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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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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News 

According to T-Mobile’s SEC filing, the final purchase is expected to be completed in 2028, should it receive approval from the US Federal Communications Commission

T-Mobile US has struck a deal with Comcast to lease, and eventually purchase, Comcast’s spectrum licenses in the 600 MHz band. 

The deal is valued between $1.2 billion $3.3 billion, depending on how much spectrum T-Mobile eventually decides to purchase. Until then, Comcast will be provided with quarterly lease payments from T-Mobile. 

In a statement, Comcast said that they were “unlikely” to need the 600 MHz spectrum, as their 5G network field tests with CBRS spectrum have exceeded expectations, and they have “we’ve found the band to be highly efficient and a significant part of a 5G network”.  

“As a result, we recently entered into an agreement with T-Mobile in which it will lease and eventually purchase our licences,” continued the statement. 

Comcast will continue to test the 600 MHz spectrum in the city of Philadelphia, and under the deal, will be able to reclaim its spectrum licenses if the firm should change its mind. 

T-Mobile first launched their low band 600 MHz 5G network in 2019, which the firm claims was America’s first nationwide 5G network. Last September, the company announced that they had reached a 600 MHz deal with Colombia Capital with $3.5 billion. 

Hear more about the spectrum market in the US at next year’s Connected America – March 12-13 2024 in Dallas, Texas. 

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