UK – Page 14
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Premium
Openreach NI fibre plan stirs up Project Stratum
Openreach Northern Ireland on track to exceed FY20–21 full-fibre target. Overlap emerges with Openreach plan and publicly funded project. NI leads UK with highest full-fibre availability.
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Premium
Telefónica agrees to monetise Cornerstone
Telefónica UK and Vodafone UK give each other freedom to “commercialise” their 50% stakes in Cornerstone JV. Uncertain how Group’s top brass will proceed, but partial or full sale seems likely.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone bulks up Vantage Towers with Cornerstone
Vodafone UK and Telefónica UK give each other freedom to “commercialise” their 50% stakes in Cornerstone JV. Transfer of Vodafone’s shareholding to Vantage Towers to take place within weeks. Important (and long-awaited) addition to Vodafone’s European TowerCo ahead of upcoming IPO.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT calls for alternatives to fibre in rural Wales
Connecting the most challenging premises not viable under the USO. Openreach, backed by government infrastructure committees, wants to look beyond FTTP for gigabit access.
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Network & Infrastructure
Government backpedals on fibre: industry on its own
Improbable goal of universal gigabit coverage abandoned by UK government. £5bn investment plans massively watered down in latest Spending Review. BT critical of retreat. Regulatory environment and sketchy plans for gigabit BDUK could play into Openreach hands.
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Network & Infrastructure
Ericsson joins Nokia in 5G RAN mix
Swedish supplier claims it will handle 50% of EE’s 5G traffic. Vendor stockpiles antennas ahead of Brexit to meet projected UK demand. BT’s Watson talks optimistically about reshaping networks for the future in the absence of Huawei.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT fires another warning shot over fibre roadblocks
Without the right “policy, legislative and fiscal enablers”, BT warns full-fibre nationwide coverage will not happen until 2033. Government target for universal coverage of “Gigabit-capable broadband” is 2025.
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Premium
BT sanguine on DT investment in London fibre rival
Minority BT stakeholder Deutsche Telekom adding to its UK interests through an investment in social housing-focused fibre altnet Community Fibre. Former EE Chief Olaf Swantee to make a UK return as venture’s Chairman. Community Fibre building a business case on sharing Openreach ducts and poles with aim to reach ...
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Network & Infrastructure
Cellnex swerves Telxius questions as it builds war chest
Robustly growing tower company with €11bn burning a hole in its pocket. Linked to an investment in Telefónica’s “magnificent” infrastructure division. Cellnex management say keen on operational control over investments.
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Premium
Government eyes open infrastructure as 2025 plan stalls
DCMS looking at encouraging greater sharing across utilities and telecoms infrastructure, and encouraging Openreach to make use of rivals’ assets. UK government beating drum of infrastructure investment as part of the pandemic response, but references to 2025 Gigabit network deadlines fading into background.
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Premium
BT FY19–20: Fibre target raised — in theory…
BT is upping the target for full-fibre to 20 million premises passed by the ‘mid- to late-2020s’.
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Premium
Full-fibre report card shows some UK progress
Latest IDATE figures show UK as one of Europe’s fastest-growing FTTH/B markets by coverage. But only Austria and Serbia fare worse in terms of subscriber penetration.
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Suppliers & SCM
Openreach reshuffles infrastructure partner pack
Field spread wider, with Carillion’s collapse still front of mind.
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Premium
Commsworld signs up to Dark Fibre X
Scotland-based internet service provider (ISP) Commsworld became the first operator to sign up to Openreach’s recently launched Dark Fibre X
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Public Affairs
New UK Telco Infrastructure Bill introduced
BT Group would have been pleased by indications that a bill aimed at making it easier for broadband providers to access apartment blocks in the face of unwilling landlords had received broad support.
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Premium
Telefónica updates its CTIL oversight team
In January 2020, Telefónica Group refreshed its representation on its UK infrastructure-sharing joint venture (JV) with Vodafone UK, Cornerstone Telecommunication Infrastructure Limited (CTIL).
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Premium
Vodafone UK loosens exclusivity terms with CityFibre
NatCo claims move will accelerate UK FTTP growth. Backs new FTTP trial with Openreach in Salisbury.
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Premium
Openreach delays on-boarding full-fibre know-how
Openreach stalls boardroom re-jig to add more full-fibre expertise amid concerns of growing BT influence. Strategic thinker Sherman considered a risk to Openreach independence by key CP customers, although Ofcom management said to be on board.
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Premium
Vodafone under pressure to rethink CityFibre partnership
CityFibre wants end to VfUK exclusivity to capture more business. Openreach turns VfUK’s head with generous FTTP discounts.
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Premium
Openreach talks-up full fibre, as government moves on…
Openreach following through with full-fibre commitment to distinguish its infrastructure capabilities from rivals. Government putting up more money, but appears open to gigabit alternatives for quicker wins. Openreach tempts government with 2025 win if conditions are right, but appetite for headline-grabbing grand plan appears to be waning.