UK Infra – Page 17
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Public AffairsBT braces as Ofcom fibre ruling looms
Ofcom to set out its fibre vision this week, and while BT may get pricing freedom, it may not get the longer-term clarity it craves. Regulator’s steps to open up infrastructure competition may also disrupt the incumbent’s plans.
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PremiumOpenreach NI fibre plan stirs up Project Stratum
Openreach Northern Ireland on track to exceed FY20–21 full-fibre target. Overlap emerges with Openreach plan and publicly funded project. NI leads UK with highest full-fibre availability.
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PremiumTelefónica agrees to monetise Cornerstone
Telefónica UK and Vodafone UK give each other freedom to “commercialise” their 50% stakes in Cornerstone JV. Uncertain how Group’s top brass will proceed, but partial or full sale seems likely.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone bulks up Vantage Towers with Cornerstone
Vodafone UK and Telefónica UK give each other freedom to “commercialise” their 50% stakes in Cornerstone JV. Transfer of Vodafone’s shareholding to Vantage Towers to take place within weeks. Important (and long-awaited) addition to Vodafone’s European TowerCo ahead of upcoming IPO.
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Network & InfrastructureBT calls for alternatives to fibre in rural Wales
Connecting the most challenging premises not viable under the USO. Openreach, backed by government infrastructure committees, wants to look beyond FTTP for gigabit access.
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Network & InfrastructureGovernment backpedals on fibre: industry on its own
Improbable goal of universal gigabit coverage abandoned by UK government. £5bn investment plans massively watered down in latest Spending Review. BT critical of retreat. Regulatory environment and sketchy plans for gigabit BDUK could play into Openreach hands.
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Network & InfrastructureEricsson joins Nokia in 5G RAN mix
Swedish supplier claims it will handle 50% of EE’s 5G traffic. Vendor stockpiles antennas ahead of Brexit to meet projected UK demand. BT’s Watson talks optimistically about reshaping networks for the future in the absence of Huawei.
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Network & InfrastructureBT 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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PremiumBT sanguine on DT investment in London fibre rival
Minority BT stakeholder Deutsche Telekom adding to its UK interests through an investment in social housing-focused fibre altnet Community Fibre. Former EE Chief Olaf Swantee to make a UK return as venture’s Chairman. Community Fibre building a business case on sharing Openreach ducts and poles with aim to reach ...
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Network & InfrastructureCellnex swerves Telxius questions as it builds war chest
Robustly growing tower company with €11bn burning a hole in its pocket. Linked to an investment in Telefónica’s “magnificent” infrastructure division. Cellnex management say keen on operational control over investments.
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PremiumGovernment 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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PremiumBT FY19–20: Fibre target raised — in theory…
BT is upping the target for full-fibre to 20 million premises passed by the ‘mid- to late-2020s’.
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PremiumFull-fibre report card shows some UK progress
Latest IDATE figures show UK as one of Europe’s fastest-growing FTTH/B markets by coverage. But only Austria and Serbia fare worse in terms of subscriber penetration.
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Suppliers & SCMOpenreach reshuffles infrastructure partner pack
Field spread wider, with Carillion’s collapse still front of mind.
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PremiumCommsworld signs up to Dark Fibre X
Scotland-based internet service provider (ISP) Commsworld became the first operator to sign up to Openreach’s recently launched Dark Fibre X
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Public AffairsNew UK Telco Infrastructure Bill introduced
BT Group would have been pleased by indications that a bill aimed at making it easier for broadband providers to access apartment blocks in the face of unwilling landlords had received broad support.
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PremiumTelefónica updates its CTIL oversight team
In January 2020, Telefónica Group refreshed its representation on its UK infrastructure-sharing joint venture (JV) with Vodafone UK, Cornerstone Telecommunication Infrastructure Limited (CTIL).
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PremiumVodafone UK loosens exclusivity terms with CityFibre
NatCo claims move will accelerate UK FTTP growth. Backs new FTTP trial with Openreach in Salisbury.
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PremiumOpenreach delays on-boarding full-fibre know-how
Openreach stalls boardroom re-jig to add more full-fibre expertise amid concerns of growing BT influence. Strategic thinker Sherman considered a risk to Openreach independence by key CP customers, although Ofcom management said to be on board.
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PremiumVodafone under pressure to rethink CityFibre partnership
CityFibre wants end to VfUK exclusivity to capture more business. Openreach turns VfUK’s head with generous FTTP discounts.