Wales’s leading alternative telecoms provider – Ogi – has revealed plans to bring full fibre connectivity to Tenby, one of Pembrokeshire’s most iconic seaside towns. Tenby is the latest of over 60 communities across south Wales to benefit from Ogi’s privately backed broadband rollout launched in 2021. Once work to connect around 5,000 premises in the town is complete, Ogi will be the leading alternative choice in much of west Wales.
CityFibre teams up with four civil engineering firms to aid challenging fibre infrastructure projects in the UK, courtesy of recent government funding. This alliance hastens fibre infrastructure development across several counties, marking Cambridgeshire as the initial rollout area. Noteworthy, however, is the lack of equivalent high-speed, Gigabit-capable infrastructure in these areas before. Although progress has been steady with Project Gigabit, this new venture signals a grand advancement towards achieving nationwide high-speed connectivity.
Navigating the ‘Right First Time’ operations in FTTP networks, especially in a highly competitive UK landscape, can be challenging. The advent of computed vision presents a transformative solution, using machine learning to detect anomalies and streamline operations. This technology raises the bar for operational standards, while reducing time, cost and errors, driving forward the future of FTTP operations in the UK.
A surprising surge in UK home broadband speeds reveals unexpected players in the game, with cable services outpacing full fibre. Yet, amid the rise of lightning-fast download speeds, the upload band still sees full fibre reigning supreme. Noticeably, cable packages prove their worth even under the gruelling test of peak hours. Nevertheless, experts advise not to overlook service quality when choosing broadband. A glimpse into the changing landscape of broadband services shows an intriguing volatility that leaves room for industry alterations and subscriber adaptation.
In a record-breaking flurry of innovation submissions, the Connected Britain Awards are turning the spotlight on frontrunners shaping the UK’s digital frontier. The anticipation builds as the official shortlist for 2023 announces contenders across 15 award categories.
Formulating the future of UK’s internet, Building Digital UK (BDUK) triggers the procurement process under the £5 billion Project Gigabit framework. Their ambitious objective: accelerate gigabit-speed broadband coverage to capture a minimum of 85% of premises by 2025. However, there’s a twist in the tale, as reaching remote regions still poses a formidable challenge.
With BT Group’s current CEO Philip Jansen’s departure on the horizon, the telecommunications industry is abuzz as Telia’s top-notch leader Allison Kirkby is slated to step into his shoes in 2024. Equipped with a celebrated career within the telecom sector and experience as a non-executive director at BT since 2019, Kirkby’s ascension is anxiously anticipated.
BT’s innovative Etc unit is poised to launch trials repurposing outdated street cabinets into electric vehicle (EV) charging points. Aiming at a smooth transition during the UK’s fiber rollout, this pioneering step initially caters to BT Group and Openreach employees in Northern Ireland, with plans for public engagement. However, the venture’s ultimate impact rests heavily on successful pilot performance.
Huawei plans a comeback in the smartphone market with new 5G devices using domestic chip supplies. Concerns persist about the quality of these chips and Huawei’s absence from the Android Play Store. CityFibre challenges Openreach with a faster wholesale FTTH service, while Optus collaborates with SpaceX’s Starlink to expand mobile coverage in Australia’s remote areas. Ofcom investigates O2 Virgin Media over customer complaints, and the European Court of Justice rejects a ruling on the Three-O2 merger, adding to the uncertainty in the telecommunications regulatory landscape.
As the UK’s fibre landscape intensifies with rising competition, leading players are racing to expand gigabit-capable broadband nationwide. Noteworthy, alternative network providers, referred to as “AltNets”, are displaying proactive strategies to swiftly deploy networks. On the other hand, traditional companies are recognising opportunities in fibre rollout, as seen in Openreach’s pricing approach of their wholesale lines.
