All United Kingdom (UK) articles
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Network & InfrastructureLabour veers away from UK broadband nationalisation as Project Gigabit plods on
With a UK election expected within a year, the shadow digital minister backs infrastructure competition, and suggests Project Gigabit plans would be maintained by Labour, despite reservations.
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Venturing & InvestmentsIFM targets UK infra with £10bn capital injection
Australian investor plans to analyse “commercially viable” opportunities in collaboration with UK government, bolstering its existing commitments to fuel the nation’s infra expansion.
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EventsUK's One Touch Switch debate erupts, with March 2024 deadline hanging in balance
INCA Conference 2023: Fiery panel discussion sees OTS platform questioned, accusations of ‘threatening’ behaviour, Ofcom deadline looming, exemplary punishment mooted, risk of altnets being cut off from opportunity to take market share with major ISP migrations…
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Network & InfrastructureVM O2 and Community Fibre net London school infra deals
Virgin Media O2 Business to provide and maintain dark fibre infrastructure for nearly 3,000 schools until 2038, via a tweak to LGfL deal. Education-focused broadband trust signs separate Community Fibre contract for added resilience.
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M&APrivate equity buyout of Gresham House moves closer
UK infra investor announces clearance of regulatory and other obstacles to takeover by Searchlight Capital Partners.
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EventsProject Gigabit draws criticism over voucher headaches and cross-regional contracts
INCA Conference 2023: see what “nightmare” is haunting altnet leaders within Project Gigabit; confusion over cross-regional contracts; and what new BDUK CEO has to say on it all…
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Enterprise (B2B)London’s Vorboss breaks B2B fibre price-performance barrier for retailers
Leading on price as well as “unheard of” performance, CEO exclusively unpacks new low-priced 10Gbps Retail Connect proposition for TelcoTitans UK Infrawatch. Read more about how Vorboss is setting itself apart…
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M&ABT eyes musicMagpie: flailing gadget marketplace offers circular economy, consumer tech boost
musicMagpie confirms “very early” talks with BT and private equity partner Aurelius as operator seeks to spin up circular economy credentials, stretch into consumer retail via New EE.
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Financial & PerformanceVodafone’s problem children: German remedial progress, Spain disowned, UK betroved, Italy seeks paramour
Vodafone Europe H1 FY23–24 insights, including Germany still needing to navigate TV exodus; regional organic growth; the happier story at remnant smaller markets; and more…
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Partnerships & AlliancesBT exploring HAPS-based 5G business case as R&D taxis for take-off
Partnership with Stratospheric Platforms sees HAPS-based 5G tested at Adastral Park ahead of airborne trials next year.
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M&AVirgin Media O2 has ‘six or seven’ UK altnets on M&A radar
Operator looking at several altnets as acquisition targets, says parent Liberty’s CEO Mike Fries, who predicts UK will end up with “just two networks”.
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Financial & PerformanceBT pensions deficit way down in face of oncoming headwinds
BTPS deficit down more than 50% as management express pleasure with progress towards full funding; de-risking also in full swing, likely of interest to potential investors/takeover bidders…
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M&ATwo down, one to go: Vodafone gets serious about M&A in Italy
H1 FY23–24: CEO Margherita Della Valle signals Italy is next in Group’s “right-sizing” initiative for struggling European markets as strategy in motion for Spain and UK.
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Public AffairsPhones 4u trial: UK MNOs cleared of collusion; appeal possible
Tough ruling for administrators who bet tens of millions on winning vast damages with collusion claim. O2, EE, Vodafone and then-parents Telefónica, Deutsche Telekom and Orange may have dodged biggest hits, but reputational damage could linger. Read more on ruling, backstory, next…
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Network & Infrastructurenexfibre reiterates wholesale fibre ambitions, shares UK-wide build plans
VM O2 wholesale fibre cousin discloses 2024 footprint pipeline; confirms more than half a million premises RFS in year-one. Wholesale remains firmly on agenda, with M&A also on table…
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M&AHelios keeps M&A plans on ice, despite sunny outlook
Middle East and Africa tower group to remain disciplined on deal-making, despite being ahead of the game on leverage reduction and growth.
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Financial & PerformanceJansen concedes losses to altnets as Openreach set to miss annual fibre build target
BT Group CEO Philip Jansen boasts of fibre progress but guidance for coming quarters indicates Openreach will fall short of four million premises passed in the FY; earnings call included a rare admission that Openreach lines are being lost to altnet rivals.
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Network & Infrastructurenexfibre maintains M&A appetite after Upp buy
Mike Fries, CEO of joint venture’s co-parent Liberty Global says fibre builder still “aggressively” focused on M&A.
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Strategy & ChangeUK infra investment group Fern branches out into mobile services
Expansive fibre, energy, and property investor builds an MVNO enablement platform business, targeting high-street retailers and other consumer brands.
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M&AVM O2 in exclusive talks to shed Cornerstone stake morsel — report
Price looks low, albeit for a minority stake, but sellers may be playing control premium long game with likes of Vantage Towers.