In recent news sure to intrigue VoIP engineers and telecommunications enthusiasts alike, it has been reported by Sky News that TalkTalk is on the verge of acquiring Shell Energy’s remaining telecoms clientele from the Octopus Energy Group. This acquisition would impact an estimated 480,000 broadband customers, although it is interesting to note that these customers are currently serviced by TalkTalk via their wholesale platform.
Details of the agreement are anticipated to be made publicly known in the near future. This report comes hot on the heels of Octopus Energy’s recent takeover of Shell Energy UK, a transaction that was executed less than two weeks ago after being announced in September.
For those customers utilising Shell’s energy services, this sale is expected to cause minimal disruption, if any. The picture was decidedly less clear for the firm’s broadband subscribers due to the fact that the Octopus Energy Group does not operate an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
The sale of these customers to TalkTalk, a well-placed and ready buyer, seems a logical progression for the non-ISP Octopus Energy. This transaction is not a first for TalkTalk. They played a similar role during a deal with Ovo Energy last year. Ovo Energy, after having acquired SSE’s energy and broadband customers in 2020, experienced financial pressure leading them to pass SSE Phone & Broadband customers over to TalkTalk.
