UK Infra
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Public AffairsUK gov walks barrier-busting tightrope in bid to ease MDU connectivity headaches
Government sets so-called Barrier Busting Task Force to work, aiming to remove blockers to Gigabit upgrades at multi-dwelling units and apartment blocks. Openreach welcomes the proposals, but Whitehall must avoid giving the incumbent any inadvertent advantage…
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PeoplewatchDigital Infra Peoplewatch: PremiumFiber fills out senior team; TDF leadership rejig rolls on
December 2025 edition: firmed-up PremiumFiber names financial, legal, and tech management; TDF appoints Sophie Giordano and Audrey Piton in latest management shake-up; Equinix CFO Keith Taylor to retire after 27-year tenure; more…
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PeoplewatchCityFibre hiring Neil McRae as CTIO — why?
In-depth: Former BT Chief Architect looks set to unexpectedly return to UK broadband. Is the largest fibre specialist looking to tap strategist’s deep understanding of incumbent and networks, or more recent experience in cloud and FWA?
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Network & InfraSpace race: Ofcom begins countdown for D2D satellite services
UK regulator firms up framework, paving way for MNOs to launch direct-to-device services in the New Year…
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InterviewCityFibre CTO plots PON roadmap to 50G and beyond
UK fibreco CTO David Tomalin talks PON future: XGS now in place and a 10–20 year technology roadmap that elects to leapfrog 25G. Vendor interoperability deemed marker of market maturity, with long-time favourites Calix and Nokia earning plaudits…
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Network & InfraOpenreach joins UK gov’s infra tracking project
Openreach joins the UK government’s National Underground Assets Register, highlighting the potential to reduce accidental damage to its infra and improve rollout efficiency for other businesses by mapping out its network through the scheme…
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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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Network & InfraUK fibre: debt-laden Gigaclear scoops funding after ‘disappointed’ investor steps back
Deep dive: Rural specialist confirms £80m+ injection and claims uncertain future now settled. But questions remain amid rumours of potential sale and in wake of strategic backer Equitix making a sharp exit, as the UK’s National Wealth Fund again resembles policy-led Project Gigabit backstop…
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Network & InfraOpenreach turns up the heat on legacy network migration as deadline looms
Access provider wields both carrot and stick in bid to hasten analogue-to-digital migrations, with price hikes and rental discounts among the incentives. Altnet rivals riled, CPs ‘welcome’ the move, and BT/Openreach set to benefit after initial 18-month drag…
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PeoplewatchDigital Infra Peoplewatch: more change at Eutelsat; Vantage CEO named
November 2025 edition: France’s Eutelsat appoints Sébastien Rouge as CFO; Martin Bouchard becomes Vantage Towers’ fourth CEO in three years; UK altnet CEO departures continue, with Guy Miller leaving MS3 Networks and Sean Royce exiting Quickline…
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Financial & PerformanceBT CEO snubs fibre M&A, doubling down on Openreach organic growth — despite accelerating line losses
Q2 FY25–26: Allison Kirkby showed little enthusiasm at thought of mopping up fibre altnets as part of much-anticipated consolidation, instead insisting Openreach is best focused on its own game, and set up to beat any incursion — notwithstanding line losses accelerating alarmingly…
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Network & InfraBT taps Starlink to ‘bridge’ fibre gaps in rural reaches
UK telco becomes the latest operator to tie with Starlink to improve rural connectivity offerings for customers. “Landmark” deal follows experimentation with the technology in recent years, with rivals having unveiled their own satellite connectivity plans…
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PeoplewatchVodafone and BT veteran joins Boldyn board
Rob Shuter, former CEO at BT Enterprise and a veteran Vodafone fixer, has been added to Boldyn’s Board of Directors, with the neutral host player seeking to tap his finance and telecoms experience in decision-making…
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PeoplewatchQuickline CEO departs in top-level leadership refresh
Rural-focused UK altnet appoints finance and transformation expert Mark Bowden as CEO, with Sean Royce moving to take on an advisory role. Quickline also draws from its ranks to name a new CFO…
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Venturing & InvestmentsEquinix ploughs £3.9bn into UK data centre build
International data centre operator acquires work-in-progress Hertfordshire site, with plans to develop more than 250MW of IT capacity in the future. Equinix’s move is the latest multibillion-pound investment in UK data centres, with several others seen in recent years…
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M&ANetomnia takeout rumours: first billion-dollar M&A for UK fibre?
Deep dive: Reports suggest Netomnia is in play, with cashed-up nexfibre/VM O2 and CityFibre tagged as frontrunners in the race to build a national fibre challenger to Openreach. TelcoTitans Infrawatch explores the backdrop, leading players (including Liberty Global and Telefónica), netco-servco dichotomy, and likeliest outcomes…
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Partnerships & AlliancesVirgin Media O2 ties with Starlink on direct-to-device services
Operator to launch its first direct-to-device satellite services in partnership with the US LEO constellation provider, deepening the pair’s existing relationship while seeking to keep pace with rivals already exploring the segment…
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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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Strategy & ChangeUK’s Netomnia targets ISP giants with YouMobile MVNO
Fibre altnet and wannabe convergence player set to launch mobile by the end of the year, piggybacking on the VodafoneThree network. CFO Wil Wadsworth and CEO Jeremy Chelot have sights set on the UK’s FMC establishment…
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M&AJersey and Isle of Man telcos combine to drive scale
Operator Jersey Telecom partners with investment group CVC DIF to acquire the Isle of Man’s largest telco, aligning with its expansion strategy…