Openreach – Page 15
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Network & Infrastructure
Scotland: Openreach full-fibre plan’s unique challenges
Scotland has hardest to reach rural communities. Increased FTTP activity intensifies competition for skilled engineers. Scottish government pumps funds into rural broadband.
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Public Affairs
TalkTalk takes pot shot at Openreach FTTP pricing
CEO calls for longer-term, discounted full-fibre wholesale deals. Harrison claims BT’s alleged fears of breaching UK competition rules is “red herring”, while incumbent maintains it needs to appease all stakeholders.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT fires another warning shot over fibre roadblocks
Without the right “policy, legislative and fiscal enablers”, BT warns full-fibre nationwide coverage will not happen until 2033. Government target for universal coverage of “Gigabit-capable broadband” is 2025.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT customer quantum trial underway using commercial product
BT highlights ability to plug QKD into OSA Filter Connect, a commercial WDM-based product provided by Openreach. Extensive commercial deployment of QKD in BT’s metro and core networks still at least five years away, however.
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Network & Infrastructure
Openreach misses out on NI’s Project Stratum deal — reports
Startup Fibrus reportedly wins contract for Project Stratum. Fibrus shaking up Northern Irish fibre scene with big plans and deep pockets.
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Premium
Divisional highlights: the value of fibre
Management ready to look at ways to bring out the value of BT’s emerging fibre infrastructure. Beyond the current crisis and recession fears, BT Global advancing down the path to recovery. Sudden freeze of live events underlines the importance of BT Sport to Consumer division financial performance.
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Premium
BT Group Q1 FY20–21
First full COVID-19 quarter sees a sharp decline in revenue and EBITDA. Outflow of cash as network investment continues. Group CEO Jansen claims mists are clearing, enabling Group to issue guidance for the year — although BT anticipates little improvement until 2021. Openreach progress is the main positive for ...
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Premium
Elsewhere in Openreach: FTTP progress trumpeted
Fibre rolls past three million; weather and robbers cause disruption; fleet goes electric.
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Network & Infrastructure
Openreach NI pushes to keep pace in dynamic Gigabit contest
Openreach Northern Ireland accelerating full-fibre rollout as challengers expand their ambitions. Market has highest full-fibre coverage in UK, but urban–rural divide persists. Startup Fibrus takes on Openreach and Virgin Media. Long-awaited, £165m Project Stratum to be awarded soon.
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M&A
BT readies itself to ward off unwanted advances
With its share price deflated, dividend suspended, and a series of financial challenges on the horizon, BT Group is consulting on the best way to shore its defences against unsolicited bids. Boutique banker and trusted Vodafone advisor Robey Warshaw may be added to BT defence team. KKR emerges as ...
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Network & Infrastructure
UK security industry braces for IP voice surge
Openreach looks set to take the plunge on all-IP exchange migration in the coming months and BT’s retail divisions are making a push for IP-based voice services. Industry body BSIA urging members to ensure electronic security estates are prepared for the impending analogue switch-off.
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Premium
BT people moves: leadership switch and a new lead for Scotland at Enterprise
Shuter gets lined up for a BT Enterprise takeover after outgoing McQuade takes his leave.
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT Group leads charge for UK EVs
BT and big fleet operators call for all new car and van sales to be electric by 2030. New coalition urges government action to kickstart EV market.
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Suppliers & SCM
Lords pressures BT on Huawei human rights record
Lords pushing to raise obligations of infrastructure owners to police the supply chain in a way that goes beyond current modern slavery legislation. Government recognised concerns as legitimate, but prioritising improving UK infrastructure rollout. Proposed amendments could put exclusion of Huawei from fixed infrastructure on a faster track than ...
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Network & Infrastructure
UK retreats in face of unrelenting US Huawei-NGN pressure
Trump admin tactics force hand of NCSC on restricting Huawei in networks. Ability of UK security to assess and monitor Huawei deployments undermined when simultaneously trying to secure a threadbare alt supply chain. At least that’s the mainstream story.
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Premium
Government eyes open infrastructure as 2025 plan stalls
DCMS looking at encouraging greater sharing across utilities and telecoms infrastructure, and encouraging Openreach to make use of rivals’ assets. UK government beating drum of infrastructure investment as part of the pandemic response, but references to 2025 Gigabit network deadlines fading into background.
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Premium
Openreach people moves: Lisa Neal takes fibre eastward, Moreland takes it to Scotland
Rosanne Moreland to lead Openreach’s Scottish full-fibre rollout.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Openreach: Competitive action seen at both superfast and ultrafast levels
Sky makes progress on its FTTP launch; Altnet blames Openreach for failings; and Yorkshire superfast procurement process opens.
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Premium
Ofcom go ahead for Openreach race to switch off copper
Ofcom provides a degree of clarity on Openreach’s obligations ahead of relaxation of regulation, once fibre covers an exchange. However, a wait-and-see approach on determining what will constitute a fully fibre-enabled exchange means Openreach is stepping on the accelerator at its own risk.