Alternative broadband operator Freedom Fibre, which aims to cover over 2 million premises in England and Wales with their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network – supported by UK ISP TalkTalk, has in recent weeks and months added two new towns in the Greater Manchester area to their build plan – Walkden and Atherton. The operator’s gigabit-capable full […]

News 

According to Intelsat, the partnership “designed to enhance the digital infrastructure, broadband and broadcast capabilities of the region” is already underway  

Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and provider of inflight connectivity, has reached an agreement with Telespazio, to add Telespazio’s Italian Fucino space centre to its partner teleport network. 

The partnership, Intelsat claims, will expand their point of presence in Europe, facilitating connectivity between their existing data centre in Fuchsstadt, Germany and Telespazio’s Fucino facility. It will also allow Intelsat to accommodate the growth of its global FlexEnterprise offering and to enable other managed satellite services. 

Telespazio, a global player in satellite solutions and services, is a joint venture between Leonardo and Thales, each owning 67% and 33% respectively. 

The company’s Fucino Space Centre has been active since 1963, and carries out in-orbit satellite control, space mission management and telecommunications, television and multimedia services. It has 170 antennas and is widely considered the world’s first and most important teleport for civilian use. 

“We are delighted to have reached this agreement with Intelsat, allowing us to expand the set of services available from our Fucino teleport in the energy and government market segments which are of great interest to Telespazio,” said Alessandro Caranci, Senior Vice President of Satellite Communications at Telespazio. 

“Through this agreement with Telespazio, Intelsat is expanding its FlexEnterprise solution for its global customer base. The Fucino gateway will deliver in-country ground facilities for customers such as Italian energy and government organizations that may have regulatory and security requirements to land satellite traffic locally as well as Media businesses looking for European or global distribution,” said Rhys Morgan, VP and General Manager, EMEA Media and Networks Sales at Intelsat. 

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Also in the news: 
Connected Britain 2023: the keynote panel agenda
T-Mobile signs spectrum deal with Comcast worth up to $3.3 billion
Spanish government scrutinising STC Telefónica deal

Insight

To help the UK reach its goal in delivering next-gen gigabit broadband to over a million businesses and households, access to best-in-class technology and innovation is essential. At this year’s Connected Britain event, VETRO proudly sponsors the Connected After Hours with Calix and Vitruvi. In addition, VETRO is sponsoring the prestigious Broadband Provider of the Year award. We sat down with Pete Pizzutillo, VETRO’s Head of International and Partner Development, to learn more about why VETRO decided to sponsor this award.  

 

What motivated VETRO to sponsor this award? 

VETRO’s decision to sponsor this award aligns with our core values and objectives. We recognise the importance of operators and service providers who prioritise the end consumer as their primary customer. We believe in celebrating organisations that excel in delivering exceptional customer service. Brsk Ltd, Fibrus, Giganet, Lightning Fibre, Truespeed, Wessex Internet, and Wildanet—are the finalists for the Broadband Provider of the Year award. They’re leaders in the industry, and this award honours their efforts to improve connectivity in the UK by providing outstanding service. 

 

How does VETRO relate to the award’s focus on customer satisfaction, innovation, and community collaboration? 

VETRO values our relationships with our customers. Whether it’s the first point of contact, the onboarding process, or providing ongoing support, we prioritise our customers throughout their journey with us. We are proud of our exceptional customer reviews, and we appreciate companies that share our commitment to customer-centric values. 

 

How can VETRO FiberMap assist operators in excelling in customer-centric, innovative, and community-focused areas highlighted by this award? 

VETRO FiberMap provides tools for quick customer issue resolution, supports innovative network planning, and facilitates efficient operations. Operators can easily share information with local partners, fostering community collaboration. The platform offers data-driven insights to improve services and reliability, aligning perfectly with the award’s focus on customer-centric, innovative, and community-oriented achievements. 

Meet Pete and the rest of the VETRO team at Connected Britain 2023. Visit stand 61B at ExCeL London from September 20-21 to learn more. 

About VETRO
VETRO builds software that makes it radically simpler and faster for broadband providers to plan, design, build, and operate their fibre optic networks. VETRO is the only SaaS-based GIS fibre management platform that optimises the business value of networks by simplifying the digitisation, data visualisation and management of fibre assets through an open, highly accessible and precise system of record for network assets. Our map-based SaaS platform is easier to use and more powerful than traditional tools and enables network operators and ISPs to benefit from a modern, integrated, and connected digital hub for their physical network assets. VETRO is leveraged by broadband providers for all phases of the fibre optic network. 

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The changing landscape of the subsea cable industry with Gulf Bridge International

A new survey of 2,500 UK consumers, which was conducted by business and tax advisory firm EY, has claimed that, despite the cost-of-living crisis, only 12% of “digital households” have reduced or plan to reduce their spending on home broadband, mobile connectivity or streaming. The survey also found that 49% of respondents had not taken […]

The UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has today announced the names of 19 successful projects that have secured a slice of £88m in funding to help support the development of open network solutions, such as 4G and 5G based OpenRAN on mobile networks and other technologies. The projects – part of […]

Ofcom’s 2023 report into UK fixed line home broadband ISP performance – the last one it plans to publish – has today revealed that the average (median) download speed has risen from 59.4Mbps last year to 69.4Mbps now (uploads went from 10.7Mbps to 18.4Mbps). But the gap between rural and urban areas remains. The regulator’s […]

Telecoms and UK broadband giant BT Group has joined forces with Iceotope to conduct an “industry first” trial of “precision liquid cooled” network switches, which will be applied to their Juniper Network QFX Series switches. In theory, this could substantially improve their energy consumption and efficiency metrics. Admittedly, anybody who works in IT or has […]

Broadband ISP Virgin Media (VMO2) has confirmed that their new 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP / XGS-PON) network, delivered via wholesale network partner nexfibre, has for the first time gone live across the small City of Stirling in Scotland – covering 6,900 homes. The move is interesting because, unlike most UK cities, Virgin Media are arriving […]

A Connected Britain Preview 

Connected Britain 2023 is just around the corner and, with just under a week left to go, it is only fitting that we highlight some of our amazing keynote panels, featuring some of the biggest names in the UK telecoms industry. 

 

Day 1 – Wednesday 20th September: 

CXO keynote panel: The state of play for the UK’s mobile market (9:35am) 

Moderated by Karen Egan, Senior Telecoms Analyst at Enders Analysis, this panel will explore the current condition of the UK mobile market in depth. 

Speakers: 

Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer, Vodafone 

Howard Watson, Chief Security & Networks Officer, BT 

Phil Siveter, Chief Executive Officer, UK & Ireland, NOKIA 

 

CXO keynote panel: Where is the UK fibre market headed? (12:50pm) 

Moderated by Matthew Howett, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Assembly Research, this panel will explore the latest impacts of the market, understanding the regulatory and investment context for the UK fibre sector, discuss if regulation supports or hinders competition in the market, and address the challenge of adoption.  

Speakers: 

Greg Mesch, Chief Executive Officer, Cityfibre 

Dana Tobak, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Hyperoptic 

Martyn Taylor, Chief Commercial Officer, BDUK 

Clive Selley, Chief Executive Officer, Openreach 

Daren Baythorpe, Chief Executive Officer, ITS 

 

 

CXO keynote panel: Connectivity as the cornerstone of a greener future (17:40pm) 

Moderated by Miran Gilmore, Senior Consultant at STL Partners, this panel will explore how connectivity will play a key role in the country’s environmental future.

Speakers: 

Rafael Jaron, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Concept for Change 

Wolfgang Schusterr, Executive Director, Connected Places Catapult 

Marzia Zafar, Deputy Director of Governance for Data & Digitalisation, Ofgem 

 

Day 2 – Thursday 21st September

Understanding the connectivity needs of the UK’s nations and regions (9:30am) 

Moderated by Sophie James, Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy at TechUK, this panel will dive into the regional perspectives and priorities of the UK’s connectivity needs, addressing the challenges and opportunities of delivering better connectivity to the nation. 

Speakers: 

Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority 

Robbie McGhee, Deputy Director, Digital Connectivity, Scottish Government 

Theo Blackwell MBE, Chief Digital Officer for London, Greater London Authority 

 

Beyond the glass: what does it take to ensure modern broadband services and in-life experiences are truly fit for the future (10:10am) 

Our final panel of the event will be moderated by Lorne Mitchell, MD of Objective Designers, and will look at some of the following key questions: 

What criteria will networks and broadband services of the future be judged on? And what will be demanded of them? 
What decisions and investments today, will help networks and their ISPs stand out from the crowd tomorrow? 
Which technologies and approaches are set to enable the best networks and why? 
Against this backdrop, how must technology suppliers, networks operators and ISPs work together to realise net-zero/sustainability ambitions? 

Speakers: 

Michel Langlois, Chief Technical Officer, Calix 

Nigel Abraham, Customer CTO, Nokia 

David Tomalin, Group CTO, Cityfibre 

 

Connected Britain 2023 promises to be bigger and better than ever before. It’s not too late to join us! Check out the full agenda and secure your tickets here. 

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Complaints about the erection of new telegraph poles are nothing new in the UK. But one growing campaign – involving residents of Hedon and South Preston – appears to be taking their dispute with full fibre network builder MS3 to a new level, by organising a 10-year boycott of broadband ISPs that sell their services. […]