Virgin Media O2 See Nexfibre Add 194k UK FTTP Premises as Growth Slows
The latest Q1 2024 results have today been released for Virgin Media and O2 (VMO2), which reveals that they’re now home to 5,722,900 broadband customers (up by just 5.3k in Q1 2024 vs 9.5k in Q4 2023) and built another 194,000 full fibre (FTTP) premises via nexfibre (down from c.300k last quarter). Just to recap. Telefónica, Liberty Global and InfraVia Capital Partners setup a new £4.5bn joint venture called nexfibre in 2022 (here), which aims to deploy an open access full fibre (FTTP) network...
April 2024 BT Progress Update on the 10Mbps UK Broadband USO
UK ISP BT has today published the latest biannual progress update on their delivery of Ofcom’s flaky 10Mbps Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband. The internet provider has so far helped to build a USO connection to over 7,954 premises (up from 7,681 in Oct 2023), with 265 further builds in-progress (up from 185). The USO, in case anybody has forgotten, is a legally-binding and industry-funded obligation that falls on BT across the UK, as well as KCOM in Hull. In short, people...
Job Cuts as UK Full Fibre Altnet toob Changes its Build Model
Hampshire-based alternative network operator and gigabit broadband ISP toob, which has spent the past few years deploying a full fibre (FTTP) network – and also sharing some of CityFibre’s infrastructure – across parts of South England, has today become the latest Altnet to confirm some redundancies and a change of build strategy. Just to recap. Toob was originally backed by £75m from the Amber Infrastructure Group (here) and “up to” £87.5m from the Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund...
EU passes Gigabit Infrastructure Act
News The act replaces the broadband cost-reducing directive passed in 2014 The European Council has passed the Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA), which aims to simplify and accelerate the roll out of high speed networks like fibre and 5G to meet Europe’s connectivity objectives. The GIA was first proposed by the European Commission in February 2023, with the legislation aimed at reducing the costs of deploying gigabit-capable networks and simplifying the rollout process. It is part of the...
Biden Administration implements permitting changes to speed infrastructure construction
News White House updates rules for infrastructure permitting to promote speed and protect environment The Biden-Harris Administration has announced that the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is finalizing the Bipartisan Permitting Reform Implementation Rule. This aims to simplify and modernize the federal environmental review process to speed up permitting in several key sectors. The Administration is walking a tightrope with the new permitting rules – both encouraging faster...
Deutsche Telekom launches energy saving AI RAN trial
News German operator Deutsche Telecom has launched a trial to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its radio access network (RAN) to improve its efficiency, save energy, and reduce operating costs At this year’s FutureNet World 2024, the company’s Vice President of Technology Strategy, Ahmed Hafez, explained that the company is testing the use of AI in the RAN that can automatically switch off parts of the network during quiet periods (often at night) to increase the network’s energy...
e& mulls €8bn European expansion via United Group purchase
News United Group owns telecoms operations in Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Greece According to anonymous sources speaking to Bloomberg, Abu Dhabi-based operator group e& is looking to expand into eastern Europe through the acquisition of international telco United Group. The sources say e& is evaluating a potential purchase, noting United Group’s majority owners, BC Partners, would seek a valuation of the company of around $8 billion....
London Full Fibre ISP G.Network Discounts Price of 150Mbps to £20
Alternative network builder and broadband ISP G.Network, which is rolling out their 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across parts of London (here), has today launched a new special offer that further discounts the price of their entry-level 150Mbps (50Mbps upload) tier to just £20 per month on a 24-month term. The provider, which is estimated to be live across around 250,000 to 300,000 premises in the UK’s capital city, is also pledging to cover £150 worth of Early...
Broadband ISP iDNET Launch 2.5Gbps UK CityFibre Gamer Package
Business and residential broadband ISP iDNET has just become the latest provider to launch a symmetric speed package based off CityFibre’s top 2.5Gbps wholesale tier (advertised at an average speed of 1.8Gbps), which is being targetted at fans of online multiplayer gaming (not that raw speed really makes a difference to gaming at this level). The new Gamer Max City Fibre package costs £63 per month and comes with an included ASUS ROG Rapture-AX6000 (rrp £225.00) router, which boasts the...
Why full fibre is fundamental to a thriving digital economy and society
Insight By nexfibre CEO Rajiv Datta In today’s world, full fibre is fundamental to a thriving digital economy and society. It has the potential to transform our economy and drive growth in parts of the UK that have historically been left behind, including the north of England. Our sector has made great strides in the past few years. Investment in digital infrastructure has increased and there are plenty of new players in the market, which has injected much-needed competition and impetus...