UK Infra
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Analyst BriefingUK Infrawatch: CityFibre questions nexfibre maths; data centres earn investment boost
Analyst Briefing: Exclusive first interview with CityFibre CEO as altnet and peers prepare for life under new TAR rules; NScale backed for UK growth; Starlink reliance prompts worries; and plenty more…
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PeoplewatchBT Peoplewatch: data and API commercialisation brought under new leadership
March 2026 edition: a wave of end-FY changes sees BT tap Verizon for a Group-level strategy appointment; bring in a new network procurement lead; and move data and API commercialisation under fresh ownership. Significant changes at Consumer and Openreach, while BT alumni pick up exec roles elsewhere…
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Suppliers & SCMVM O2 retains Ericsson and Nokia as it pushes towards 5G-Advanced
European vendor duo land fresh, multi-year RAN deals at UK operator, as it continues catchup effort through Mobile Transformation Plan.
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Network & InfraEE refreshes ESN fleet with Starlink connectivity
Operator rolls out upgrades its rapid response vehicle fleet with Starlink LEO service onboard as it looks to build Emergency Services Network resilience.
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Analyst BriefingBTwatch: Openreach gets innovative with fibre tech
Analyst Briefing: As Ofcom lays out its latest regulatory regime and rivals squabble over altnet consolidation, Openreach remains focused on fibre rollout. Deals with Google Cloud and a pilot with Lightsonic put the incumbent’s fibre deployment machine into overdrive, and showcase the potential value-add beyond pure connectivity…
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B2BBT completes £350m Scottish WAN migration
Group completes upgrade and migration of 5,000 sites in major SWAN milestone, two years after starting the programme.
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Partnerships & AlliancesDT and EWE given fresh fibre build pass till 2030
Despite competitor qualms, German infra giants gain a renewed regulatory green light, with conditions, for fibre joint venture Glasfaser Nordwest.
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Network & InfraUK’s long-delayed ESN gets a new set of ‘realistic but ambitious’ targets
The oft-criticised Emergency Services Network is now expected to go ‘live’ in mid-2028, with a mass transition not set to complete until 2030 — more than a decade behind schedule. EE and IBM claim significant progress, however, and Home Office assures latest dates are within reason…
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M&ALiberty’s Fries dismisses CityFibre ‘sour grapes’ over £2bn nexfibre bulk-up
UK altnet tensions continue to heighten over the competitive implications of planned acquisition of Substantial Group, as Liberty Global CEO hits back at CityFibre over calls for in-depth CMA inquiry.
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Suppliers & SCMOpenreach taps Google Cloud for fleet migration, fibre planning
Suite of Google Cloud platforms and tools support Openreach’s fibre-building machine, ‘optimising’ the EV fleet and streamlining network planning.
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Strategy & ChangeLondon fibreco G.Network emerges from administration debt-free
B2B-focused altnet appoints new CEO, having “successfully reorganised”. The altnet now aims to accelerate take-up over its infra…
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Network & InfraVodafone Germany adds tech partners to drive cable upgrades
German OpCo works with Huber+Suhner and Aurora Networks to support efforts to tap traditional cable stronghold, with fibre playing a supporting role.
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PeoplewatchGerman fibreco Deutsche Glasfaser recruits ex-Vodafone networks and IT execs
Gerhard Mack joins altnet as Chief Operating Officer, with a remit to guide a strategic shift away from rollout and towards driving utilisation of the pressured fibreco’s existing infra.
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InterviewIrrational and anti-competitive: CityFibre CEO urges CMA scrutiny of nexfibre-Netomnia-VM O2 consolidation play
Exclusive: In his first interview as CEO, Simon Holden unpacks Ofcom’s TAR framework and why the Competition and Markets Authority must intervene in the contentious £2bn nexfibre–Netomnia merger to protect infrastructure competition and prevent re-emergence of duopoly stagnation.
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Public AffairsTAR: Ofcom eyes ‘problematic’ promotions as access review sets regulatory landscape
Telecoms Access Review released, setting the scene for the next five years of regulation in the UK’s fast-shifting fibre market. While not signalling any major change of course, likely pleasing incumbent Openreach, altnet take-up appears to be receiving more attention as a litmus of market health, offering a possible fillip to challengers.
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OperationsVirgin Media O2 targets office costs with outsourcing deal
Operator gives facilities outsourcing partner ISS some firm cost saving targets to deliver, in return for two-year contract renewal and expansion.
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Network & InfraUK government targets ‘zombie’ data centre speculators in sweeping energy grid overhaul
Tougher requirements proposed for applicants, designed to curb ‘speculative activity’ artificially inflating massive power connection demand on the national grid, led by ever-larger data centres.
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Financial & PerformanceAmerican Tower to bring US savvy (and clout) to European ops, to drive margin
US wireless infra giant looking to globalise American best practices and buying power across its international operations, in pursuit of new FY30 margin goal. Areas being targeted for savings include land, internal tech, supplier spend, and site maintenance.
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Analyst BriefingBTwatch: slicing 5G, steering 6G
Analyst Briefing: BT gets to work on 5G network slicing with Ericsson in a bid to leverage the network for B2B customers; while ‘committing’ with Nokia, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm to help shape early 6G thinking…
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Network & InfraVirgin Media O2 seeks 5G edge through kit pre-assembly
UK operator is looking for ‘right first time’ gains by shifting to embrace pre-assembly and testing of kit for 5G site upgrades, and in doing so oil the wheels of its ongoing Mobile Transformation Plan.