UK
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Strategy & ChangeUK’s Digital 9 enters ‘next phase’ of prolonged wind-down
Troubled investment group continues efforts to eke out value from its remaining digital infra assets, advancing its long-running wind-down process. However, future of broadcast infra player Arqiva remains a significant source of uncertainty, and D9 concedes it may not complete its sell-off plans for another three years…
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PeoplewatchLondon altnet G.Network fills out post-administration exec team
UK fibreco appoints commercial, financial, and operational leaders after emerging from administration. Returning CEO David Sangster says management revamp will help “accelerate growth”.
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Network & InfraOpenreach hoovers up more Project Gigabit deals after altnets pull out
Openreach picks up subsidised build after Freedom Fibre and FullFibre withdraw. Move comes as altnets continue to pull out of Project Gigabit arrangements amidst financial constraints…
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Financial & PerformanceMacquarie takes a hit as it considers KCOM exit
Investment group writes down more than half a billion pounds on Hull-based operator as reports swirl of imminent sale.
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Financial & PerformanceUK fibre: lenders seize control of Gigaclear following debt restructure, Infracapital wipeout
In depth: rural provider handed over to lenders in sweeping recapitalisation, following £0.5bn+ debt and equity write-down, with cashflow inflection point said to be on the horizon. Investors zeroed out, following abandoned trade sale, with spotlight also on National Wealth Fund sector exposure…
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OperationsOpenreach onboards AI agents in bid to cut missed appointments
Customer service lead Chris Herbert talks up ‘unified, proactive, AI-powered’ customer engagement strategy, underpinned by NiCE agents.
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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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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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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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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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PeoplewatchCellnex UK promotes ops boss into CEO slot
Long-time Ericsson exec Steve Cray, who joined Cellnex in September 2025, becomes chief of UK unit. He fills gap left by Gianluca Landolina’s transfer to lead tower group’s new pan-European verticals business…
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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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Strategy & ChangeVIRTUS bets on tier-two Europe in ‘speculative’ data centre expansion
Interview: Macquarie-backed operator VIRTUS Data Centres is accelerating its European ambitions with a speculative build model, targeting tier‑two metros to stay ahead of hyperscaler demand and replicate a tried-and-true campus model. Business Development VP Christina Mertens talks ambition, strategy, and investor backing…
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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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Venturing & InvestmentsUK’s Nscale closes $2bn fundraise to expand data centre platform
AI infrastructure player closes multibillion-dollar financing round to help accelerate its expansion of data centres in Europe and beyond.
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Analyst BriefingUK Infrawatch: DSIT lays out digital infra priorities; M&A gets real
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK, including: government prioritises infra growth, Netomnia-nexfibre deal formalised, altnet lenders take the reins, and plenty more…
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Network & InfraVM O2 plans ‘mini macro’ sites to boost city bandwidth
MWC26: UK operator has engaged tower companies on buildout of new, lower-footprint site form factor as part of ongoing, £700m-per-year Mobile Transformation Plan…