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).
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.
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.
The ambitious nexfibre roll-out strategy continues with plans to extend their services using the advanced XGS-PON architecture, promising symmetrical speeds up to 10 Gbps. This includes expansion into locations like Kent, Cheshire, and Durham. With fruitful collaboration with Virgin Media O2, nexfibre is set to revolutionize broadband access in the UK.
Fibre network giant, ITS Technology Group, enlivens UK telecom sector with a hefty funding acquisition of £100 million from Avenue Capital Group. This new influx brings their total funds to £145 million, opening avenues for strategic network expansion and potential merges. CEO Daren Baythorpe echoes the optimism, hinting at enhancements of 10Gpbs-capable network and strategic acquisitions. Epidemic times demand robust connectivity and this new step promises just that. The partnership with Evolve, promises to feed into the rising demands for bandwidth-rich technologies.
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.
In the wake of digitalisation in local governance, the main impediment to technology adoption lies in the absence of a long-term strategy and infrastructural support. However, with the UK’s current significant revamping of its telecom infrastructure, local authorities’ role is ever crucial. They need to map out strategic goals and innovative solutions that serve their communities. This includes establishing robust collaborations with private sectors from an early stage. Such partnerships, like the one between the ITS Technology Group and the Hammersmith & Fulham Council, have proved successful in expanding network reach.
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.
Lyntia and AI tech start-up Vyntelligence are collaborating to transform Spain’s fibre network deployment, aiming to improve service quality and customer experience. This partnership embraces digitalisation, creating an interactive platform between Lyntia, fibre deployment partners, auditors, and contractors, thus speeding up the delivery of high-quality services. The joint venture has already accelerated customer quality control processes by a significant 33%, offering a glimpse into the future of fibre connectivity.
