All BDUK (Project Gigabit) articles – Page 6
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M&AFTTP buyer’s guide: consolidation rife among UK altnets
Fibre-building upstarts and established incumbents target multimillion-premises infrastructure within next several years, putting M&A on agenda for many.
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PremiumScottish government adds £36m to R100 pot
Reaching 100% programme to spend big to cover an extra 2,637 rural properties.
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PremiumBT people moves: Enterprise builds on Health and Defence strengths
Enterprise efforts to return to growth mean investment in Health and Defence verticals and changes to Corporate & Public Sector leadership.
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Strategy & ChangeUK’s new Digital Strategy ‘lacks long-term vision’
TechUK claims new strategy would need to be updated in 2024 to ‘remain relevant’.
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Network & InfrastructureFunding keeps flowing for UK full-fibre altnets
Investor appetite still strong for UK’s busy fibre build scene. Altnets swell ranks to 100 and counting, some start to snap up rivals. Old guard Openreach keeps ahead of the pack with seven million premises passed for full-fibre rollout.
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Network & InfrastructureFibre in Water trials set to boost remote 5G rollout
Tests of fibre broadband technology within water mains infrastructure will examine potential for using water pipes to bring Gigabit connectivity to remote areas. 5G masts to be linked to 17km stretch of network as part of £3.2m project. New industrial use-cases for connectivity intended to minimise water leaks and ...
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PremiumBT people moves: Enterprise names new central government lead
Changes at Group aim to drive talent and leadership transformation. Digital grows with new Corporate Affairs Director and technical appointments in the UK and India. Enterprise accounts leadership swaps include changes at retail and logistics and central government verticals. Building Digital UK looks to populate new Board of Directors; ...
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Digital ReportsBTwatch Report #332 – February 2022
Key stories include: Q3: Jansen confident despite rough numbers | BT airs concern on Cellnex tower deal | BT Sport finds JV buddy | Rackspace backs BT hybrid cloud | DCMS fibre plans in doubt
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Network & InfrastructureMacquarie linked with £10bn UK infrastructure boost
Australian group points to planned investments in UK broadband. Macquarie has snapped up local providers including KCOM, Voneus, and Wavenet.
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Public AffairsDCMS told to get a grip on Project Gigabit
“Disappointed” accounts committee frustrated by lack of measurable progress and clear plans for reaching 2025 target of 85% ultrafast coverage. Department blasted for lack of meaningful legislation on removal of barriers to deployment. DCMS still seeking clarity from operators on national rollout plans.
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Network & InfrastructureAltnets prep fibre wholesale platforms to rival Openreach
Two platforms aim to create full-fibre marketplaces for altnets and resellers. Signs of confederation among the UK’s 80-plus altnets, as wholesale competition heats up. Platforms facilitate Project Gigabit wholesale mandates and One-Touch Switching.
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Network & InfrastructureHow CityFibre rolls with supply chain turbulence
Fibre builders not immune from global supply chain chaos. UK altnets feeling the pinch in chip and labour shortages, alongside rising costs. CityFibre supply chain director shares mitigation tactics.
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Network & InfrastructureColloms: DCMS must “crack on” with reform to back fibre
Openreach MD of Corporate Affairs confident on business’s ability to meet government goals on fibre deployment, but commercial programme will need support to maintain momentum. Physical access to sites potentially a huge obstacle to the rollout in both urban and rural areas, but “common sense” updates to legislation could ...
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Strategy & ChangeJansen battle-ready as competition grows on two fronts
BT CEO returns to pre-pandemic promises of a more robust defence of BT’s market position, on price if necessary. Speculation on heightened wholesale competition comes as Openreach Equinox fibre pricing looks set to reinforce the Group’s strong position. Retail threats may be more pressing for the incumbent as Sky ...
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Public AffairsOpenreach gets Ofcom green light for new FTTP pricing
Cheaper “Equinox” wholesale pricing offer to start on 1 October. Ofcom confirms no action needed on Openreach offer. Fibre altnets strongly opposed and considering next steps.
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Digital ReportsBTwatch Report #328 – September 2021
Key stories include: Technology reorg key to BT refresh | Indian ops under review | EE drives rural Scottish infill | Openreach NI ramps up | Challenger CityFibre fills its pockets
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Network & InfrastructureBT’s Watson highlights fibre’s central place in network ‘jigsaw’
CTO plays down fixed wireless’s role in meeting UK’s connectivity challenge. CityFibre and Hyperoptic welcome Ofcom’s WFTMR, but want Openreach to remain under strict scrutiny. Virgin Media O2 something of an elephant in the room as altnets pitch themselves as more agile rivals.
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Network & InfrastructureJansen now sees BT chasing 30 million premises with full-fibre
Extra five million presented as ‘infill’ and presumably more rural. Immediate competitive riposte to news of Virgin Media O2 FTTP retrofit, which it neatly doubles. Jansen says BT not concerned, but challenger altnets should be. No rush for fibre JV partner, but Jansen reveals a UK compatriot would be ...
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Public AffairsNI report criticises past public broadband projects
Audit Office report cannot verify that two broadband projects “achieved value for money”. High service take-up rates suggest not all public funding was needed. NI expected to claw back £14m of public funds from BT. Hopes for £165m Project Stratum to deliver better outcome for rural broadband.
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PremiumBT “disappointed” as government tweaks voucher scheme
Government kicks off first phase of £1.2bn Project Gigabit. £210m for rural voucher scheme, but fewer communities are eligible; £110m for connecting rural doctors’ surgeries, libraries, and schools. DCMS Delivery Plan suggests considerable uncertainty on most effective way to target government spending.