Full Fibre Broadband ISP Zzoomm Tops 30,000 UK Customers
Oxfordshire-based alternative broadband network Zzoomm, which has already deployed their 2Gbps Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) service to cover 202,000 premises (RFS) in England, has today revealed that their customer base has now grown to 30,000 (up from 25,000 on 23rd April 2024) across 23 towns. The build has typically been focused on smaller towns in parts Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Herefordshire, Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Wiltshire and Cheshire. But their roll-out was recently stopped in order...
Openreach CEO Appeals to UK Gov to Fix Planning, MDU Access and Permits
The CEO of network access provider Openreach, Clive Selley, has today called on the new UK Government to help introduce “simple” fixes and reforms that would enable them to expand their gigabit-capable full fibre (FTTP) broadband ISP network into areas and properties that are still “missing out on upgrades” due to “red tape“. Openreach have already extended their new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to cover 15 million premises (there are around 32.5m across the UK) and they aim to reach...
EE UK Trial of 5G Small Cells Hits Broadband Speeds of up to 600Mbps
Mobile network operator EE (BT) has today announced that they’ve now deployed over 1,000 small cells (mini radio masts) across the UK, marking 400 new deployments over the last 12 months. But this now includes the provider’s first “trial” 5G (mobile broadband) enabled sites, which have been installed in Croydon (London). Unlike larger base stations and masts, shoebox sized small cells are only designed to deliver limited coverage over a shorter distance and thus tend to be more focused on busy...
MVNO Lebara sold to Waterland Private Equity
News Sale discussions have been ongoing since January Investment company Waterland Private Equity has acquired Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MNVO) Lebara for an undisclosed sum. Founded in 2001, the company offers SIM-only mobile phone plans to around 4.4 million subscribers UK, France, Germany, Netherlands and Denmark. In the UK, it uses Vodafone’s national network to provide its 4G and 5G services. Lebara is known for its focus on affordable, no-frills services tailored to the needs...
Openreach wins new Project Gigabit contract to expand rural broadband
News This will be the first time that Wales will benefit from the project The UK government announced up to £800 million of funding to Openreach, to bring gigabit-capable broadband to 312,000 premises across the UK via Building Digital UK (BDUK). The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to improve digital infrastructure in rural areas. The agreement, worth up to £800 million, was finalised in June 2024 following an open procurement process. The focus of this partnership is on rural...
Connected Britain returns to London to celebrate its 10th anniversary
NEWS London, UK – Connected Britain, the UK’s biggest digital economy event, is returning to London as it celebrates its 10th anniversary Hosted by telecoms media and events specialist Total Telecom, this year’s event will welcome 7,500 attendees from over 2,000 organisations, including 100 tech and digital startups exhibiting in its largest ever startup village. Across two action-packed days, the event will feature 350 speakers covering twelve key themes, including the UK’s journey to...
Mobile Operator Lebara Sold to Waterland Private Equity
Alchemy has this morning announced that they’re selling their Pan-European mobile operator business, LebaraGroup B.V, to Waterland Private Equity for an undisclosed sum. In the UK, Lebara is a virtual mobile operator (MVNO) that harnesses Vodafone’s national network to deliver 4G and 5G services (calls, text and mobile broadband). Lebara currently offers similar mobile services to 4.4 million subscribers (up from 2.4m in 2019) across the UK, Netherlands, Germany, France and Denmark. Alchemy’s...
Freedom Fibre Top 20k FTTP Customers in North West and West Midlands
Network operator Freedom Fibre, which claims to have already rolled out a 10Gbps capable full fibre broadband (XGS-PON / FTTP) network to cover 300,000 premises across England (27th Mar 2024), has today revealed that they’ve grown their customer base to 20,000 in the North West and West Midlands of England. The announcement represents the first time we’ve had any solid customer figures from the operator, which reflects additions across deployment locations such as Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Leek,...
Openreach Win UK Project Gigabit Broadband Contracts and Help 312k Premises
The Government claims to have kicked off a “renewed push” today to “reach full gigabit [broadband] coverage by 2030“, which they’ve done by announcing that Openreach (BT) has secured several contracts under the £5bn Project Gigabit scheme. This could eventually be worth up to £800m (state aid) and may upgrade 312,000 premises in remote rural areas of Scotland, England and Wales. Project Gigabit has been running for the past few years and aims to extend networks capable of delivering download...
North Highlands Trains to Trial Fast Onboard WiFi via LEO Broadband Satellites
The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) looks set to start a year-long trial that will upgrade trains on the Far North and Kyle lines (railway) in the Highlands of Scotland with “the best Wi-Fi experience of any train service” in the UK. The capacity for this will be supplied by unspecified broadband satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The project, which appears to have the backing of both ScotRail and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), aims to start fitting the new system during this autumn...