All Fibre Challengers articles
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Interview
Cuckoo MD sees national retail reach as vital in loosening Big 4’s fibre grip
Startup consumer‑focused fibre ISP Cuckoo is positioning itself as a national-scale player at a time when many UK peers are thinking local, underpinned by customer-centric Sarah Howells and the Kraken next-gen ops platform (also backed by Octopus Capital). Login to learn more…
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Weekly Briefings
Deutsche Telekomwatch Weekly: Telco Cloud heads east
Group lays out operational and commercial ambitions based on expansion of network of cloudified network core hubs across Europe.
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M&A
UK altnet group AllPoints nabs new retail service provider Brillband
Fern Trading‑backed fibre altnet acquires Glasgow‑focused retail fibre startup, and backs plans for continued expansion.
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Financial & Performance
Clock ticking for UK altnet Spring Fibre as administration looms
A notice of intention to enter administration has been submitted, with the altnet having until the end of the week to find a solution for its financial situation or appoint an administrator.
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Financial & Performance
Community Fibre keeps focus on customer connections with £125m funding windfall
London-based fibre altnet Community Fibre has secured £125m in debt financing but does not plan to ramp up network build, will instead use funds to support customer acquisition drive.
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Financial & Performance
Grain claims to beat Openreach connection costs as EBITDA breakeven nears
UK fibre altnet frontloads capex to build to property boundaries, making for cheap connections when customers sign up, but Grain may be playing a high-risk game…
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People
Zimmermann assumes CEO spot at Open Dutch Fiber
Chief exec switch at Dutch fibre challenger sees former Deutsche Glasfaser and Vodafone exec take the helm.
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Financial & Performance
CityFibre on the hunt for more cash to fund capital-intensive fibre rollout
UK altnet’s debt and equity funding due to dry up next year, but talks ongoing with prospective investors for new cash.
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People
Freedom Fibre names new CEO as investors chip in £45m
Industry veteran Neil McArthur steps back from frontline as private equity fixer arrives to oversee next phase of commercialisation and integration at newly-merged altnet. Register to read more, incl. investor, financial backdrop…
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Public Affairs
UK Minister hints at fixes for FibreCos’ apartment access woes
Operators vent about barriers to accessing MDU access as new Telecoms Minister offers support for reforms, but little in the way of detail or firm commitments…
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Products & Services
In depth: One Touch Switching launch day
UK’s ‘imperfect’ fixed broadband migration hub debuts to mixed altnet reviews, and incumbent ISP win-back loophole only spotted on launch day. OTS broadly seen by many challengers as open season on majors with poor customer satisfaction, mixed with fears of race to bottom and weakness on multi-play (Sky and VM O2 are both bullish, too). Register to read…
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Eventwatch
Virgin Media O2 and CityFibre question each other’s fibre maths
Connected Britain: VM O2 CEO Lutz Schüler argues operator is taking “challenger” approach in UK’s fibre market, with nexfibre spin-off and upcoming NetCo positioning operator to be a “long-term sustainable partner” to altnets.
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Financial & Performance
UK altnet Spring Fibre seeks new investors as backers step away
With a near-£14m deficit on its balance sheet, the altnet stated in its FY23 accounts that it was seeking a new investor to support cashflow needs as its principal backer declines to cover plans.
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People
UK altnet Quickline onboards telco veterans to guide Project Gigabit build
Fibre builder changes C-suite roster to help it reach target 450,000 full-fibre connections by 2027.
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Venturing & Investments
Altnet Ogi picks up £45m in funding from Cardiff councils
Welsh fibre altnet secures Cardiff Capital Region debt facility and additional backing from long–term investor Infracapital.
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Interview
UK altnet Quickline pitches ‘patchwork’ solution to rural full-fibre challenge
Quickline CEO Sean Royce tells TelcoTitans not everyone needs a gigabit right now and full fibre is not the only way to improve broadband services in the most remote parts of the UK.
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Network & Infrastructure
CityFibre adds ‘kingmaker’ Sky in fibre wholesale offensive
UK’s largest altnet signs wholesale deal with Sky, making a dent in Openreach dominance and pushing further the claim of genuine competition to the incumbent. Sky commits to rental economics, while CityFibre leverages Project Gigabit fame to help ISPs to new full-fibre markets…
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Network & Infrastructure
Trooli CEO: UK’s Project Gigabit scheme will ‘come into its own’
Talking to Zen’s Richard Tang, Trooli CEO Andy Conibere praised the work of the government’s BDUK in stimulating an altnet industry.
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Network & Infrastructure
Openreach enters Project Gigabit fray at near-£1bn scale
Openreach handed its first Project Gigabit contracts, more in discussion. UK government ‘redoubles’ rural infill efforts, including first few in Wales…
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Weekly Briefings
Infrawatch Weekly: Italian infra on the up; Project Gigabit preps leap forward; Macquarie comes and goes
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond; including INWIT prepping for Italian investment boost; Indus Towers finally getting paid; claims that UK PIA oversight is MIA; latest people moves; and plenty more…