from abrdn to “accelerate rural broadband expansion” across the West of England (here).

A recent study from Source Advisors has revealed that the UK ranks 8th globally in “telecommunication innovation” with 1.85% of telecom patents filings since 2010. But it also calls on the UK government to improve this by adopting an intellectual property strategy to compete with global telecoms leaders.

The report analysed filings that are either granted and active or currently patent pending, therefore excluding any expired or lapsed patents or patent applications. Patents (and patent applications) are often seen as a “useful indicator of the R&D direction for a given sector“, which offers an insight into the density of innovative activity.

However, the UK’s 1.85% share of telecoms related patent filings since 2010 could be improved, particularly with neighbouring Germany delivering 4.08%. But the US and China continue to dominate the space, with over three-fifths of global telecoms patent filings.

The fear is that a lack of action from the UK government on closing the above gap could increase the risk of being overtaken in telecoms technology patents by close neighbours, such as France (1.62% of global patent filings) and Italy (1.13%).

Luke Hamm, Managing Director at Source Advisors, said:

“Now the election is over and the new government gets down to business, the headline-grabbing commitment to economic growth now must take shape in actual policy. There are choices to be made on what we want to be famous for and how the legal, and regulatory framework complements this, as well as how fiscal incentives will drive greater levels of investment.”

Top 10 Countries by Sector Based Patent Filings

 
Automotive
Telecoms
AI

1
China
USA
China

2
USA
China
USA

3
Japan
Japan
Korea

4
Germany
Korea
Japan

5
Korea
EPO
EPO

6
EPO
Germany
India

7
France
India
Germany

8
India
Great Britain
Great Britain

9
Great Britain
France
France

10
Italy
Italy
Taiwan

Odine, a global technology partner specializing in sustainable network transformation, is pleased to announce its participation in a new TÜBİTAK-approved R&D project, supported by the European Commission’s Eureka – CELTIC-Next cluster. 

This project focuses on developing innovative automation technologies for 6G networks, in collaboration with leading European technology companies, international universities, research institutes, and Türkiye’s foremost mobile operator. The initiative aims to transform network automation through the application of Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture and advanced Machine Learning (ML) techniques.  

Alper Tunga Burak, CEO of Odine, emphasized the importance of this project, stating: “This initiative aligns with Odine’s global growth strategy. Our focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning as essential components of future network infrastructure will not only increase efficiency and flexibility but will accelerate the development of self-managing systems. These technologies are critical to shaping the future of 6G networks. We are proud to contribute to this project, which is set to redefine the technology landscape and further strengthen Odine’s global presence. Advancements like these are vital for understanding where the industry is headed and guiding it in the right direction.” 

The project is expected to play a significant role in transforming the industry by enabling self-regulating networks through the use of O-RAN architecture and machine learning techniques. Odine will develop next-generation ML algorithms designed to enhance network performance, maximize efficiency, and enable networks to dynamically configure and optimize themselves. This initiative will also allow for the simultaneous operation of multiple ML models, ensuring the effective management of conflicting decisions. The goal is to establish Self-Organizing Networks (SoN) powered by AI and ML, capable of autonomously detecting and resolving network issues, greatly enhancing performance and operational efficiency. 

Angola Cables has announced the establishment of TelCables Europe to operate as its European subsidiary and to support its growing international global network. Beyond acting as a digital bridge to connect to other Portuguese speaking countries across the world, TelCables Europe will offer a wide range of digital solutions, including peering, Cloud services and interconnectivity solutions to customers across Europe and the Mediterranean.

As part of this initiative, and through an agreement with Start Campus, the company will also be establishing a new point of presence at the carrier neutral, SINES DC facility, Europe’s largest and most sustainable data center development.

Samuel Carvalho, Chief Marketing Officer for Angola Cables, said that Portugal is fast evolving into an important digital hub for connectivity and data traffic inbound to Europe and outbound from Europe to the world. Given its modern data center infrastructure, established terrestrial networks and proximity in Southwest Europe to existing subsea cables, the SINES DC facility is already becoming one of the most important continental exchange points in Portugal and Europe.

“Strategically, it makes sense for us to have a presence and PoP in Europe as we have easy access to EllaLink and our Monet and SACS cables, taking data traffic to and from Europe to the US, South America and Africa. The unique location and advanced facilities at SINES DC provide an ideal environment for TelCables Europe to operate and innovate,” notes Carvalho.

“From Sines we are able to connect customers to more than 66 other data centers across the world, over 40 PoPs in Europe and over 400 connected Clouds through our 100G scalable, ultra-low latency global network. We can also give more customers and businesses alternative and diversified redundancy routing options to Africa, the Middle East and the Americas through our owned subsea cable and partner networks.” Angola Cables already delivers, low latency connections and IP Transit services from Europe to the USA and South America through its partnership on the EllaLink cable.

“With our Atlantic ring of cables – including Monet, SACS and WACS – we offer multiple redundancy options and capacity for businesses reliant on efficient, low latency international connectivity.”

Robert Dunn, Chief Executive Officer of Start Campus, said that the inclusion of Angola Cables and TelCables Europe to their expanding portfolio of  network service providers available on site further strengthens SINES DC’s connectivity options for customers and clients seeking to connect to markets in Brazil, Africa and beyond.

Angelo Gama, CEO of Angola Cables says that TelCables Europe is a logical step in the expansion of its international network and services as Portugal is the gateway to Europe.  By 2026, it is anticipated that the 22 submarine cables presently landing in Portugal will extend to 124 cable landing stations worldwide, establishing direct cable connections to 75 countries across five continents, consolidating Portugal’s leading position as the only country that directly connects via deep sea cables to all inhabited continents.

“As the most interconnected network operator in Africa*, we believe that we can play a dynamic role in strengthening connectivity and partnerships between Africa, Europe and the rest of the world, connecting not just the Portuguese speaking world, but bringing continents and countries together through more efficient, more flexible and more secure digital connectivity options,” said Gama.

News 

The partnership is aimed at boost 5G development, innovation, and digital transformation across the Africa nation 

The Nigerian government has signed an agreement with Ericsson to collaborate on developing and deploying 5G technology. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed during a government visit to Ericsson’s headquarters in Stockholm late last week, led by Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima. 

Ericsson has been operating in Nigeria since 1978, helping to deploy networks, including the country’s first mobile network in 2001. Now, this new partnership aims to support Nigeria’s telecoms sector entry into the 5G era, improving public services and driving economic progress.  

The MoU includes plans for knowledge-sharing, establishing innovation hubs, and boosting digital skills in Nigeria, although specific commitments and financial details of the partnership were not disclosed. 

At the signing, Vice President Shettima was joined by key government figures, including Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani and Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, alongside other senior officials. The delegation was hosted by Patrick Johansson, Ericsson’s Head of Middle East and Africa, who highlighted Ericsson’s leadership in 5G and its potential to enhance Nigeria’s digital competitiveness. 

“It was an honor to show the Vice President, and his delegation colleagues, Ericsson’s leadership in 5G and technology capabilities at first-hand. We look forward to working in close partnership with the Nigerian government to develop the innovation potential of 5G for Nigerian businesses, citizens and for national digital competitiveness,” said Johnson in a statement.  

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

Also in the news:

Singtel becomes latest telco to launch AI cloud services
South Korean telcos accused of collusion, may face fines of $4bn
Hexatronic: Innovation will be needed to reach rural customers

The UK media and telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today published a new letter that they recently sent to broadband and phone providers. The letter confirms their intention to decommission the old consumer ISP switching system (NoT+) on 24th October this week in favour of their new One Touch Switching (OTS) system, which is said to be “working well“.

In case anybody has forgotten, OTS, which aims to make it both quicker and easier for consumers to switch between broadband and phone providers (even on physically separate UK networks), was finally introduced on 12th September 2024 after significant implementation delays (it was originally supposed to launch on 3rd April 2023).

However, the launch also recognised that the centralised messaging platform for OTS, which was being implemented by the industry-led One Touch Switching Company (TOTSCo), still needed to improve the success rate of its “matching process” (i.e. ensuring that customer switches are correctly verified and migrated between providers). In response, Ofcom opted to temporarily retain the old NoT+ migration process (Notification of Transfer) – until 24th October 2024 – to act as a fallback for OTS failures.

The ISPs we speak with tell us that TOTSCo’s messaging platform and support is still far from perfect (stronger words are often used), although recent updates have shown a marked improvement since it went live (here). The new letter, which was published today but formally issued on 11th October 2024, acknowledges that “there remain some issues with matching of customer details across providers“, but it also says the “system overall is working well for the vast majority of customers“. As a result, Ofcom is not planning to retain NoT+ past this week’s deadline.

Ofcom’s Letter to Comms Providers – 11th Oct 2024

Full implementation of One Touch Switch

I am writing to update you on Ofcom’s position regarding the use of the enhanced Notification of Transfer (NoT+) functionality in light of One Touch Switch (OTS) going live on 12 September 2024.
In my letter of 4 September 2024 I explained that we considered it would be appropriate to retain the existing NoT+ functionality for a limited period of six-weeks beyond 12 September 2024. I have now written to Openreach, KCOM and wholesalers who operate NoT+ to confirm that NoT+ should be decommissioned on 24 October as planned.

During this exceptional six week transition period, OTS is the switching process to use for all switches and providers are only allowed to consider using the back-up NoT+ process when it is not technically possible to proceed with the switch through OTS. While there remain some issues with matching of customer details across providers, the OTS system overall is working well for the vast majority of customers looking to switch their broadband and landline services. Removing NoT+ also enables faster, easier switching for customers and treats customers switching across networks equally.

Since 3 April 2023, OTS is the only switching process for residential customers switching fixed services which is compliant with Ofcom’s General Conditions. NoT+ was in place on an exceptional basis as an interim measure until OTS was fully implemented. We expect all communications providers in scope of OTS to ensure full compliance with our switching rules going forwards. As previously announced, our ongoing enforcement programme will review the conduct of all industry participants since our statement in 2021. It will now also closely monitor compliance with our General Conditions in order to determine whether it is appropriate to open investigations into individual providers.

As you may be aware I have asked the Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator to work closely with industry to improve the OTS matching success rate and we expect that work to continue, as well as your full cooperation with the OTA2.

Yours sincerely,

Cristina Luna-Esteban – Director, Telecoms Policy
Ian Strawhorne – Director, Enforcement

In short, the regulator isn’t giving ISPs any additional chances to get things right.

News

The transaction is part of UScellular’s ongoing efforts to monetise its remaining spectrum assets, having sold the majority of its wireless operations to T-Mobile earlier this year 

UScellular has reached a $1 billion agreement with Verizon to sell part of its spectrum holdings, the company has announced. 

The deal includes spectrum licences in the 850 MHz band, as well as AWS (Advanced Wireless Services; i.e., 695–2200 MHz) and PCS (Personal Communications Services; i.e.,1850–1995 MHz) licenses.  

The sale is subject to regulatory approvals and other standard conditions. 

In addition to this agreement with Verizon, UScellular has struck deals with two additional unnamed mobile carriers to sell more spectrum, including licenses in the CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service; i.e., 3550–3700 MHz), C-Band, and 700 MHz bands.  

“We are pleased that significant value for a portion of the remaining licenses will be realized,” said Laurent C. Therivel, President and CEO of UScellular in a press release.  

“And, importantly, that these agreements with multiple mobile network operators ensure that this spectrum will be put to work for consumers throughout the country. We are continuing the process to opportunistically monetize the remaining spectrum assets not included in today’s announcement.” 

The sale has already been approved by UScellular’s majority shareholder, Telephone and Data Systems (TDS), which owns 82% of the company. Financial advice for the deal was provided by Citigroup and Centerview Partners LLC, amongst others. 

All of these transactions hinge on the closing of UScellular’s sale of wireless operations and select assets to T-Mobile, which was announced earlier this year. T-Mobile is set to acquire the majority of UScellular’s wireless operations, including its customers, retail stores, and around 30% of the company’s spectrum holdings, for $4.4 billion. 

“In the face of rising competition and increasing capital intensity required to keep pace with the latest technologies, and following our careful and deliberate strategic review, we are confident that continuing to deliver on our mission requires a level of scale and investment that is best achieved by integrating our wireless operations with those of T-Mobile.” said said LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr., Chair of the Board of Directors of UScellular at the time. 

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

Also in the news:
Singtel becomes latest telco to launch AI cloud services
South Korean telcos accused of collusion, may face fines of $4bn
Hexatronic: Innovation will be needed to reach rural customers