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 bold move to accelerate the United Kingdom’s digital infrastructure, nexfibre, a UK-based wholesale fibre network provider, has committed to investing £1 billion during the 2024 financial year. This investment aims to significantly expand the country’s broadband capacity, focusing on areas currently underserved by existing networks.
The telecommunications sphere is preparing for a significant event: Altnets’ inclusion in the revered EB100 digital guide. This recognition represents Altnets’ successful year, fueled by innovation, community contribution, and robust growth. Altnets’ appearance on this list is a testament to its commitment to high-quality service and client satisfaction.
Airtel Africa is redefining its enterprise, anticipating to leverage Africa’s burgeoning digital sector with the advent of its novel fibre wholesaler, Telesonic. The subsidiary will harness the power of Airtel’s vast terrestrial fibre network, bolstered by the firm’s stake in the pan-African submarine cable, 2Africa.
As both the UK and US strive to deliver full-fibre broadband, each country grapples with its hurdles; one being persuading landlords to greenlight installation plans within their properties. In the UK, mechanisms are in place to enable operators to seek judicial access if landlord agreement is unattainable, a luxury the US lacks, suggesting the potential need for new legislative action in America. A monumental goal for both nations is eliminating the digital divide which requires a comprehensive combination of varied technology methods.
Discover Altnets and ISPA’s newly launched report’s deep dive into UK’s full fibre broadband sector. Unearth historical setbacks and the transformative impact of procurement strategies in this detailed analysis. Insight-packed, it fosters understanding of the sector’s intricacies and highlights Altnets’ contribution to the gigabit broadband transition.
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.
As Germany’s “Gigabit funding 2.0” program faces potential budget reductions, there’s concern it may throttle the rollout process with overcrowded construction capacity, causing a potential lag in projects. Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs declares a €3.6 billion allocation for the ourishing fibre-optic network industry.
EXA Infrastructure, the largest dedicated digital infrastructure platform connecting Europe and North America, and Lancom, one of the fastest growing providers of data centre, cloud, and telecoms services in Greece – today announce their strategic partnership to bolster connectivity and infrastructure services, establishing Greece as a critical link to internet exchanges in Europe.
The allure of AI technology and its insatiable demand for data is sparking a new interest in fibre backbones. However, this digital evolution is revealing a myriad of challenges for newcomers, with the fibre industry grappling with economic pressures from inflation, supply chain disruptions and rising interest rates. While the European Union’s telecom mergers & acquisitions policy may offer consolidation opportunities, those venturing into this dynamic sector must be prepared for a landscape fraught with potent risk and complexity.
