All Fibre Challengers articles
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Network & InfraVodafone’s German fibre JV signs 1&1 as latest wholesale customer
1&1 to offer broadband services over OXG Glasfaser’s infrastructure starting next year, further expanding its addressable fixed broadband footprint in bid to stem customer base decline.
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Consumer (B2C)WightFibre focuses on demographics and experience as local market matures
CEO John Irvine identifies key demographics where converged legacy players may still hold sway, although bonds are loosening…
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Network & InfraVodafone’s German fibre JV plots 2025 commercial launch
OXG Glasfaser wheels in motion ahead of commercial services go-live. Delays and slow rollout pace have raised questions, but Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle says JV is now in “catchup mode”…
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Financial & PerformanceQ1 FY25–26: Openreach fibre machine keeps rolling
Access services business keeping up its relentless build pace, while connections are soaring. UK fibre’s pre-eminent multi-tasker shows build can be accelerated alongside strong take-up, but broadband losses continue to mount in the meantime…
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Financial & PerformanceGrain snags £225m funding as Equitix recommits
Nearly half a billion pounds in total funding now unlocked to fuel one of the UK’s largest and most intriguing low-cost fibre builds, with Equitix re-upping investment alongside bigger funders…
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Network & InfraTAR 2026: altnets, Openreach rail against ‘puzzling’ regulatory misstep
In a rare show of alignment, Ofcom’s Telecoms Access Review re-zoning proposals get a sledging from altnets and the incumbent as the UK’s fibre industry unites to vent frustration at potential regulatory framework update…
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Analyst BriefingsBTwatch Analyst Briefing: the scale of the altnet challenge
Latest from BT, including a look at the threat faced by Openreach as fibre altnets mature; PIA in focus as Fibrus co-founder questions the incumbent’s duct and pole access pricing; BT Group’s embrace of third-party IT support tools in a bid to cut costs, drive digital transformation; more…
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Deep DiveUK Fibre: altnet optimism vindicated over time as take-up erodes incumbent dominance
In depth: Eight Advisory’s latest Tracker shines light on altnet challenge to Openreach, with mature cohorts reaching parity and fibre insurgency continuing amidst land-grab tactics. TelcoTitan’s analysis explores linear trajectory of upstarts, impact of overbuild, continued testing of investor patience, and whether the UK can truly sustain more than two major platforms…
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Partnerships & AlliancesDNS:NET, Eurofiber forge German open access fibre pact
German fibre duo build on prior collaboration through the Open Access Alliance with a fresh wholesale deal, enabling them to leverage each other’s network infrastructure in Berlin.
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Analyst BriefingsUK Infrawatch Analyst 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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Financial & PerformanceCityFibre ups the ante with 5Gbps fibre launch
New 5.5Gbps offering to be available across national footprint once XGS‑PON upgrade completed. While notably differentiating in the UK, 5G-10G services increasingly available elsewhere in Europe, and at low cost…
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Network & InfraVodafone’s German fibre JV shakes up suppliers to navigate Geodesia delays
OXG Glasfaser has enlisted 29 build partners to accelerate infra rollout and mitigate delays seen with Altice-owned Geodesia. Vodafone’s Margherita Della Valle says the JV is now at “cruising speed” and ready to kick on…
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M&AMásOrange, Vodafone Spain ‘rethink FibreCo stake sale’
Operator duo reportedly considers adjusting plans to offload a 40% stake in their work-in-progress fibre joint venture, after “most” of the initial non-binding offers that investors have submitted fell below the €7bn minimum valuation they are seeking.
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Analyst BriefingsEMEA Infrawatch Briefing: tower sell-offs, DC deployments, orbital experiments
Cellnex CEO Marco Patuano says the TowerCo is one step closer to selling its Swiss business and French data centre assets. Meanwhile, IHS Towers forks off Rwandan unit to newly formed tower player. In the space sector, several players look to get D2D services off the ground, while others tinker with new space comms solutions.
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Products & ServicesRip & Restart: AllPoints launches aquila UK fibre wholesale platform
Days after Zen’s The Fibre Hub launch, Fern Trading outpost opens curtains on UK’s latest aggregator in effort to offer a simplified, stable route to ‘national’ ISP scale, with multiple FibreCos and B2B retailers already on board. Could this be the game-changer the altnet segment needs?
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Financial & PerformanceCost leadership key as UK FibreCo Grain sows seeds of profitability
Connected North: Grain CEO Richard Cameron positions “cost leadership” as the key to long‑term success for a consolidating and converging altnet sector, following positive earnings in most recent quarter.
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M&ACityFibre’s Holden: altnets and backers must pull together for investment‑grade nirvana
In-depth from Eight Advisory’s London event: as UK fibre altnets face financing challenges, optimistic CityFibre COO reveals vision for consolidation, suggesting sector is “a very small number of M&A transactions away” from creating a sufficiently scaled platform to rival BT/Openreach and VM O2. Additional Greg Mesch and Rob Hamlin coverage from FTTH Conference in Amsterdam…
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Network & InfraINCA hails altnet heroes as spectre of overbuild looms
In a punchy, positive report altnet industry group INCA hails “dynamic” altnets on a mission to bring “fairer, faster, and more resilient” connectivity to the UK, but competitive benefits may not be sustainable, and the spectre of ‘supervillain’ Openreach still looms large.
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Network & InfraOpenreach’s new deputy CEO: fibre take-up accelerating, ‘and we can go even faster’
FTTH Conference 2025: Katie Milligan teases Q4 build and take-up figures as Openreach keeps up the fibre rollout pace. Altnets reframe competition battle around migration…
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Analyst BriefingsEMEA Infrawatch Briefing: data centre strategy roadmaps; InfraCos seek to cut overlap
Latest on EMEA Infra: several digital infra and telecoms players adjust data centre strategies, aiming to capitalise on rising demand for AI and cloud services; FibreCos forge fresh access deals with goal of reducing overbuild; wireless infra players still up for sharing; more…