Latest UK Headlines
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Network & InfrastructureOpenreach targets 30m full-fibre premises, nexfibre calls for altnet ramp-up
At Connected North in Manchester, Openreach optimism was juxtaposed by altnet consternation about the state of the UK fibre market.
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Network & InfrastructureJob done on Scottish rural 4G initiative
Scottish 4G Infill programme wraps up after seven years.
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Weekly BriefingsBTwatch Weekly: Watson calls for discipline, Openreach eyes fibre mega-contracts
Latest from BT and its ecosystem as CSNO Howard Watson calls for patient investors and looks ahead to rewards at the end of the networks upgrade tunnel; Openreach licks lips at prospect of Project Gigabit mega-contracts; and more SRN updates as EE charges on…
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Network & Infrastructure25G/50G slow-go: Openreach may hold out till 2030s on next-gen fibre tech
In depth report — two of the UK’s biggest fibre wholesalers have dampened expectations of imminent 25G and 50G PON upgrades, despite prep-work. Virgin Media O2-backed nexfibre sees no “imminent” case for commercial launch. Openreach also wants greater energy efficiency and to maximise older-gen GPON value extraction, with point-to-point eyed for enterprise. Read more…
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Financial & PerformanceLightning Fibre’s quick insolvency switch could show the way for struggling altnets
Lightning Fibre’s £40m pre-pack sale out of administration and back into the hands of the investment fund that had supported its initial build may prove a template for struggling UK altnets as expectations on performance levels rise, but at what cost for suppliers and partners? Read more…
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M&ABT revives Ireland sale talks as Kirkby picks up where Jansen left off — report
BT said to be considering BT Ireland sale as new CEO Allison Kirkby attempts what Philip Jansen could not. A sale would extend the asset-light strategy taken on at BT Business…
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PeopleBT’s Howard Watson dedicates lifetime achievement award to Networks ‘obsession’
FutureNet World: BT Chief Security & Networks Officer Howard Watson thanks 7,300 BT Networks staff for contribution to BT prowess as he was named Technology Leader of the Year. Other award winners include Amdocs, Celfocus, Netcracker, Nokia, Huawei, Vodafone, more…
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Network & InfrastructureVirgin Media O2 turns to Starlink for UK rural boost
Operator to use low-Earth orbit backhaul in an effort to bolster its rural connectivity, as progress on meeting Shared Rural Network deadlines has lagged…
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Network & InfrastructureBT, Vodafone seek fast cash and stricter discipline as sector adjusts to new digital reality
FutureNet World: Vodafone’s Andrea Donà and BT’s Howard Watson issue a call for more cash, patient investors, and industry collaboration as network technologies evolve and a light emerges at the end of the investments tunnel. Watson heralds success of fixed, but wants the next mobile ‘G’ to be held back…
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Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: CTOs to the fore as industry reshuffles, DT disses 1&1, BDUK springs forward
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including big Project Gigabit wins for Quickline, Wessex Internet, and Wildanet; a first appearance in the wild of a DSIT-funded 4G mast; DT taking a swipe at its newest mobile rival; people moves, and plenty more…
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Network & InfrastructureMajor players in the frame as Project Gigabit mega-deals come into play
Altnets including Quickline, Wessex and Wildanet pick up BDUK contracts to reach rural homes, but the prospect of cross-regional deals for Openreach and VM O2 appears increasingly likely as another agreed deal is abandoned…
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Network & InfrastructureDSIT-funded masts go live as UK’s SRN plugs eco-credentials
The Shared Rural Network is gathering steam and tooting its horn as government cash finally begins to flow to remote 4G sites. SRN management are pushing an environmentally friendly purpose, and operators EE and VM O2 are vying to be seen as programme stars.
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Weekly BriefingsBTwatch Weekly: SME bizmodel shake-up; cybersec gets another partner boost
Latest from BT and beyond, including major changes to the Group’s regional SME IT services model, with more activity brought in-house in latest evolution; BT Business continues to put cybersecurity on the agenda with fresh commercial deal; and Phones 4u imbroglio rolls on with EE not out of the spotlight yet…
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Enterprise (B2B)BT evolves Local Business with more activity brought in-house
Changes afoot across BT’s SME IT services portfolio as some regional partners step up and others fall away. Pattern emerges of fewer partners holding expanded remits, and BT is not shying away from bringing some regions in-house “where we need to”…
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PeopleUK fibre challenger AllPoints nets Adtran CTO
High-profile Ronan Kelly joins £1bn-backed FTTP wholesaler within Octopus’ streamlined Fern Trading stable.
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Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: sharpened focus for emerging TowerCos, bumps on path to UK fibre consolidation, 6G in space
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including TowerCos IHS and Helios embracing core-strengthening exercises; Netomnia’s predictions for a likely ceiling on market penetration for altnets; and the beginning of the next rules update for the UK’s fibre landscape. Plenty more…
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Public AffairsRound 3: Phones 4u’s MNO collusion claims OK’d for appeal
EXCLUSIVE: Court of Appeal to reconsider initial judgment that cleared operators and then-parents. Questions may include whether more weight be given to findings that attempts were made to fix 4G pricing by O2 and Vodafone, that EE misled Ofcom, and that Ronan Dunne made an apparent admission of coordination between Telefónica and Vodafone. Deutsche Telekom and Orange still potentially on the hook as former EE owners, but extent of any direct impact still pending. Learn more…
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Partnerships & AlliancesTelefónica Tech deepens Tenable ties to drive security expansion
Unit incorporates Tenable One exposure management platform into growing NextDefense-VRM portfolio, also furthering AI and cybersec credentials, guided by parent’s GPS revenue-rich, M&A-light strategy…
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Weekly BriefingsVodafonewatch Weekly: Germany goes into cost-cutting mode, while shareholder Xavier Niel grumbles about Group strategy
Lots of action in Germany this week as Vodafone announced 2,000 job cuts and new efficiency programme and fibre altnets argued the practical and competitive hurdles holding back gigabit broadband deployments. Read the full briefing…
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Weekly BriefingsTelefónicawatch Weekly: Group wants bigger ownership (but smaller rights bill) in Germany
Group launches bid to take O2 Germany private, while local CTIO calls for renewal of soon-to-expire spectrum licences, rather than reauctioning. Telefónica makes finance-focused management changes across several functions. Telefónica, O2 UK to shell out £7m after judge admonished legal defence in Phones 4u legal case. Elsewhere: Telefónica Tech ...