CityFibre secures wayleave permissions to connect over a million locally-owned and housing association homes, reducing the digital divide and providing essential digital infrastructure. Collaborations with organizations like Places for People aim to support those struggling with the cost of living and staying online.
Netomnia has merged with Brsk, forming the UK’s second-largest alternative network provider after CityFibre. This merger creates a network footprint of 1.5 million premises ready for service (RFS), aiming to reach 3 million by next year. Supported by £1.2 billion in debt funding, the merger combines complementary networks to enhance market position and service delivery, emphasizing expansion and innovation.
The landscape of fibre broadband in the UK is rapidly evolving, with over a fifth of premises now enjoying the choice of two or more fibre broadband providers. This development can be attributed to the efforts of alternative network operators across the country.Recent data from Point Topic reveals that nearly two thirds of UK premises, totaling 20.4 million, now have access to fibre broadband as of March-end.
A recent market study by INCA (Independent Networks Cooperative Association) and Point Topic reveals that alternative network builders in the UK have collectively expanded fibre infrastructure to more premises than BT’s Openreach unit. By the end of 2023, UK altnets had reached 12.9 million premises with fibre, exceeding Openreach’s coverage of 12.8 million.
The Australian investment bank, Macquarie, is reportedly considering an exit from KCom amidst escalating competition within the UK alternative network (altnet) sector. A recent report in The Telegraph suggests that Macquarie has engaged advisors from PJT Partners to conduct a strategic review of KCom, indicating potential changes on the horizon.
PJT Partners sets out to scrutinize UK telecom operator, KCOM’s business strategy, a move that could trigger significant changes like a sale or merger. This arises from previous disclosures regarding the potential interest of CityFibre and Virgin Media O2 in purchasing the uniquely positioned company that operates independently of BT’s Openreach network.
Rumors of a impending merger swirl around two of UK’s pivotal alternative network providers. Such union could massively boost FTTP coverage across the UK. Amid speculations of rapid network consolidation and shared investment, this collaboration signifies a vital shift in UK’s fibre market. However, the union also begets challenges in terms of subscriber transition and meeting regulatory deadlines.
In a significant move to ensure the smooth transition of landline services to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), the UK government has announced an expansion in the roster of telecommunications companies committed to safeguarding vulnerable customers. The initiative, led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), now includes Openreach, CityFibre, and several others, alongside initial participants like BT and Virgin Media O2.
TalkTalk has surged ahead to become the UK’s largest retail fibre broadband provider, boasting a service reach to over 15 million premises, edging out competitors like Vodafone and Zen Internet in the race for the broadest fibre network. This expansion has positioned TalkTalk at the forefront of the UK’s digital infrastructure landscape, despite facing operational hiccups.
In a surprising move, Blackpool-based Internet Service Provider (ISP) Yayzi has outpaced its larger competitors by introducing a 2.3-Gbps consumer broadband service. Leveraging CityFibre’s XGS-PON network, the service, which boasts a symmetrical throughput of up to 10 Gbps, sets a new standard in the UK ISP market.
