In a strategic move to enhance their presence in the North West of England and the Midlands, Freedom Fibre and VX UK have announced a merger, forming a new entity named Freedom Fibre Limited. The combined operation will cover a substantial footprint of 285,000 premises, with Neil McArthur, founder and CEO of Freedom Fibre, leading the helm along with the current senior leadership team from Freedom Fibre.
Founded in 2020, Freedom Fibre specializes in wholesale-only services and has a longstanding agreement with TalkTalk. This year, the company expanded its offerings to include a range of B2B products. VX UK, with a strong presence in Stoke on Trent and surrounding areas, operates through its unique contract with Stoke City Council. The company sells its broadband services under the LilaConnect brand and provides wholesale offerings for local ISPs. VX UK also possesses fiber assets in Bristol and Colchester.
Describing the merger as a strategic alignment of strengths, Neil McArthur expressed excitement about the potential of the newly combined business. Damian Stanley, Managing Partner at InfraBridge, the significant investor backing the merger, emphasized the complementary nature of the two companies. This includes geographic proximity, network build quality, and retail and wholesale go-to-market strategies.
Damian Stanley further stated, “The combination of VX UK and Freedom Fibre, with the backing of our shareholders, brings together two of the UK’s leading alternative network providers into a new, stronger company.”
The merger, subject to standard regulatory approvals, is anticipated to be finalized by the end of Q1 2024. With the support of TalkTalk, the newly formed entity aims to provide enhanced and expanded broadband connections across the enlarged business.
