In a bold move to reshape the UK’s broadband landscape, VMO2, backed by shareholders Liberty Global and Telefónica, has announced the launch of a new fixed network company, ambitiously positioned as a direct competitor to BT’s Openreach. Dubbed NetCo for now, this venture aims to accelerate the adoption of full fibre broadband, offering a fresh financing framework and a potential platform for the consolidation of alternative network providers (altnets).
SpaceX’s Starlink project has secured provisional approval from UK regulator Ofcom for E band spectrum access, significantly enhancing its satellite network’s backhaul data capacity. This move addresses the UK’s current demand-driven capacity constraints. By utilizing three ground stations, Starlink aims to improve service quality, compete effectively, and optimize costs.
Nokia, in collaboration with Global Fiber Peru, has successfully launched a pioneering subaquatic optical, IP, and fiber broadband network in the Amazon rainforest. This new network aims to connect approximately 400 communities within the three-border region where Peru, Colombia, and Brazil meet.
Anticipate a sweeping change in home entertainment in South West England with broadband provider Truespeed’s partnership with Sky. Delivering ultra-fast broadband enriched with Sky TV and Netflix programming, this new package aims at offering premium digital connectivity alongside quality entertainment. An intriguing insight to the world of Sky Entertainment and Netflix is bundled with the high-speed internet from Truespeed for a rewarding viewing experience.
In a robust move, Nokia is set to enhance 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) with the unveiling of FastMile, two innovative solutions aimed at boosting indoor and outdoor coverage. This stride could revolutionize the industry, especially when considering wall attenuation effects on network capacity. FastMile’s outdoor solution cleverly sidesteps signal loss due to wall materials, while an intuitive mobile app assists users in determining the best placement for their receivers—shaping a route towards an optimal user experience in telecommunications.
As the world navigates towards an AI-integrated future, the call for reliable connectivity has amplified. The UK’s telecom market, a beacon of global standing, is pivoting towards this demand. Its thrust for seamless connectivity is stimulated by the push for efficient network management and shared infrastructure. Spearheading this transformation is the UK’s transition to fibre optics, aided by the strategic decision to sunset the Public Switched Telephone Network by 2025.
The US government has recently provided clarity regarding foreign equipment purchases under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) programme. The emphasis is on minimizing exceptions to ‘buy American’ rules, particularly reflected in the fibre-optic sector. Notwithstanding, one significant provision allows sourcing glass used in fibre optics from overseas. This comes as a relief for firms worried about supply sufficiency and costs. The spotlight of foreign vendors, meanwhile, is potentially electronics, with proposed exemptions including most semiconductors.
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority recently adjudicated a dispute over the supposed misleading adverts of ISP, 6G Internet. The ASA ruled that the company name erroneously suggested the availability of non-existent 6G services. The decision underlines a recurrent issue of consumer confusion over service offerings in the telecommunications sector. Despite the controversy, 6G Internet has not indicated plans to adjust their brand name, possibly sparking inevitable customer confusion as the prospect of true 6G technology looms nearer.
Gigaclear commits to connecting rural communities in Yorkshire, extending its full fibre network to 16,000 homes and businesses. The move minimizes disruption, using existing Openreach infrastructure, and aims for service availability by year-end.
5G will be available for trial in seven cities across the UK. Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, and London were selected to run the tests on the upcoming network. Those new infrastructures will be running the new 5G at the end of 2018 between October and December. Earlier this year, Vodafone paid £378 million, to get 50Mhz of the 3.4GHz spectrum. Nick Jeffery, Vodafone’s chief executive stated, “We want to make 5G and new fibre broadband services available to consumers and business throughout the UK, delivering a Gigabit society for all. We will also be bringing ultra-fast 4G to several hundred sites in hard to reach rural areas this year, building on our position as the network that offers the best voice coverage in the UK.” Vodafone’s goal is to launch a full 5G service in the UK by 2020, when 5G devices will be available on the market.
