Strategy
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PeopleTelefónica rejigs team to break new trail on infra
Chief Executive of Telefónica Infra to leave after six years in role, giving the Spanish group a new setup to push through a change in approach on management and ownership of fibre assets. Politically connected Board Director takes on the challenge…
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InterviewINCA CEO: ‘job done’ when altnets join Openreach as industry ‘baddies’
INCA Summit 2025: With consolidation looming and the next Telecoms Access Review on the horizon, the UK’s fibre landscape is at a tipping point. Altnets, however, are still reeling from (pantomime) villain Openreach’s latest pricing initiative, with disappointment at Ofcom inertia, and suspicion the incumbent is testing what it can get away with…
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M&A‘We need to get on with it’: nexfibre boss wants to see altnet acquisition action
Fibreco chief suggests some investors will have to swallow losses on altnets as the industry goes into consolidation mode.
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Financial & PerformanceAs lenders wobble on UK fibre, should altnets brace for potential write-downs?
FTTH Congress CEE: ING warns that lender peers are weighing up debt write-downs as UK and European fibrecos fail to deliver on business case promises. Altnet leaders warn that investors are ‘scarred’ by past shortcomings, but can be reconvinced…
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Public Affairs‘Enormously aggressive’: nexfibre leads altnet complaints against Openreach copper-to-fibre discounting
Connected Britain 2025: As Openreach pulls levers to combat massive broadband losses, and drive fibre adoption alongside, altnet leaders have called out the discount pricing strategy as unsustainable. nexfibre execs have called it an exploitation of the incumbent’s significant market powers, CityFibre warns of structure advantage, plus views from other altnets, rivals…
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Financial & PerformanceEutelsat shareholders inject funds to cut debt, boost LEO buildout
Satellite operator’s Board of Directors given the go-ahead for capital increase at Annual General Meeting, with plans to utilise funding to deleverage and advance satellite constellation ambitions.
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Strategy & ChangeFrom upstart to fibre-mobile powerhouse: Netomnia CEO plots BT take-down
Connected Britain: Jeremy Chelot refreshes provocative vision for fibreco segment, with fixed-mobile convergence latest outcome of choice. The ultimate prize could be a scaled altnet merging with VodafoneThree, or a new MNO — creating a new heavyweight contender to BT/Openreach…
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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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Public AffairsBT’s Kirkby pulls no punches in review of UK regulatory, fiscal policy
Connected Britain: Allison Kirkby lets loose on Downing Street policy, with greater fiscal certainty needed to fund much-needed infra investment and AI adoption. Regulatory policy comes in for inevitable criticism too, as the BT boss sets the scene for the Chancellor’s upcoming Budget and Ofcom’s pending Telecoms Access Review…
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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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M&ATDF sale speculation: American Tower and Ardian are latest names in frame
Bidders are said to be circling the French wireless infraco and a sale is estimated to be worth up to €10bn.
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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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B2BZen enters ‘next phase’ of B2B with new leadership, evolving strategy
Ex-TalkTalk Business exec Jon Nowell steps in to lead Zen Business with a mission to disrupt, urges UK enterprises to reconsider status quo.
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Network & InfraUK takes step closer to D2D satellite services go-live
Regulator Ofcom to launch a framework that will permit direct-to-device satellite services next year, using BT, VodafoneThree, and Virgin Media O2 spectrum.
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Network & InfraIndus Towers eyes Airtel’s Africa markets in first move beyond India
Indian towerco’s Board of Directors gives the go-ahead to move into Africa, starting with three markets, with a helping hand from longstanding customer and controlling shareholder Bharti Airtel…
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Strategy & ChangeKenyan gov adds infra to Safaricom separation talks — report
Government reportedly mulling a potential split of Safaricom into three separate businesses, including a dedicated infrastructure unit.
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M&AAXA still seen as likely partner in Telefónica, Vodafone Spain fibreco
Operator duo reportedly in advanced stages of discussions to offload stake in Fiberpass. Telefónica expected to retain a majority holding, as it seeks to take greater control over its European infra asset base…
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Strategy & ChangeHelios to refresh strategy in hunt for further organic growth
Wireless infra group to announce revamped five-year plan later this year, as it seeks to maintain growth momentum within its core towers business. Read more…
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Network & InfraKCOM bows to pressure, launches PIA to end Hull’s ‘Pole Wars’
Better later than never: Hull incumbent debuts Physical Infrastructure Access wholesale infra product fourteen years behind Openreach, giving rivals Connexin and MS3 long-coveted access to assets for fibre rollout…
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Analyst BriefingsUK Infrawatch analyst briefing: altnet financing flows, DSIT ponders infra future, satcomms prioritised
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including: new financing for Grain Connect and TalkTalk, UK government backs satcomms, Wight Fibre shares overbuild lessons; people moves, and plenty more…