Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Hull-based alternative broadband operator MS3, which have built a full fibre (FTTP) network across parts of East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in England, has published their annual results to the end of 2025 and revealed that they’re home to 22,184 customers (up from 14,992 in 2024) and cover 238,806 premises (212,561 RFS) – up from 228,522 last year (195,759 RFS).

The provider, which offers wholesale access to its network via around 30 retail ISPs / partners, has become best known for helping to weaken KCOM’s grip on the broadband market in Hull. But in recent times they’ve also had to slow their network build in order to focus more on commercialisation of their existing network, due to wider market pressures (here), which shows up in the new results.

MS3’s most recent results have been published via their holding company of Humber Topco Limited, although the text in their report is often quite small and blurry. The provider’s overall take-up rate, while going in the right direction (3,700 added in the past year), is still fairly low at 10.44% (based on the RFS figure) and the average number of employees has fallen to 117 (2024: 130).

On the financial side, MS3 reported annual revenues of £5.38m (2024: £3.11m) and a gross profit of £1.22m (2024: £1.12m), albeit while making an operating loss of £14.33m (2024: £10.22m). The group also reported having overall net assets of £143.37m (2024: £128.95m). But as revealed last week (here), they have just gone EBITDA positive (i.e. earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation).

Going forward MS3 acknowledges many of the markets well-known pressures.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Abingdon-based alternative network operator Gigaclear, which has built a full fibre (FTTP) broadband network across 618,000 premises in rural parts of England (inc. 170,000 customers), have today re-launched all of their packages with smart Wi-Fi via Amazon’s eero routers and engineer installs that now aim to improve wireless performance.

In short, the provider is now offering “professionally installed smart Wi-Fi designed to deliver fast, reliable coverage to every room”, powered by eero technology. The new proposition combines ultrafast full fibre broadband with “expert in-home installation and optimisation to ensure customers get the performance they expect from day one“.

So as well as adopting Amazon’s eero routers (the announcement mentions these as being Wi-Fi 7), Gigaclear engineers will now also be tasked with optimising each home’s smart Wi-Fi setup when they come to fit a new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) line.

This is said to be particularly important for rural homes, which often present unique connectivity challenges due to larger layouts, thicker walls and outbuildings that can disrupt wireless signals. In addition, new customers joining in June 2026 will also receive eero Secure, an online security feature, at no additional cost to help protect connected devices (such features are normally paywalled on eero routers).

Jon Hurry, Chief Commercial Officer at Gigaclear, said:

“Customers shouldn’t pay for fast broadband only to struggle with poor Wi-Fi around their home. We go further – our expert engineers will set-up and optimise Wi-Fi coverage throughout the home, so customers get fast, reliable connectivity in every room.

That matters even more in rural homes, where layouts can be larger and connectivity challenges are often more complex. We’re making sure our customers get brilliant ultrafast broadband performance from the moment they go live”.

Amazon’s eero routers are generally fine pieces of kit, although they often lack some of the more advanced controls and additional ports that come with other devices. In addition, not everybody is a fan of having an internet-dependent app for network management. But thankfully there’s always the option of buying your own third-party router to resolve those gripes.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Customers of Sky’s broadband-based Sky Glass and Sky Stream pay TV streaming devices and service are gaining access to a new feature called “Real Time“, which is designed to improve the experience of watching live sports content online by “reducing latency between the live action and what viewers see on screen“.

The issue of broadcast lag (latency) in live online TV sport streaming is a well-known frustration. The problem typically causes streamed content to display a few seconds behind the action itself, which in some cases can even stretch into the tens of seconds. As a result, somebody listening via the radio or watching the live action via a terrestrial digital TV (DTT) channel may hear a key event take place before those viewing an online stream.

The latency created is the product of various aspects of how live video content must be processed / compressed, cached and redistributed over modern digital networks. Over the years we’ve seen various network operators and companies come up with ways of reducing the impact of this and Sky’s new Real Time feature for Sky OS is the latest example.

Sadly, Sky hasn’t provided any technical details to explain exactly what they’ve changed and how much of a real-world improvement it will actually deliver (it doesn’t completely remove lag as they state: “see the action almost instantly – watch what’s happening on the pitch within seconds“), although it does appear as if ‘Real Time’ performance attracts some stronger broadband connection requirements. In addition, the Rewind Live TV feature won’t work at the same time:

Internet Connection Recommendations for Sky ‘Real Time’

• Streaming in High Definition (HD) – 25Mbps
• Streaming in Ultra High Definition (UHD) – 30Mbps
• Streaming in Real Time – 40Mbps
• Rewind Live TV is not available while using Real Time

Sky Real Time is currently only available on select live sports, including the 2026 World Cup on BBC and ITV, via the opt-in button or via the dedicated channels listed below. Customers just need to select the Real Time option on-screen during supported live sports to adjust the stream.

Dedicated Channels with Real Time Support

BBC One HD RT – EPG number 926-944 (depending on region)
ITV1 HD RT – EPG channel 945
ITV4 HD RT – EPG channel 946

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Press Release

Th £2 billion investment over five years supports advanced computing, scientific research, and workforce development

AMD has today announced plans to invest up to £2bn over the next five years in the United Kingdom to accelerate AI innovation and research and expand access to the compute resources needed for long-term economic growth and scientific leadership across the country.

Speaking at London Tech Week, AMD Chair and CEO Dr. Lisa Su outlined a series of investments and strategic collaborations designed to help accelerate the UK’s AI ecosystem and broaden access to the advanced computing that underpins scientific discovery and public-sector innovation.

The initiatives align with the UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan and AI Hardware Strategy, supporting broader national priorities to build world-class AI infrastructure, develop technical talent and accelerate AI adoption.

“The United Kingdom has the talent, research excellence and ambition to help lead the next era of AI,” said Dr. Lisa Su, chair and CEO, AMD. “AMD is proud to deepen our commitment to the UK and work with partners across government, academia and industry to expand access to the compute infrastructure needed to advance sovereign AI, accelerate discovery and drive long-term economic growth.”

The announcement was welcomed by UK government leaders as a significant step toward strengthening the country’s AI infrastructure, research ecosystem and long-term economic competitiveness.

“This investment is a major vote of confidence in Britain’s place as a global AI superpower. We’ve got the talent, the world-class universities and the ambition to lead, and partnerships like this help turn that potential into real progress,” said Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer. “It will drive more cutting-edge research here in the UK, open up opportunities for people to build the skills they need for the jobs of the future, and speed up breakthroughs that can improve people’s lives and grow our economy.”

“This investment reflects the strength of Britain’s talent, research and ambition in AI – but also the infrastructure we are putting in place to match it,” said Liz Kendall, Technology Secretary. “With world-class chip designers, leading universities, and partners such as AMD choosing to invest here, we are building the compute capability needed to power innovation, drive growth, create jobs, and ensure the most advanced AI technologies are developed in the UK.”

New strategic collaborations to advance AI research and infrastructure

Building on its recently announced work with Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) and JPMorganChase, AMD also announced a collaboration with Imperial College London to advance computational science and supporting research that relies on large-scale computing resources, including healthcare innovation and climate modeling.

AMD and Imperial also intend to explore opportunities to optimize AI models, scientific workflows and data-intensive applications on AMD compute platforms and AMD ROCm™ open software.

Additionally, AMD is collaborating with Oriole Networks in support of the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) Scaling Inference Lab, a national initiative designed to address critical AI infrastructure bottlenecks.

The effort combines Oriole’s PRISM photonic networking architecture with AMD Instinct™ GPUs and AMD EPYC™ processors to evaluate new approaches for scaling inference workloads while improving performance and energy efficiency and reducing latency.

The initiative supports what is expected to be the world’s first large-scale AI system powered by a pure photonic network, an important step toward infrastructure technologies that can support future generations of AI systems in the UK.

Expanding national AI supercomputing capacity

AMD and Dell Technologies are working with the University of Cambridge on its expanding national AI infrastructure footprint, including the new Zenith AI supercomputer and the Sunrise fusion AI system developed in collaboration with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).

Zenith is a significant new UK AI-for-science platform, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), designed and operated by the University of Cambridge, and built with AMD and Dell technology.

Sunrise is a second AI supercomputer powered by AMD and Dell being built now, funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), owned by UKAEA, and operated by the University of Cambridge. Sunrise is part of a long standing UKAEA-University of Cambridge partnership and dedicated to the fusion mission.

Together, these systems support a broad range of AI-for-science applications including healthcare research, climate modelling, materials science, engineering simulation, fusion research and scientific AI model development.

Supporting the UK’s national AI future
By combining strategic investments with research and ecosystem partnerships, AMD is helping expand the UK’s computing capabilities and supporting the next generation of scientific and technological breakthroughs. The company will continue working with government, academia and industry to strengthen the foundations for long-term competitiveness and global leadership in AI.

How is AI supercharging the UK’s digital economy? Join the discussions at Connected Britain 2026

Also in the news
TELUS and L-SPARK give Canadian startups access to AI supercomputer
Belden to acquire RUCKUS Networks for $1.85bn
VMO2 taps Suffolk solar farm for 10 years of clean energy

The post AMD to invest £2bn in UK-based AI infrastructure and research appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

PHOENIX (June 4, 2026) — Sparklight® has invested nearly $1 billion over the past three years to expand and enhance its fiber-rich network across its 24-state footprint, helping deliver faster connectivity and greater capacity for residential and business customers and critical community services.

As part of its continued network evolution, Sparklight has expanded fiber deeper into its service areas to build a future-ready network that supports long-term growth and economic development. With a fiber-rich network spanning more than 31,000 route miles, Sparklight’s investments help create the infrastructure needed to support emerging technologies, increasing digital demands and the evolving connectivity needs of homes and businesses.

Gigabit internet service is now available across all Sparklight markets, and Multi-Gig speeds are available in more than half its service areas. The company also continues advancing its long-term 10G technology roadmap to support the next generation of connected experiences.

Together, these investments and services help deliver:

• Faster speeds for streaming, gaming and video conferencing
• Optimal performance across multiple connected devices
• Reliable connectivity for remote work, online learning and business operations
• Scalable connectivity solutions for businesses of all sizes

“Reliable connectivity is essential for how people work, learn, get entertained and stay connected every day,” said Jim Holanda, CEO of Cable One, Sparklight’s parent company. “Our investments help ensure families and businesses across the communities we serve have access to the fast, dependable connectivity they need today, while continuing to strengthen network performance and reliability for the future.”

Sparklight’s investments also support the company’s suite of connectivity products and services, including:

• Intelligent whole-home Wi-Fi powered by eero Wi-Fi 7 technology
• Sparklight Mobile, a no-contract wireless service with 5G nationwide coverage and unlimited talk and text starting at $15/month when bundled with Sparklight home internet
• Tech Assist, a U.S.-based support and protection service for connected home devices, smart TVs, gaming systems and more

To learn more about Sparklight’s residential and business services, visit www.sparklight.com and business.sparklight.com or follow the company on Facebook, Instagram and X. 

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The post Sparklight Invests Nearly $1 Billion to Enhance Connectivity Across Its Footprint appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Designed to support rapidly growing Nordic data traffic and rising international demand for secure, high-quality connectivity routes, the 630-kilometre cable system Verena is scheduled to be Ready for Service (RFS) in the fourth quarter of 2028.

The commencement of marine survey activities marks the transition from planning into delivery and represents a critical step in delivering a resilient and future-ready subsea cable system.

Survey activities will take place across summer 2026, enabling the programme to take advantage of the more favourable seasonal weather conditions. 

Marine survey operations are essential to the successful design and installation of submarine infrastructure. Through advanced offshore data acquisition and seabed analysis, the survey provides the detailed understanding required to optimise cable routing and reduce delivery risk.

“The North Sea presents a complex operating environment, and high-quality survey data is fundamental to reducing risk before installation begins. The survey programme will provide the detailed seabed and route intelligence needed to support informed engineering decisions, optimise system design and ensure Verena is delivered to the highest standards of resilience and reliability.”

Espen Vestli, Chief Operating Officer, Midgard Infra

Survey data collected will enable the project team to:

• Identify the safest and most resilient route alignment.
• Understand seabed conditions and burial requirements to maximise long-term system protection.
• Safely manage interactions with existing offshore infrastructure including telecommunications cables, power assets and pipelines.
• Support environmental and regulatory approvals.
• Improve installation efficiency and reduce intervention requirements over the operational life of the system.

Delivery of the Verena programme is being led end-to-end by JTD Associates, whose programme leadership and delivery expertise continue to provide the governance, coordination and execution capability, instrumental to enabling this milestone and maintaining momentum toward service readiness in 2028.

“In subsea delivery, good decisions come from good data. The marine survey is our opportunity to learn everything we can about the route before we put a cable anywhere near the seabed.”

Diane Hill, Chief Delivery Officer, JTD Associates

Survey activities are being delivered in partnership with Pelagian Ltd acting as Engineering Consultants, and XOCEAN, utilising their fleet of advanced Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) to conduct offshore data acquisition. The use of USVs supports a more sustainable approach to offshore data acquisition through lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions and simplified offshore logistics compared with traditional survey operations.

The approach aligns with Midgard Infra’s commitment to delivering resilient digital infrastructure while supporting broader sustainability objectives.

“Verena is exactly the type of forward-looking infrastructure project that benefits from modern survey technology. Our USVs enable safe, efficient and environmentally responsible data collection, and we are proud to be supporting Midgard Infra and its partners as they take this important step towards delivering a major new North Sea connectivity asset.”

James Ives, Chief Executive Officer, XOCEAN

About Midgard Infra
Midgard Infra provides international connectivity and high-speed data services across the Nordics and Europe. The company operates the NO-UK subsea cable between Norway and the UK and the Skagen Fiber West cable between Norway and Denmark, supported by an extensive terrestrial network. Midgard Infra is also developing Verena, a new high-capacity subsea cable system between the UK and Denmark designed to strengthen digital resilience and meet the growing demands of hyperscalers and data-driven industries.

Co-owned by Lyse and HitecVision, Midgard Infra connects major data centre hubs across Northern Europe—including Hamburg, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Brussels, London, and Dublin—along with high-speed connectivity to the Americas via the Havfrue (AEC-2) trans-Atlantic cable. The network also includes one of the largest metro fibre systems in Oslo, providing robust and scalable infrastructure for global carriers, cloud providers, and enterprises.

About XOCEAN

XOCEAN is a global ocean data delivery partner, providing full scope geophysical, geotechnical and environmental data to support offshore developments and operations. By using a more efficient operating model, XOCEAN enables faster delivery, greater flexibility and more predictable outcomes than traditional survey methods.

The company transforms ocean data delivery through a digitally integrated operating platform that connects data acquisition, remote operations and processing into a single, scalable system. This allows data to be delivered quickly and consistently across a wide range of offshore environments.

Operating across more than 20 international markets, XOCEAN supports leading offshore operators and infrastructure developers. XOCEAN delivers high quality ocean data across offshore wind, subsea cable infrastructure and telecoms, supporting critical offshore decisions across the full lifecycle of offshore assets.

The post Marine Survey Begins for Verena UK–Denmark Subsea Fibre System appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Springfield, NJ, and Austin, TX (June 1, 2026) – Telinta, a global leader in cloud-based Softswitch solutions, and Vida Global Inc. (NYSE American: VIDA), a leading AI agent operating system, have partnered to bring intelligent multi-language, multi-modal AI agent capabilities to telecom service providers using Telinta’s hosted Softswitch and Billing platform.

Telinta has integrated Vida’s AI agent technology into its TeliCore^TM platform, enabling telecom service providers to add the power of AI agents to popular services like Hosted PBX, SIP Trunking, UCaaS, VoIP calling via brandable Mobile and Desktop Softphones, WebRTC, and other business telecom services.

With Vida, Telinta customers get access to Vida’s platform to provide AI agents to their end-user business customers. Vida AI agents answer inbound calls with intelligent, natural-language responses informed by the end user’s knowledge base and CRM data. During a call, agents can send SMS messages with links to make purchases, access documentation, book reservations, or complete other online transactions. Agents also place outbound calls from predefined lists and return missed calls automatically, so that no customer interaction is lost.

To learn more, join Telinta and Vida for a free joint webinar on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 1:00pm Eastern Time.

To register, please visit:  www.telinta.com/vida

Vida’s AI Agent OS powers tons of communications and operations across many businesses. Built to move companies from proof of concept to full production, Vida gives enterprises, MSPs, and telecom service providers the tools to build, deploy, and manage AI agent workforces across voice, text, email, and chat — with the visibility, control, and compliance required to operate at scale. Vida AI Agents speak 10 languages by default, and have developed a unique method to register as SIP devices on existing phone systems, making deployment seamless for telecom providers.

Telinta’s cloud-based TeliCore platform is the largest of its kind in the world and has served VoIP providers around the globe since 2002, offering integrated switching, real-time billing, and more. The company offers white-label solutions that enable service providers and their resellers to offer a full portfolio of profitable VoIP services under their own brand and at their own prices.

Both companies will offer special promotions for new customers who sign up in 2026. Telinta will offer new customers a $400 discount on their first monthly invoice. Vida will offer $200 off platform fees for Telinta customers ($500/month plan) for the first three months of service. Vida is also happy to build a no-cost, no-commitment Proof of Concept agent to demonstrate its capabilities firsthand.

“Telecom providers have always been the infrastructure layer for business communication, and with this partnership, they can now be the AI layer too,” said Jordan Gadapee, CMO of Vida. “Vida isn’t just an AI feature. It’s the operating system that lets Telinta’s customers run their entire AI agent business, from deployment to monetization. Together, we believe Telinta and Vida give service providers what they need to deploy intelligent agents across voice, SMS, email, and chat, and turn that into a revenue-generating service for their own clients.”

“For over two decades, Telinta has built a comprehensive ecosystem of industry-leading partners like Vida to help our ITSP customers grow,” said Alex Ferdman, Telinta CEO. “Telecom service providers can use Vida’s AI together with Telinta’s TeliCore platform to better compete and win in the marketplace.”

About Telinta

Founded in 2002, Telinta, Inc. offers secure and reliable cloud-based Switching and Billing solutions for VoIP service providers worldwide. Telinta’s full portfolio of white-label carrier-grade solutions is highly customizable for VoIP service providers and their resellers.  This includes Hosted PBX, SIP Trunks, Business and Residential VoIP, UCaaS, VoIP calling with brandable Mobile and Desktop Softphones, WebRTC, and other hosted solutions.  Please visit us at http://www.telinta.com for more information.

About Vida

Vida is an AI agent operating system that enables businesses to build, deploy, manage, and monetize AI agents capable of running business operations and communications. The platform is LLM-agnostic, orchestrating Vida’s proprietary technology with leading large language models and other ancillary AI technologies, including voice, transcription, and OpenClaw, to deliver intelligent, full-stack agents across industries. Vida serves direct enterprise customers and a global network of resellers, agencies, and partners. For more information, visit vida.io.

Media Contacts:

Anthony Stiso

Vice President – Marketing and Sales

Telinta, Inc.

+1 973 467-3364 (menu option 1)

Illume PR for Vida

vida@illumepr.com

The post Telinta and Vida Team Up to Bring AI Agents to Telecom Service Providers appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

News

The vehicle will target startups across North America, Asia, and Europe to accelerate the commercial ecosystem for all-photonics networks

Japan’s largest telco, NTT, is preparing to create an investment fund worth roughly $500 million to support the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) initiative and related AI development, according to reports from Yomiuri Shimbun.

South Korea’s SK Group, Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom, and the Development Bank of Japan are reportedly partners in the ‘IOWN AI Fund’.

More than 10 additional Japanese corporations – spanning tech giants like Toshiba, Sony, and Fujitsu, alongside major financial institutions including MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho – have also expressed intent to participate.

The ‘IOWN AI Fund’, which will be set up by the end of the month, aims to expand IOWN’s growing ecosystem and the AI infrastructure supporting it. This will be achieved by targeting tech startups across North America, Asia, and Europe, focusing on photoelectric fusion, AI semiconductors, and the development of next-generation, IOWN-native AI models.

The concept of IOWN was introduced by NTT in 2019, with the central premise of shifting telco network topology from electronics to photonics (i.e., data transmission via light rather than electricity).

Currently, typical backbone networks carry optical signals over fibre but are forced to convert these photonic signals into electrical signals for processing. IOWN envisions an end-to-end optical network that would remove this translational bottleneck, delivering major benefits like lower power consumption, higher speeds, and larger capacity.

As generative AI data centres place unprecedented strain on global energy grids, it should be no surprise that the IOWN initiative is gaining momentum.

Indeed, IOWN is already beginning to show signs of moving from technical R&D to commercial scaling. In 2024 deployment by NTT and Chunghwa Telecom successfully activated a 3,000km subsea IOWN link between Japan and Taiwan, achieving a one-way latency of just 17 milliseconds.

By leveraging a formidable cross-border alliance of East Asian telecom, semiconductor, and financial giants, the IOWN AI fund is betting all-photonic network architecture will be a major alternative to traditional network strategy in the not-so-distant future.

How is AI supercharging the UK’s digital economy? Join the discussions at Connected Britain 2026

Also in the news
TELUS and L-SPARK give Canadian startups access to AI supercomputer
Belden to acquire RUCKUS Networks for $1.85bn
VMO2 taps Suffolk solar farm for 10 years of clean energy

The post NTT preparing $500m fund to boost IOWN AI initiative appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Designed to support rapidly growing Nordic data traffic and rising international demand for secure, high-quality connectivity routes, the 630-kilometre cable system Verena is scheduled to be Ready for Service (RFS) in the fourth quarter of 2028.

The commencement of marine survey activities marks the transition from planning into delivery and represents a critical step in delivering a resilient and future-ready subsea cable system.

Survey activities will take place across summer 2026, enabling the programme to take advantage of the more favourable seasonal weather conditions. 

Marine survey operations are essential to the successful design and installation of submarine infrastructure. Through advanced offshore data acquisition and seabed analysis, the survey provides the detailed understanding required to optimise cable routing and reduce delivery risk.

“The North Sea presents a complex operating environment, and high-quality survey data is fundamental to reducing risk before installation begins. The survey programme will provide the detailed seabed and route intelligence needed to support informed engineering decisions, optimise system design and ensure Verena is delivered to the highest standards of resilience and reliability.”

Espen Vestli, Chief Operating Officer, Midgard Infra

Survey data collected will enable the project team to:

• Identify the safest and most resilient route alignment.
• Understand seabed conditions and burial requirements to maximise long-term system protection.
• Safely manage interactions with existing offshore infrastructure including telecommunications cables, power assets and pipelines.
• Support environmental and regulatory approvals.
• Improve installation efficiency and reduce intervention requirements over the operational life of the system.

Delivery of the Verena programme is being led end-to-end by JTD Associates, whose programme leadership and delivery expertise continue to provide the governance, coordination and execution capability, instrumental to enabling this milestone and maintaining momentum toward service readiness in 2028.

“In subsea delivery, good decisions come from good data. The marine survey is our opportunity to learn everything we can about the route before we put a cable anywhere near the seabed.”

Diane Hill, Chief Delivery Officer, JTD Associates

Survey activities are being delivered in partnership with Pelagian Ltd acting as Engineering Consultants, and XOCEAN, utilising their fleet of advanced Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) to conduct offshore data acquisition. The use of USVs supports a more sustainable approach to offshore data acquisition through lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions and simplified offshore logistics compared with traditional survey operations.

The approach aligns with Midgard Infra’s commitment to delivering resilient digital infrastructure while supporting broader sustainability objectives.

“Verena is exactly the type of forward-looking infrastructure project that benefits from modern survey technology. Our USVs enable safe, efficient and environmentally responsible data collection, and we are proud to be supporting Midgard Infra and its partners as they take this important step towards delivering a major new North Sea connectivity asset.”

James Ives, Chief Executive Officer, XOCEAN

About Midgard Infra
Midgard Infra provides international connectivity and high-speed data services across the Nordics and Europe. The company operates the NO-UK subsea cable between Norway and the UK and the Skagen Fiber West cable between Norway and Denmark, supported by an extensive terrestrial network. Midgard Infra is also developing Verena, a new high-capacity subsea cable system between the UK and Denmark designed to strengthen digital resilience and meet the growing demands of hyperscalers and data-driven industries.

Co-owned by Lyse and HitecVision, Midgard Infra connects major data centre hubs across Northern Europe—including Hamburg, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Brussels, London, and Dublin—along with high-speed connectivity to the Americas via the Havfrue (AEC-2) trans-Atlantic cable. The network also includes one of the largest metro fibre systems in Oslo, providing robust and scalable infrastructure for global carriers, cloud providers, and enterprises.

About XOCEAN

XOCEAN is a global ocean data delivery partner, providing full scope geophysical, geotechnical and environmental data to support offshore developments and operations. By using a more efficient operating model, XOCEAN enables faster delivery, greater flexibility and more predictable outcomes than traditional survey methods.

The company transforms ocean data delivery through a digitally integrated operating platform that connects data acquisition, remote operations and processing into a single, scalable system. This allows data to be delivered quickly and consistently across a wide range of offshore environments.

Operating across more than 20 international markets, XOCEAN supports leading offshore operators and infrastructure developers. XOCEAN delivers high quality ocean data across offshore wind, subsea cable infrastructure and telecoms, supporting critical offshore decisions across the full lifecycle of offshore assets.

The post Marine Survey Begins for Verena UK–Denmark Subsea Fibre System appeared first on Total Telecom.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Designed to support rapidly growing Nordic data traffic and rising international demand for secure, high-quality connectivity routes, the 630-kilometre cable system Verena is scheduled to be Ready for Service (RFS) in the fourth quarter of 2028.

The commencement of marine survey activities marks the transition from planning into delivery and represents a critical step in delivering a resilient and future-ready subsea cable system.

Survey activities will take place across summer 2026, enabling the programme to take advantage of the more favourable seasonal weather conditions. 

Marine survey operations are essential to the successful design and installation of submarine infrastructure. Through advanced offshore data acquisition and seabed analysis, the survey provides the detailed understanding required to optimise cable routing and reduce delivery risk.

“The North Sea presents a complex operating environment, and high-quality survey data is fundamental to reducing risk before installation begins. The survey programme will provide the detailed seabed and route intelligence needed to support informed engineering decisions, optimise system design and ensure Verena is delivered to the highest standards of resilience and reliability.”

Espen Vestli, Chief Operating Officer, Midgard Infra

Survey data collected will enable the project team to:

• Identify the safest and most resilient route alignment.
• Understand seabed conditions and burial requirements to maximise long-term system protection.
• Safely manage interactions with existing offshore infrastructure including telecommunications cables, power assets and pipelines.
• Support environmental and regulatory approvals.
• Improve installation efficiency and reduce intervention requirements over the operational life of the system.

Delivery of the Verena programme is being led end-to-end by JTD Associates, whose programme leadership and delivery expertise continue to provide the governance, coordination and execution capability, instrumental to enabling this milestone and maintaining momentum toward service readiness in 2028.

“In subsea delivery, good decisions come from good data. The marine survey is our opportunity to learn everything we can about the route before we put a cable anywhere near the seabed.”

Diane Hill, Chief Delivery Officer, JTD Associates

Survey activities are being delivered in partnership with Pelagian Ltd acting as Engineering Consultants, and XOCEAN, utilising their fleet of advanced Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) to conduct offshore data acquisition. The use of USVs supports a more sustainable approach to offshore data acquisition through lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions and simplified offshore logistics compared with traditional survey operations.

The approach aligns with Midgard Infra’s commitment to delivering resilient digital infrastructure while supporting broader sustainability objectives.

“Verena is exactly the type of forward-looking infrastructure project that benefits from modern survey technology. Our USVs enable safe, efficient and environmentally responsible data collection, and we are proud to be supporting Midgard Infra and its partners as they take this important step towards delivering a major new North Sea connectivity asset.”

James Ives, Chief Executive Officer, XOCEAN

About Midgard Infra
Midgard Infra provides international connectivity and high-speed data services across the Nordics and Europe. The company operates the NO-UK subsea cable between Norway and the UK and the Skagen Fiber West cable between Norway and Denmark, supported by an extensive terrestrial network. Midgard Infra is also developing Verena, a new high-capacity subsea cable system between the UK and Denmark designed to strengthen digital resilience and meet the growing demands of hyperscalers and data-driven industries.

Co-owned by Lyse and HitecVision, Midgard Infra connects major data centre hubs across Northern Europe—including Hamburg, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Brussels, London, and Dublin—along with high-speed connectivity to the Americas via the Havfrue (AEC-2) trans-Atlantic cable. The network also includes one of the largest metro fibre systems in Oslo, providing robust and scalable infrastructure for global carriers, cloud providers, and enterprises.

About XOCEAN

XOCEAN is a global ocean data delivery partner, providing full scope geophysical, geotechnical and environmental data to support offshore developments and operations. By using a more efficient operating model, XOCEAN enables faster delivery, greater flexibility and more predictable outcomes than traditional survey methods.

The company transforms ocean data delivery through a digitally integrated operating platform that connects data acquisition, remote operations and processing into a single, scalable system. This allows data to be delivered quickly and consistently across a wide range of offshore environments.

Operating across more than 20 international markets, XOCEAN supports leading offshore operators and infrastructure developers. XOCEAN delivers high quality ocean data across offshore wind, subsea cable infrastructure and telecoms, supporting critical offshore decisions across the full lifecycle of offshore assets.

The post Marine Survey Begins for Verena UK–Denmark Subsea Fibre System appeared first on Total Telecom.