Original article ISPreview UK:Read More
Glasgow-based full fibre broadband ISP Brillband, which was acquired by AllPoints Fibre Networks (APFN) back in October 2024 (here), has today announced that they’ve successfully placed their first orders via APFN’s new aquila wholesale platform – this aggregates fibre (FTTP) networks from several operators to help retail providers expand their coverage.
At present APFN’s platform claims to integrates full fibre networks and services from Openreach, BTWholesale, CityFibre and APFN’s own-built consolidated networks (i.e. Jurassic Fibre, Swish Fibre and Giganet). This is said to offer an “expanding footprint currently addressing around 19 million premises, enabling retail providers like Brillband to rapidly expand their addressable market permitting them to scale to serve customers nationwide.”
Brillband said it would continue to operate as an independent retail ISP brand within the APFN Group, maintaining its current approach to customer service and digital-first operations.
Duncan Di Biase, Founder and CEO of Brillband, said:
“This is a landmark moment for Brillband. Our first order on aquila is more than just a technical achievement. It is a signal that our vision for better broadband is becoming reality. We have always believed in doing things differently, and aquila gives us the reach, flexibility and insights to deliver reliable and honest broadband to customers’ homes across the length and breadth of the UK without in-contract price hikes.
Ronan Kelly, Managing Director of APFN, said:
“We are thrilled that Brillband is now using aquila. Their energy and commitment to transforming the broadband experience aligns perfectly with our mission. This first API driven order is just the beginning. We look forward to supporting Brillband as they grow and innovate across our expanding network footprint.”
However, given that those trying to sign-up via Cuckoo (another one of the APFN Group’s own retail ISPs) are still having difficulty accessing packages via APFN’s own consolidated networks (Jurassic Fibre, Swish Fibre and Giganet), there was a question mark over whether the same issue might befall new customers trying to join Brillband in those same areas.
ISPreview did conduct some limited testing on Friday and found that we still couldn’t access APFN’s own built networks via either Cuckoo or Brillband. We also contacted APFN to clarify the status of their related integration and a spokesperson told us that it won’t be live at launch, although they are “working to change that as quickly as we can“. In the meantime, access is still possible via Openreach and CityFibre’s networks.