UK – Page 7
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Products & Services
In depth: One Touch Switching launch day
UK’s ‘imperfect’ fixed broadband migration hub debuts to mixed altnet reviews, and incumbent ISP win-back loophole only spotted on launch day. OTS broadly seen by many challengers as open season on majors with poor customer satisfaction, mixed with fears of race to bottom and weakness on multi-play (Sky and VM O2 are both bullish, too). Register to read…
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M&A
Virgin Media O2 set to sell another chunk of Cornerstone — report
Operator to shed another 8% of tower JV with GLIL Infrastructure and Vantage, bringing total shareholding down to just above 25%.
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M&A
Regulator still dubious on Vodafone–Three merger; wants further compromise
Proposed merger of two underpowered MNOs found to have negative ramifications for UK competitive landscape, but the antitrust body offers road to approval via series of behavioural and structural ‘remedies’.
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Eventwatch
Virgin Media O2 and CityFibre question each other’s fibre maths
Connected Britain: VM O2 CEO Lutz Schüler argues operator is taking “challenger” approach in UK’s fibre market, with nexfibre spin-off and upcoming NetCo positioning operator to be a “long-term sustainable partner” to altnets.
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Financial & Performance
UK altnet Spring Fibre seeks new investors as backers step away
With a near-£14m deficit on its balance sheet, the altnet stated in its FY23 accounts that it was seeking a new investor to support cashflow needs as its principal backer declines to cover plans.
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Network & Infrastructure
TDC NET, Blue Planet trailblaze hybrid network inventory management
North American trend hits Europe with hybrid fibre-5G twist, as Macquarie-backed Danish incumbent NetCo advances IT/OSS and network modernisation, and Ciena’s Blue Planet network automation cloud arm builds momentum. Register to read more…
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Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: 5G SA heralds AI age, Openreach sets wish list for fibre future
Latest from BT and ecosystem, including: standalone 5G launches at last, coupled with new in-home Wi-Fi 7 offerings and AI services, bringing anticipation of convergence change and ARPU growth; Mexico’s Slim adds more BT shares to holding; Openreach lays out TAR desires (much to rivals’ chagrin)…
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Network & Infrastructure
EE preps for AI future with 5G SA and Wi-Fi 7 upgrades
EE says launch of 5G SA in 15 UK cities, coupled with new Wi-Fi 7 routers, show how operator is preparing for a surge in AI usage and bringing its fixed and mobile networks closer together.
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Network & Infrastructure
UK fibre reality check evident in pullback
Compilation of FibreCo plans shows retrenchment in forward planning, reflecting recent financing constraints. With extreme overbuild scenarios, further consolidation looks inevitable. Learn more…
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M&A
América Móvil’s Slim nibbles another slice of BT
Interests linked to the Mexican magnate have added another percentage point to the single-figure-stake they acquired in BT in June, taking the operator’s foreign telco ownership beyond 40%.
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Strategy & Change
T-Systems UK completes data centre shift to Europe
Deutsche Telekom’s UK enterprise IT unit re-houses data workloads from country to central platforms, as part of wider streamlining effort.
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Weekly Briefings
Infrawatch Weekly: Fibrus and Quickline charge on; data centre investment enthusiasm; BDUK investment pros and cons
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including datacentre developments draw in cash, Ofcom mulls new code powers for operators great and small, value of regional subsidy plans pondered, and plenty more…
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M&A
Virgin Media O2 gears up for £1bn NetCo stake sale — report
Operator reportedly aiming to offload at least 20% stake in fledgling NetCo, with several infrastructure, private equity, and pension funds taking interest.
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Interview
UK altnet Quickline pitches ‘patchwork’ solution to rural full-fibre challenge
Quickline CEO Sean Royce tells TelcoTitans not everyone needs a gigabit right now and full fibre is not the only way to improve broadband services in the most remote parts of the UK.
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Weekly Briefings
Vodafonewatch Weekly: rural 4G, industrial 5G, and patents for 6G
Latest from Vodafone and its ecosystem, including: 1&1 roaming deal signed and live; a potential Partner Markets entrance to Uzbekistan; SatCos catch Safaricom flak amid call regulatory overhaul; and more from India, South Africa, further afield…
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Network & Infrastructure
euNetworks lands €2.1bn to spend on European data centre comms play
Stonepeak, APG, and IMCO involved as London-based comms infra group completes a revamp of its finance base.
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Venturing & Investments
Fibrus bags £100m, eyes positive EBITDA in 2025
Fibrus Co-Founder and CEO Dominic Kearns tells TelcoTitans that the operator is focused on its current build plan, growing its retail customer connections (including off-net forays in NI and Cumbria), and achieving the “milestone” of positive EBITDA in 2025.
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People
Openreach simplifies exec team to navigate ‘very complex’ fibre build
Chief Engineer Andy Whale takes on leadership of new Complex Engineering department, bringing together complex fibre and Ethernet build teams.
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Weekly Briefings
Infrawatch Weekly: CityFibre’s Sky swoop; altnet financial ups and downs; Euro data centre cashouts
Latest from digital infra scene in UK and beyond, including: UK fibre altnets posting substantial losses but building up valuable assets; signs that direction of UK state infra investment may be getting a rethink; European data centre sales plans; latest people moves, and plenty more…
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Weekly Briefings
BTwatch Weekly: UK fibre competition heats up amongst other headaches
Latest from BT and its ecosystem, including: Sky inks CityFibre wholesale deal, pushing BT share price off a cliff; Etc. targets role in BT platform strategy, fintech product among the routes in; Business exec changes see new focus for some, as Global options reviewed; more on PSTN, SRN, and full-fibre rollout headaches…