All articles by Neal Doran
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Network & InfraThe service assurance gap: why ‘make do and mend’ fails modern networks
As network cloudification accelerates, a critical gap is emerging between next-generation ambitions and rapidly ageing service assurance systems. Explore the strategic roadmap for replacing outmoded operations with AI-enabled, closed-loop automation that drives business value.
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Analyst BriefingUK Infrawatch: Altnets in the “bleak” midwinter; D9 woes; Ofcom spots fibre strength
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including: Gigaclear secures a modest future after Equitix, Digital 9 hit by surprise Arqiva valuation, Ofcom sees fibre access reach surprising highs, and plenty more…
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InterviewLandolina’s “be useful” philosophy: steering Cellnex towards stronger MNOs, digital Britain
Interview: With the telecoms sector at an inflection point, Gianluca Landolina sees opportunity in channelling simplicity and sustainability, as the Cellnex UK CEO shares the strategic logic behind neutral host expansion and why fewer, stronger MNOs are key to the infraco and national resilience.
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Analyst BriefingUK Infrawatch: data centres chase power, satcos bridge gaps, government tackles scams
Latest from the UK’s digital infra scene, including: billions pour into south east data centres, operators turn to satcos and infra players to plug gaps, heightened focus on network safety responsibilities, and plenty more…
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Analyst BriefingUK Infrawatch Analyst Briefing: banks wobble, equity plays chicken, altnets play baddies
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including: Voneus calls bankers’ bluff, INCA anticipates altnet dominance, nexfibre seeks consolidation jumpstart, and plenty more…
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Financial & PerformanceEquity vs debt: who blinks first in UK fibre consolidation showdown?
In-depth: While sector consolidation presents complexity for altnets seeking to evolve, challenges faced by financial backers invested through equity and loan facilities should not be underestimated.
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Network & Infra‘Not invented here’: overcoming the obstacles to telco digital twin deployments
Is the ‘not invented here’ mindset holding back digital twin adoption in telco? Major satco and long-time practitioner SES joined SI partner Celfocus to argue that strategic collaboration is key to unlocking transformative potential and accelerate journey towards network autonomy.
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InterviewVoneus ‘plays chicken’ with banks and secures new funding
INCA Summit 2025: Macquarie and Voneus director Oliver Bradley indicates terms were renegotiated on Voneus’s existing £70m debt facility, and stakeholders injected further funds to secure the altnet’s future.
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Partnerships & AlliancesLifecycle Software pulls up on Tomorrow Street
Billing solutions provider with an MVNO focus the latest name to join the Vodafone‑backed incubator’s Scaleup X programme.
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PeoplewatchBT’s Watson to retire, McCall steps up
Greg McCall stepping up to lead networks and security into the age of data and AI, closing out safe-pair-of-hands Howard Watson’s decade of digitalisation, fibre, 5G and cloud modernisation.
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Analyst BriefingUK Infrawatch analyst briefing: write-down worries, results revelations, Openreach outrage
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including: altnet debt reality bites, rivals sideswiped by Openreach discounts, CityFibre contract gains, and plenty more…
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Analyst BriefingUK Infrawatch analyst briefing: altnets assemble, convergence interest swells, finances reinforced
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including: Chelot’s altnet future vision, Gamma on FMC opportunities, Project Gigabit funding updates, and plenty more…
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Network & InfraExtra millions flow to UK fibrecos as Project Gigabit contracts updated
CityFibre once again sees a boost to a Project Gigabit contract value as Leicestershire & Warwickshire deal is updated and geographically expanded, becoming the latest fibreco to benefit from Project Gigabit perimeter adjustments…
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PeoplewatchDT IoT chief reemerges to lead Vodafone US drive
Six months after leaving the German operator’s IoT operation Dennis Nikles is joining Vodafone IoT as MD for the Americas.
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Strategy & ChangeGrain skewers wholesale model as altnets ponder consolidation
At Connected Britain the UK’s largest fibre platforms called on investors and smaller players to accept the inevitability of consolidation. Niche challenger Grain rebutted the assumption that scale is now critical, and instead called into question the foundations of current wholesale‑led models.
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Partnerships & AlliancesGamma’s Mike Mills: why UK altnet-MVNO convergence is happening now
For UK fibre players, adding mobile services is becoming a compelling route to maximising ARPU and customer value. Enabler Gamma debunks misconceptions, arguing that the MVNO model can unlock significant returns with fast market entry, while eSIM also rewrites the rules. Learn more…
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Financial & PerformanceFibrus focuses on journey towards breakeven as revenue and EBITDA grow
In conversation: Fibrus CFO talks virtues of the altnet’s integrated business model as it reports steadily rising earnings and nears positive cash flow. Fibre ARPU ‘walk-up’ ongoing, but potential bolt-ons are under consideration…
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Analyst BriefingUK Infrawatch Analyst Briefing: Zen means business, Ofcom unleashes spectrum, Mesch moves up
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including: Ofcom’s advances on satcomms and mmWave, UK plans to address AI energy demand, arrivals at Zen and big moves at CityFibre, and plenty more…
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Network & InfraUK AI council looks north as energy demand set to soar — but connectivity an afterthought
Initial meetings of the government’s AI Energy Council see predictions of surging energy demand and challenges in ensuring existing infrastructure is up to the job, but connectivity requirements appear sidelined with fibre operators asbent…
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TechnologyCase study: Vodafone seeing tangible AI success in the field
Vodafone and Celfocus unveiled early but striking results in embedding AI into field operations — cutting repeat visits and harmonising quality — to both accelerate the operator’s zero-touch ambitions and sharpen customer focus.