UK Infra
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InterviewBoldyn champions as-a-service benefits for private 5G
Interview: MPN forerunner Mikko Uusitalo shares how Boldyn Networks is reshaping private 5G with its innovative ‘as-a-service’ model, tackling cost and complexity barriers, as the neutral host seeks to continue leading the way with innovative use cases.
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Network & InfrastructureGame of two halves: Ofcom preps for next five years’ fibre investment
Ofcom declares its fibre strategy to date a success, but reiterates it was implemented with a long‑term outlook running at least over the course of the next review period.
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M&A2025: the year UK FibreCo cash becomes king?
This year may see further billions injected into altnets to pump-prime M&A consolidation, while 2026 could start to see what the end-state looks like (third scale player or continued swarm).
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InterviewNeos Networks on renewal of its UK backbone for altnets, AI and hyperscalers
Neos Networks is reshaping its trajectory with a sharpened focus on optical connectivity and strategic partnerships like Project Reach with Network Rail. Learn how this SSE-Infracapital-backed UK backbone operator considers itself uniquely placed to leverage opportunities in AI-fuelled data centre expansion and altnet consolidation.
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Network & InfrastructureVantage Towers hopeful on ‘massive’ European small cells potential, with UK bringing the blueprint
MWC 2025: Head of Business & Product Development Jaime Abril paints optimistic picture of European market, but calls for regulatory shift and cultural change among MNO customers.
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Network & InfrastructureCommunity Fibre: don’t fear the overbuild
London altnet CEO Graeme Oxby asserts the presence of fibre competition is a spur for greater adoption, as Community Fibre sees accelerating progress on uptake across its 1.3 million premises footprint.
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Network & InfrastructureVM O2 takes aim at mobile network ‘pain points’ with £700m spend plan
UK operator expects to spend £700m this year to alleviate network “pain points” for customers and improve mobile service experience.
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Suppliers & SCMEE, IBM assemble ecosystem to rescue UK’s emergency services network
BAPCO Annual Event: Emergency Services Network contract holders EE and IBM build out programme supply chain, with calibre of partners adding confidence in the Home Office that ESN will deliver.
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Network & InfrastructureFreedom Fibre becomes latest UK altnet to terminate Project Gigabit contract
Operator cancels £43m subsidy deal, the fourth contract to be terminated.
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Network & InfrastructureESN: UK mission-critical comms network has a new (potential) launch date
BAPCO Annual Event: Home Office programme lead lays out new, heavily-caveated Emergency Services Network milestones, with early integration testing this year building towards a late-2029 Airwave closure. Ifs and buts remain, and ‘race still needs to be run’…
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M&ABlackstone’s £10bn UK data centre gets green light
Blyth site set begin construction later this year, with Blackstone acquisition QTS to run and operate the ‘hyperscale’ facility. Energy a consideration in selection of former power station site. Blackstone builds up European digital infra interest with Dutch footprint, Digital Realty JV.
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Strategy & ChangeUK FibreCo Netomnia mobile bolt-on to drive take-up
Top-three fibre challenger targeting inertial BT/EE customer base with segment-first addition of mobile bolt-on. Maverick CEO Jeremy Chelot seeking to break through customer acquisition ceiling, drive up ARPU and retention, chase down Openreach…
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Network & InfrastructureBT weaves Equinix into expanding Global Fabric platform
Network-as-a-service platform deployed at 30 Equinix data centres, with another ten in the offing.
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Strategy & ChangeEuro data centres: infra crunch driving investors to new tier of hub cities — report
Consultancy Eight Advisory highlights rise of emerging challengers to Europe’s dominant ‘FLAP-D’ metros, aided by greater availability of power, land, and labour resource elsewhere. Learn more…
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Suppliers & SCMHitachi–Telent JV picks up £80m telecoms deal for HS2
Rail and infrastructure specialists unite to secure contract overseeing high‑speed rail links comms requirements.
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Financial & PerformanceEutelsat overhauls board as losses mount
Challenged SatCo performs boardroom reshuffle and financial reshaping to drive greater “flexibility”. CEO Eva Berneke affirms LEO expansion on the way, with positive developments in last six months…
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M&AVirgin Media O2 said to attract first offers in £1bn NetCo stake sale
Spanish media reports Virgin Media O2 owners Telefónica and Liberty Global have received non-binding offers from investors for a 40% stake in the planned NetCo carve out, with BlackRock and CPP Investments in the mixer.
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M&ACityFibre confirms M&A outreach, predicts 2025 acceleration and ‘inflection point’
UK’s largest altnet actively engaging rival FibreCos to discuss rollup deals. Sees M&A as “major opportunity” to up competitive pressure on incumbent Openreach. Read more about financial execution, XGS-PON and Sky amongst defining 2025 aspects after first year of profitability
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Network & InfrastructureShared Rural Network expands reach as BDUK cutback rumours swirl
Weekend reports suggest operators are irked by possibility that their coverage investment and network optimisation improvements could see the government scale back financial commitments to rural coverage…
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Financial & PerformanceIn depth: Openreach line losses accelerate, fibre gaps widen as strategic vulnerability
Q3 FY24–25: BT’s wholesale division again reports strong financials and record fibre build, but a deeper look reveals a worrying trend of accelerating line losses. This analysis delves into the implications of altnet and Project Gigabit competition, eroding historic market dominance.