Neal Doran
Neal Doran is a Senior Analyst for TelcoTitans. Neal's industry knowledge and experience as a telecoms analyst and writer spans three decades, and he has been a key part of TelcoTitan's Editorial team since 2001.
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Financial & PerformanceVodafone invites peer comparison as UK preps for merger
While final decision on JV with Three is awaited, Vodafone UK claims to be holding its own against competitors it previously suggested it was too fragile to compete with in the long‑term.
Financial & PerformanceBT Consumer promises long-term growth revenue, but where from?
H1 FY24–25: Consumer suffering a hangover from several years of inflation‑fuelled excess, but expects to regain health before year is out…
Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: fibre retail goldrush, Ericsson and Nokia wins, space gets crowded
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including Lit Fibre and AllPoints consider retail prospects; private equity keeps up data centre funding momentum; Boldyn brings positive vision to neutral hosting, and plenty more…
InterviewCuckoo 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…
M&AUK 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.
Network & InfrastructureBoldyn’s Igor Leprince: Connections built on trust
CEO reflects on a personal and professional mission to lead his neutral host venture on a journey that is embracing network complexity to transform lives and organisations, binding together the fabric of industry and communities worldwide, and helping mainstream operators bear the load. Read more…
Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: Community Fibre wins backing, Spring Fibre loses; data centres dominate
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including Community Fibre’s latest funding; the UK National Wealth Fund’s capital cut; SpaceMobile’s role in satellite war games; and plenty more…
Financial & PerformanceClock 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.
Public AffairsPhones 4u: Antitrust “enforcer” CMA to weigh in on UK MNO collusion claims
For the first time ever, the Competition and Markets Authority is to intervene in an antitrust Court of Appeal hearing, homing in on alleged collusion between O2 UK and EE CEOs at 2012’s infamous Landmark Hotel meeting. It does not appear to be dwelling on 4G collusion or poor record-keeping smoking guns. Read more from TelcoTitans’ in-depth ongoing coverage…
Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: TowerCos face churn, altnets’ £800m losses, TalkTalk rapped
Latest from the digital infra scene in the Europe and beyond, including another £16m on the £800m UK altnet losses pile; £6bn datacentre boost; European TowerCo consolidation mooted, and plenty more…
Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: EU to invest in quantum, subsea, and 5G; hurricanes accelerate LEO clearance
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including a new data centre for Manchester; Starlink sat‑to‑cell cleared for hurricane relief; EU heralds €865m spending plans, and plenty more…
Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: UK altnets chase funding, DTCP backs Ireland for datacentres, physical infra sparks objections
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including CityFibre exceeds 2023 expectations; Atlantic Hub datacentre expansion in Ireland; Huawei UK increases security test spend; Italy bids for strategic subsea assets, and plenty more…
Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: Gigaclear eyes more funding, SatCos look to partners, DT fuels infra beefs
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including potential funding gap at Gigaclear; Intelsat links with Vodafone; new leadership at Freedom Fibre; Ofcom calls in OTS reinforcements, and plenty more…
Innovation (R&D)Celfocus: Project Sylva enables enterprise for new connectivity solutions like MPN
Evolving at breakneck speed, the open-source cloud‑native platform is highlighting opportunities to unlock solutions development as well as greater efficiency for telco cloud. Telco SI Celfocus pinpoints streamlined mobile private network propositions to advance delivery of connected enterprise experiences.
PeopleFreedom 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…
Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: telco politics across Europe, infra sell-offs, new UK fibre leader pops up
Latest from the digital infra scene in Europe and beyond, including: Draghi’s plans for Euro consolidation; One Touch Switch impact; another LEO constellation funded; $40bn data centre IPO looms; people moves; plenty more…
Weekly BriefingsInfrawatch Weekly: £12bn boost for UK data centres; TowerCo investment reservations
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including: UK tops G7 in digital index, with AWS and DC01UK planning local DC splurge; TowerCo concerns on EU investment; 5G agricultural use cases; people movesl; and plenty more…
Financial & PerformanceUK 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.
Network & InfrastructureNTT DATA: Embracing open network to monetise telco investment
Vendor-neutral technology service provider upbeat on opportunities for telecom operators to make profitable returns on investment in next-generation infrastructure — if they step up to the challenge of managing the complexity of open networks.
Venturing & InvestmentsAltnet 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.