All BDUK (Project Gigabit) articles
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Weekly BriefingsBTwatch Briefing: state-backed infra advances with varying success
Latest developments from BT, including: varying pace of public-backed projects ESN, Project Gigabit, R100, and SRN; buying chief Cyril Pourrat on AI momentum; RCS innovation with Brand Assure; Middle Eastern DHL deal; more…
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Network & InfrastructureUK gov pares back Shared Rural Network targets in strategic rethink
Building Digital UK scales back plans for further rural 4G coverage expansion after hitting initial Shared Rural Network targets early. Strategy shift comes after discussions with local communities and interest groups, with BDUK aiming to maximise coverage while delivering “best value for public money”.
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Network & InfrastructureUK’s Freedom Fibre bails out of second Project Gigabit deal
UK altnet becomes latest to cancel rural fibre contract with Building Digital UK, leaving the organisation needing to find another supplier to cover more than 8,500 un-connected premises …
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Financial & PerformanceCityFibre closing in on existential £2bn funding — report
Leading UK fibre altnet reportedly close to securing long-anticipated new equity and debt refinancing, to support operations, organic expansion, and M&A consolidator credibility in overcrowded fibre sector. CityFibre says further details to come “shortly”…
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Weekly BriefingsUK Infrawatch briefing: NVIDIA swoops; BDUK target stretches; altnet ownership wobbles
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including: AI’s role in future connectivity, UK and local government investment plans; altnet acquisition rumours; people moves, and plenty more…
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Network & InfrastructureEx-Nominet boss tasked with hitting UK government’s broadband infra goals
The agency leading key UK government-backed digital infra projects has appointed Lesley Cowley as Chair, tasked with overseeing the Shared Rural Network and (recently delayed) Project Gigabit initiatives…
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Weekly BriefingsUK Infrawatch Briefing: APFN’s new platform, Avanti’s court win, Netomnia grows backbone
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including: wholesale aggregation gathers pace; rural coverage ups and downs; Netomnia’s core capacity expansion; and plenty more…
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Network & InfrastructureFullFibre becomes latest altnet to call off Project Gigabit contracts
UK altnet FullFibre “mutually” agrees with Building Digital UK to terminate two rural fibre contracts, after several other operators have cancelled subsidies under the Project Gigabit scheme in recent months.
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Weekly BriefingsBTwatch Weekly: public cash, automated networks, and UK exceptionalism
Latest from BT, including reports of an overseas B2B carve-out; a new Chief Digital Officer incoming; Reza Rahnama’s evolving ‘Dark NOC’ vision; and a setback in Openreach’s attempt to reform MDU access rights…
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Network & InfrastructureOpenreach banks £157m subsidy for Scottish fibre build
BT’s wholesale access arm confirms latest Project Gigabit regional contract as it continues to stack up government grants for fibre notspots and chase near-£1bn-scale BDUK jackpot. Builds on controversial £600m, Scottish R100 awards…
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Suppliers & SCMNokia and Xantaro flag value of altnet supply deals
Kit vendor and solution provider sign contracts with Fibrus and Wildanet respectively as altnets emerge as increasingly significant to vendors…
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Network & Infrastructure£50m bonus: Fibrus secures Cumbrian Project Gigabit extension
CEO Dominic Kearns talks to TelcoTitans as the Northern Irish altnet readies to deliver fibre to 21,000 premises as part of a £50m Project Gigabit contract extension in Cumbria.
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M&ACityFibre returns to M&A with Connexin deal
Acquisition of network assets in Hull and surrounding region could see additional 184,000 premises passed by CityFibre network.
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Weekly BriefingsBTwatch Weekly: BT’s branding u-turn; EE leads renewed ESN charge
Latest from BT and its ecosystem, including a reversal of BT’s consumer branding strategy; new timelines for the Emergency Services Network migration; and next phase of MAUD testing lined up…
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Weekly BriefingsUK Infrawatch Weekly: Netomnia goes mobile; ESN mobilises; Freedom Fibre walks
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including altnet strategies on uptake acceleration; Project Gigabit and SRN updates; altnet and data centre investment plans; people moves, and plenty more…
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Network & InfrastructureFreedom Fibre becomes latest UK altnet to terminate Project Gigabit contract
Operator cancels £43m subsidy deal, the fourth contract to be terminated.
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Weekly BriefingsUK Infrawatch Weekly: CityFibre turns positive, HS2 gets connected, GoFibre Gigabit win
Project Gigabit, a Sky alliance, and the XGS-PON upgrade were all flagged as positive signs of CityFibre progress as it presented its latest annual results.
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Network & InfrastructureShared Rural Network expands reach as BDUK cutback rumours swirl
Weekend reports suggest operators are irked by possibility that their coverage investment and network optimisation improvements could see the government scale back financial commitments to rural coverage…
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Financial & PerformanceIn depth: Openreach line losses accelerate, fibre gaps widen as strategic vulnerability
Q3 FY24–25: BT’s wholesale division again reports strong financials and record fibre build, but a deeper look reveals a worrying trend of accelerating line losses. This analysis delves into the implications of altnet and Project Gigabit competition, eroding historic market dominance.
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InterviewCityFibre sees commercial promise, ‘moral obligation’ in Project Gigabit
CityFibre’s public sector lead Andy Nash talks to TelcoTitans on the altnet’s emergence as a strategic government supplier for Project Gigabit, answering “the big exam question” on going beyond initial goals, and the moral duty of delivering rural connectivity…