The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today moved to strengthen their existing rules against the use of “fake phone numbers” and “spoofed calls“, which involves a proposal for phone providers (fixed line and mobile) to introduce stricter measures against “Presentation Numbers” that are used to identify who is making a call. Most of the major […]

Viewpoint

Dan Bloch, Senior Vice President of Global Solutions at Calix, shares his insights on how independent fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) providers can win the customer acquisition battle and unleash their brand’s potential. 

Independent and alternative network operators, or altnets, will play a key role in building out a modern digital infrastructure. As altnets continue to construct fibre networks, they are also expanding their focus to subscriber acquisition—and for good reason.

“A fibre network is an amazing community asset, especially in areas that have been traditionally under-served or ignored altogether,” says Bloch. “When these networks are built using public funds, the return on investment is the building of the infrastructure itself, and success is measured by how many homes are passed. But when private funding comes into play, investors want to see financial returns. Their measure of success is defined by profitability and long-term monetisation, and the first step towards that is to connect as many homes as possible.”

Building a Winning Brand

How can altnets adapt their business models to make this shift successfully? According to Bloch, it’s all about the brand. The first step is to build brand awareness and trust that will attract and retain subscribers with value-added offerings once the network is deployed. To date, this has taken a backseat to building the actual network.

“Most altnets I’ve spoken with have been initially focused on homes passed as their funding was targeted on network build. Adding subscribers took a backseat in terms of focus and now we are seeing that situation turn around as generating revenue is mandatory to ensure continued operations of the business. While intentions were always there, in reality, everything needs to happen in parallel,” says Bloch.

Just as important as adding subscribers is the ability to deliver on the brand’s promise at each customer touchpoint. This consistency will result in a strong, sustainable that will provide a competitive differentiator in an industry plagued by poor customer satisfaction: the average Net Promoter Score (NPS) for altnets in the United Kingdom is a dismal 12*.

“Users’ experiences are defined by how they use the networks, what they are doing while they are on them,” explains Bloch. He compares the network to a brand-new motorway with many lanes to accommodate a lot of traffic. He notes that in fact, like the Autobahn, the fibre network is capable of much higher speeds than other roads. But the driving experience is associated with the car they’re steering, rather than the road they’re on.

“No one driving on it knows which companies were involved in building it,” he says. “It is simply the roadway that enables the driver’s experience, which is largely dictated by the car they are in. For the builders of the motorway, they get no brand equity for that experience.”

While the natural inclination is to address this by focusing on speed and pricing, the results of a 2023 Calix survey of service providers indicate that this may not be the right strategy. Most subscribers purchase half a gigabit or less, which implies that speed is simply not enough of a differentiator.

Going Beyond Connectivity To Exceed Subscriber Expectations

Instead, successful altnets making a splash in the market are customising the in-home subscriber experience by offering value-added services coupled with a persona mindset. That means appealing to consumers based on what they care about. And it seems that subscribers are willing to pay for this level of personalisation. According to an Omdia Digital Consumer Insights Survey, subscribers in the United Kingdom said they would pay extra for:

Work-from-home service and plans (55%)
Cybersecurity options (51%)
Advanced Wi-Fi management capabilities (45%)
Tech support for all connected devices (43%)
Prioritised video streaming (40%)
A better gaming experience (35%)

A unified broadband platform, such as Calix Cloud, that enables you to partner with known entities to deliver third-party, value-added services and grow your business is key, says Bloch. “Your platform must deliver the capabilities you need to sustain service delivery, keep operating costs at bay, and engage with subscribers to attract, retain, and nurture these relationships.”

This includes services for small businesses currently leveraging enterprise offerings that may not meet their unique needs. Altnets made the investment to pull fibre into areas that are made up of homes, businesses, and communities. To maximise the return on investment, every possible endpoint should be connected to that infrastructure to increase network penetration and revenue.

Altnets don’t need to spend millions of dollars on advertising to achieve success either, emphasises Bloch. For example, the Calix platform provides a content marketing toolkit that includes award-winning marketing content with more than 5,000 pieces of digital content that can be branded with the broadband service provider’s logo and colour scheme to help them drive successful campaigns.

Bloch underscored the changing landscape and opportunities it provides for altnets, likening it to his company’s own journey over the past two decades. “Calix has evolved from a network-first focus to a more holistic approach that places value-added services and persona-based marketing at the forefront of the subscriber experience,” he says. “We are committed to this win-win strategy that will help altnets drive acquisition, growth, and retention.”

*Source: Ofcom report UKRN: Moving Forward Together – Performance Scorecards 2021.

Dan Bloch, SVP Global Solutions at Calix

Dan.bloch@calix.com

LinkedIn

Customers of BT’s Redcare division, which supplies monitored alarm signalling systems to UK homes and businesses that enable fire, security and more to be monitored over a secure network, have informed ISPreview that the telecoms operator has communicated their plans to close the Redcare service on 1st August 2025. According to the “Important notice” sent […]

Broadband and telecoms giant BT Group has today posted a short trading update for the last quarter to December 2023, which reveals that Openreach expanded the UK coverage of their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband ISP network by another 950,000 premises (up from 860k last quarter) to total 13 million passed. Take note that the BT […]

A new Opinium survey of 4,000 UK adults, which was commissioned by Uswitch, has claimed that 44% of renters – who typically move home more frequently than any other group – remain locked into 18-24 month contracts with their broadband provider and 23% had to pay exit fees to leave their ISP when their tenancy […]

News 

Tesco Mobile was formed as a joint venture by supermarket giant Tesco and Telefonica UK (O2) back in 2003 

Today, Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) and Tesco  have announced a ten-year renewal of their ongoing partnership surrounding joint venture Tesco Mobile. 

Tesco Mobile was formed twenty-one years ago as a joint venture between the two companies and has since become the largest mobile virtual network operator (MNVO) in the UK, with over 5.5 million customers. In 2022, the business reported a 9.4% increase in sales to £970 million. 

According to VMO2’s press release, 99% of the population is covered by the operator’s 4G services. As a MVNO, Tesco Mobile does not own a spectrum license itself, but instead sells its mobile services using VMO2’s extensive mobile network. 

“With demand for mobile data greater than ever, we’re continuing to invest heavily in our network to give our customers, and those of other providers who use our connectivity, an even better experience with the fast and reliable mobile services they expect and rely on,” said Lutz Schüler, CEO of VMO2. 

“This renewal will ensure that our customers can continue to benefit from excellent connectivity across the UK, while enjoying all the benefits of supermarket mobile, including exclusive deals with Clubcard Prices,” said Tesco CEO Jonathan Taylor. 

Back in 2015, Tesco was preparing to sell its stake in the mobile unit in an effort to cut its debt pile, which at the time stood at £22 billion. However, this did not materialise. 

Catch up with Virgin Media O2 at this year’s Connected North Event – 22-23 April in Manchester. Book your tickets today! 

Also in the news:
EE dominates RootMetrics benchmarking study but loses 5G crown to Three
FCC updates spectrum rules to facilitate broadband access on ships and aircraft
UK government strikes deal with Vodafone over e& security concerns

HAUD AND ORANGE FORGE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO BOOST INTERNATIONAL A2P MONETISATION AND ENHANCE MESSAGING PROTECTION

Uppsala Sweden – HAUD, a leading telecommunications security company, has officially announced a transformative strategic partnership with Orange Wholesale commitment to identify, address, and mitigate revenue leakage across all channels within the Orange group, ensuring sustained protection and revenue growth across the entire portfolio of Orange operating companies worldwide.

As part of this long-term partnership, HAUD is set to deliver a comprehensive suite of services, to bolster Orange’s A2P Monetisation business. These services encompass vulnerability testing assessments, strategic consulting, and award winning security software deployment throughout the Orange group. HAUDs mission is clear – to fortify the identification and prevention of A2P revenue leakage across diverse messaging channels, securing and optimizing the A2P Monetisation ecosystem.

“The partnership with HAUD signifies a strategic move towards fortifying the integrity of our messaging platforms and maximizing revenue generation. HAUDs solutions ensure we can maximize revenue from our messaging platforms in partnership with our operating companies and affiliates, solidifying our commitment to providing secure and innovative services,” said Cedric Gonin, VP Global Business Support at Orange Wholesale.

The Smart Ecosystem is meticulously designed to prioritize the protection of subscribers and systems, against potential threats while ensuring sustainable, scalable revenue streams. By embarking on this strategic journey with Orange Wholesale, HAUD reinforces its commitment to pioneering advancements in telecommunication messaging security. The partnership marks a pivotal step towards fortifying messaging protection and maximising the value derived from A2P Monetisation initiatives within the global telecom landscape, “said Erik Angelow, CEO at HAUD.

 

For further information, please contact:

Emily Morgan

emily.morgan@haud.com

 

About HAUD

HAUD stands as a distinguished leader in telecommunications security, dedicated to serving global Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). Our comprehensive expertise spans a suite of award winning solutions, including A2P Monetization, Messaging Protection and Security, Messaging assurance, and SMS and Messaging Firewalls. 

With an unwavering commitment to empowering our clients, HAUD facilitates the imperative to “Stay in Control” of network dynamics, wholesale revenue, and overall customer experience. As the enduring and trusted partner for telecom operators and messaging partners worldwide, HAUD delivers cutting-edge services that redefine the benchmarks of telecommunications security.

Press Release

Over 150,000 premises in south and east London do not have access to high speed – Gigabit capable – internet connections

Contrary to perception, hundreds of thousands of addresses in London are affected by slow digital connectivity, causing digital inequalities that impede the lives of people and businesses.

The ‘Sub-regional Digital Infrastructure Strategy’ launched today by Local London and the South London Partnership, identifies gaps in 14 south and east London boroughs. It includes recommendations for driving up the quality and accessibility of services in them and will help channel investment to areas of economic opportunity.

There are over 103,000 premises in Local London and 53,000 South London Partnership unable to obtain a Gigabit capable broadband service with many sitting in a ‘not spot,’ unable to receive even a 30 Mbps service.

Mapping out the digitally poor postcodes, the strategy highlights best practices, learning and actions that the public and private sector can take together to build world-leading digital infrastructure for some of the fastest growing parts of London.

Commissioned by the Mayor of London’s Infrastructure Coordination Service, the ‘Sub-regional Digital Infrastructure Strategy’ is part of a wider pilot which will deliver an interactive mapping tool and an online digital toolkit that will assist borough officers to deliver digital infrastructure to their sites and leverage additional commercial digital infrastructure investment in the sub-regions.

The ‘Sub-regional Digital Infrastructure Strategy’ provides a compelling argument for actively pursuing digital investment along with step-by-step guidance to public sector officers to attract investment and promote better quality and more accessible services, including:

Map and statistics illustrating clearly where poor digital infrastructure issues lie.
Recommendations for public sector resourcing and roles, industry engagement, procurement options and commercial models, and key components of a successful delivery strategy.
Case studies and examples from across the UK demonstrating successful ways of working and benefits gained.
The strategic, commercial, financial, management case and options analysis.

Theo Blackwell MBE, Chief Digital Officer, Greater London Authority said “Widely available, easily accessible digital connectivity is essential for people to reach public services and is key to helping cities grow through driving innovation and the creation of new businesses.

“Yet there are still parts of London that suffer from a lack of commercial investment in digital infrastructure, and this results in gaps in internet coverage or ‘not spots’.

“We must address these gaps and drive the up the quality and accessibility of the services that are already available, to help the capital to be a fairer, more prosperous, and more equal London for everyone.”

Cllr Baroness O’Neill of Bexley OBE, Chairman of Local London and Leader of London Borough of Bexley said “We are delighted to launch the ‘Sub-regional Digital Infrastructure Strategy’ with our colleagues at South London Partnership. This provides step-by-step guidance to public sector colleagues for unlocking inward investment and maximising existing infrastructure to benefit people and businesses in the area. Along with the database and digital toolkit, this pilot approach will help all 14 boroughs tackle the digital divide, whilst also creating a legacy of learning that have even wider benefits.”

Cllr Gareth Roberts, Chair, South London Partnership and Leader of London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Council commented “This joint strategy demonstrates the benefits of a cross-boundary approach. Addressing the issues at a sub-regional level, with colleagues at Local London, this strategy provides clear guidance for unlocking rapid deployment of next generation wireless infrastructure and gigabit capable full fibre, to align us with other urban areas in the UK, whilst responding to the distinct social and economic needs of each borough.”

Rochdale-based ISP Zen Internet has notified customers about a network migration that will result in them being assigned a new Internet Protocol (IP) address or addresses, which for most users should only result in a brief service disruption and no major changes. But for some customers it may be a bigger problem. Most consumers tend […]

2023: growth on every front

Over the last four years, ielo has achieved continuous annual growth of 33%, making it one of the most dynamic players in the digital infrastructure sector. These positive results were driven by the continued support of its 400 active operator customers, who were joined in 2023 by 60 new national and international players.

As a neutral infrastructure operator, ielo’s model is based on the design and operation of its own national network, the deployment of which required the mobilisation of significant capital and the involvement of ielo’s teams.  Since 2020, ielo has increased the size of its metropolitan network tenfold and created its own national long-distance network. These homogeneous, very high-capacity networks provide a unique end-to-end quality of service and a competitive advantage for its operator partners.

In 2023, ielo continued to gain ground and by the beginning of 2024 had:

A 16,000 km metropolitan fibre network to be as close as possible to end-customer sites
An 11,000 km long-distance network to transport the data of its partners and their customers from one end of France to the other

2023: the year of industrialisation 

In order to improve its performance and accelerate its rollouts, ielo has concentrated its efforts on industrialising its processes, particularly with regard to the delivery of links and the densification of its backbone network.

With 350 employees (of which 250 are field technicians), ielo has been able to significantly increase its operational capacity to overcome the challenges of its growth.

2023 was also marked by the creation of a dedicated customer support team to guarantee a high quality end-to-end service. 

Finally, 2023 saw the integration of the Quantic Telecom team into ielo. Having stopped the expansion of its direct sales of digital services in order to adopt ielo’s “pure wholesale” model, the team in Rouen completes the operator’s presence in Normandy. 

Heading into 2024 with ever-higher speeds and FTTO guarantees

Unlike traditional fibre networks based on a shared, mass-market architecture (FTTH), ielo has focused on designing and deploying its own dedicated local loop fibre optic network. ielo’s FTTO offering is supported by an end-to-end infrastructure that is 100% dedicated to businesses and local authorities. This gives them the guarantees they need to run their digital businesses smoothly, through reliable, ultra-high-speed infrastructure.

In 2023, more than 2/3 of the requests transmitted by ielo’s partners achieved a guaranteed speed of at least 100Mb/s, compared with only 1/3 in 2022.  All came with a 4-hour Guaranteed Recovery Time.

These figures reflect the growing need among businesses for ever-higher speeds and guarantees tailored to their requirements. In order to keep up with this growing demand, ielo rolled out its FTTO collection service in 2023, with guaranteed speeds of up to 10Gb/s throughout the country.

The first quarter of 2024 will see the launch of a new range of FTTO solutions. This new stage in ielo’s development will enable the company to continue democratising FTTO throughout France and provide a technology that is perfectly tailored to businesses’ reliability and performance needs. This will be possible thanks to a neutral infrastructure base controlled by ielo’s teams from start to finish.

Arthur FERNANDEZ, CEO of ielo, commented: “Our results are the fruit of our teams’ commitment and the trust placed in us by our partners. They embody our promise: to be and remain the only neutral infrastructure operator in order to boost the business telecoms market in France over the long term. Since we are not dependent on any French telecoms group, we are able to keep this promise to our partners, with whom we are working in close collaboration to accelerate the digitisation of businesses in France. With this is mind, we intend to continue developing our service offering to help them increase the opportunities for switching to fibre at a time when the copper network is being phased out.”

About ielo 

ielo is an independent French telecoms infrastructure operator specialising in very high-speed fibre optic networks, providing a high-quality solution to the needs of the business and local authority markets.

Now operating in more than 3,300 municipalities, ielo offers a network dedicated to the uses of the business customers of its operator partners and assists local authorities in rolling out their own networks to support their public service missions. ielo’s next-generation infrastructure is designed, deployed and maintained internally to offer the highest level of availability. In 2023, ielo had 350 employees, including 250 technicians, working in 12 Regional Technical Centres to provide a consistent, controlled quality of service.

Press contacts

Stéphanie Lefebvre – slefebvre@aromates.fr

Cynthia Trulès – cynthia.trules@ielo.net