Telna enters into strategic partnership with Bridge Alliance

Bridge Alliance to leverage Telna’s eSIM capabilities for new connectivity and revenue opportunities

Toronto, Canada – February 25^th, 2025 – Telna, a leader in managed eSIM connectivity, today announced its strategic partnership with Bridge Alliance, a prominent mobile alliance comprising major mobile network operators (MNOs) across the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. The partnership will enable participating MNOs to deliver a seamless mobile roaming experience for subscribers, drive new revenues and capitalise on the growing demand for travel eSIM services.

With the partnership, Bridge Alliance can leverage Telna’s roaming eSIM enablement platform to equip its members with advanced roaming eSIM distribution capabilities, tapping into the wider eSIM distribution ecosystem. This implementation will enable onboarded MNOs to seamlessly integrate eSIM technology, ensuring their connectivity services are future-proofed and optimised to address new roaming challenges. They will be able to enhance their retail offerings and unlock new growth opportunities, allowing them to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving mobile landscape.

Telna’s eSIM-Ready digital platforms – including APIs, web, mobile, and super app solutions – are helping to redefine international roaming. By embedding eSIM activation into every digital touchpoint, Telna enables MNOs and MVNOs to deliver a hassle-free international roaming experience that is underpinned by seamless and flexible international connectivity. This removes the need for physical SIM cards and delivers a frictionless experience for subscribers who can access flexible, and affordable, data plans directly through web stores and mobile apps. Additional business opportunities can be created through third party eSIM integrations, enabling brands to deliver travel services via their own super apps.

Gregory Gundelfinger, CEO of Telna, explains: “eSIM technology is efficient, cost-effective, and flexible. It allows for faster and more efficient provisioning of services, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards which reduces costs. eSIM enables seamless mobile connectivity, with plans tailored to customers’ needs and usage patterns. This creates new revenue opportunities through data plans and device management services.”

Telna’s solution embeds eSIM connectivity into high-traffic super apps, allowing for instant eSIM activations for millions of users. Additionally, Telna’s eSIM solution is white-labelled and customisable, enabling MNOs to brand their own digital eSIM storefronts and mobile applications for further revenue opportunities. Its API-first approach ensures flexibility, scalability, and ease of integration. MNOs can connect their systems with the platform’s APIs to exchange data, plan information, and provisioning requests. The platform will then generate the necessary eSIM profile and deliver it directly to the customer’s device, communicating with the MNO’s network to complete the provisioning process.

Gundelfinger added: “The flexibility and simplicity of eSIM technology appeals to customers. It will help MNOs to monetise the so called ‘silent roamers’, subscribers that tend to avoid using mobile services while they’re abroad, preferring to rely on WiFi instead. Operators have long sought for a solution to activate silent roamers and recover those revenues, but with little success. Now, eSIM offers that solution, allowing MNOs to provide affordable and easy-to-use roaming packages that help customers maintain control over their connectivity.”

Ken Wee, Senior Vice President for Partnership and New Business at Bridge Alliance, said, “We’re delighted to have Telna join our Bridge Alliance Technology Partnership Programme. We look forward to deepening our partnership in enabling the roaming eSIM distribution ecosystem and to meet emerging needs in new roaming industry trends.”

Note to the editor

Telna is exhibiting at MWC Barcelona 2025, located at Hall 7 Stand 7C31 / Kiosk 8 of the Canada Pavilion, of the Fira, Gran Via, exhibition centre. Gregory Gundelfinger is speaking at the GSMA hosted eSIM Summit – eSIM the connection of the future, which is being held at 14.30 on Wednesday, March 5^th at the Partner Theatre 4, Hall 8.0 – 4YFN & Partner Theatres. 

About Telna

Telna is a global leader in providing managed wholesale eSIM platforms to Mobile Network Operators, Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), and other telecom providers. Telna’s platform enables seamless eSIM activation, management, and connectivity across multiple devices and networks, offering innovative solutions that drive scalability and revenue growth for its partners.

In the last week of March 2025, students from Maple Bear School will establish the first-ever direct radio contact between Bulgarian students and astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) through the ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) program.

The connection will take place between March 24 and 28, 2025. A week before the event, the exact date and time will be announced on https://spacecontact.bg/, where the live broadcast will also be available.

The website provides fascinating information about the ISS, space challenges, amateur radio, and NASA images.

The conversation with the astronauts will last about 10 minutes. As the ISS passes over the students, they will ask questions from Earth and receive answers directly from space.

“The idea to apply with a Bulgarian school for the ARISS program came about a year ago when I became passionate about amateur radio. Before that, I never imagined the ISS could be so accessible to us. Thanks to the collaboration between LZ1KRN – Neterra’s amateur radio club – and Maple Bear School, we are making this idea a reality. The students will have a unique opportunity to speak directly with astronauts on the ISS, inspiring many to pursue science, technology, and hopefully amateur radio,” said Mariyan Rangelov, a member of Neterra’s amateur radio club (callsign LZ3MAR) and Neterra’s CFO.

“I have always believed that a person is as big as their dreams. That is the mindset we embrace at the start of every school year at Maple Bear,” said Lilyana Nikolova, founder and director of Maple Bear Sofia School. “Everyone needs to dream and strive for something greater than themselves. Experiencing a scientific achievement like the ISS through the ARISS program is an incredible opportunity for our students to believe that dreams are achievable. It takes courage, imagination, and hard work.”

“ARISS is yet another opportunity our school provides for learning beyond the classroom. We believe real-life experiences inspire children to learn and explore the world. This project is a shining example of how we can spark their curiosity about science through hands-on experience. We are grateful to Neterra’s amateur radio club for the invitation, as well as their support and enthusiasm, which made this wonderful project possible.”

To prepare for this extraordinary event, a series of educational seminars will take place in March. Speakers will include Viktor Marinov, one of Bulgaria’s leading amateur radio operators (callsign LZ1NY), and Neven Dilkov, an amateur radio enthusiast (callsign LZ1COM) and founder and CEO of Neterra. They will share knowledge, experience, and interesting facts with students, covering topics such as radio waves, antenna construction, and radio communication principles.

About ARISS

ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) is a program that allows students worldwide to establish direct radio contact with astronauts on the ISS, fostering interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

About Maple Bear School

Founded in 2020, Maple Bear Sofia is part of the global Maple Bear Canadian Schools network, the world’s largest school group with a presence in 39 countries across five continents, over 400 schools, and more than 60,000 students.

At Maple Bear, the child’s holistic development – physical, intellectual, emotional, and social – is at the core of the learning process. The school’s educational approach nurtures a lifelong love of learning and key 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, communication, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, innovation, and digital literacy.

About LZ1KRN Amateur Radio Club

Founded on June 14, 2017, by Neterra employees, the LZ1KRN amateur radio club promotes knowledge of technology and fosters friendships worldwide. Club members participate in international competitions and organize interactive radio workshops.

Neterra is a global provider of connectivity, telecommunications solutions, and IT assets management. The company has won the “Best Connectivity Provider in Central and Eastern Europe” award at the Capacity Global Connectivity Awards in both 2023 and 2024.

Adelaide, Australia & Carlsbad,Calif. – 26 February 2025. Myriota,the telco for global field intelligence, today announces the exciting expansion of its connectivity portfolio with the launch of Myriota HyperPulse^TM, a 3GPP 5G-based Narrowband Non-Terrestrial Network (NB-NTN) service built in partnership with Viasat, a global leader in satellite infrastructure.     

Myriota HyperPulse^TM is the first solution of its kind powered by Viasat’s dynamic leasing capability, which allows partners like Myriota to scale their satellite connectivity footprint up or down depending on demand. Myriota HyperPulse^TMcustomers will benefit from Viasat’s global, highly-reliable geostationary L-band network and 3GPP-compliant spectrum, along with Myriota’s hybrid network management platform and power optimized LPWA (low power, wide area) satellite connectivity technology.

The result is a connectivity solution ready for Myriota’s partners to apply in the real world, experiencing the benefits of standards-based, satellite-driven connectivity optimized specifically for IoT.

Complementing Myriota’s commercially available UltraLite^TMservice – which is focussed on the most extreme energy efficiency, security and spectrum efficiency – Myriota HyperPulse^TM expands the solution base to deliver connectivity designed for sensing, tracking, and remote management applications, with combined standards compatibility, battery-only energy efficiency, and regular, near-real time reporting.

Myriota’s Early Adopter Program (EAP) is now open, and the company is accepting applications for the first cohort of development partners to access the Myriota HyperPulse^TM service from April 2025.

Leveraging Viasat’s existing satellite infrastructure and Myriota’s own experience deploying and operating commercial-grade space-based IoT connectivity, the company aims to quickly and cost-effectively scale its global field intelligence and monitoring services to meet rising customer demand.

Deploying a service designed to be fully 3GPP compliant in the global IoT market is an important milestone for the Myriota team and aligns with its mission to democratize satellite access to deliver critical field-based monitoring solutions to a global market in a way that is both cost effective and designed to “just work”.

“The global market for satellite-based communications networks is constantly advancing through technical breakthroughs and network expansions, and Myriota is at the forefront of this,” said Ben Cade, CEO of Myriota. “Building on more than a decade of experience in delivering highly secure and power efficient direct-to-satellite solutions, Myriota HyperPulse^TM, in partnership with Viasat, reinforces how leaders in respective fields can collaborate to support our customers as they apply our unique sensor-based connectivity with their deep customer understanding to deliver disruptive, new approaches to solve crucial problems.”

Andy Kessler, Vice President, Viasat Enterprise, said: “We are excited to be combining the strength of our L-band satellite network with Myriota’s telecom expertise to deliver reliable, low-power IoT connectivity solutions. Our collaboration will see the first 5G NTN commercial service based on our dynamic leasing model, which enables Myriota to deliver a cost-effective, standards-based solution optimized specifically for the needs of customers leveraging IoT. All of it done in a way that is simple and easy to deploy for critical industries looking to operate more safely, efficiently, and sustainably.”

EAP Sign-up: Development partners can apply now to be a part of the first EAP cohort to experience the benefits delivered by Myriota HyperPulse^TM. Interested parties are invited to submit their application by visiting: https://myriota.com/hyperpulse-5g

About Myriota 

Myriota is a global leader in low-cost, low-power, secure direct-to-orbit satellite connectivity for the Internet of Things (IoT), and small power-constrained devices. Founded in 2015, Myriota’s space-based network delivers scalable, affordable IoT data services and energy-efficient hardware that is essential for sectors such as agriculture, logistics, water management and environmental conservation.  

For more information, visit myriota.com

Follow us here: LinkedIn, X, Facebook, YouTube

Myriota Media contact:

Stephen Orr, Temono for Myriota

stephen.orr@temono.com

About Viasat

Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people’s lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner.

Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, and YouTube.

Viasat Media contact:

Contacts for media inquiries: PR@viasat.com

ENDS

The full-day event at the Scottish Exhibition centre on 13 March 2025 will spotlight pioneering projects driving real-world change through smart technology and 5G-enabled solutions. 

Featuring keynote speeches, expert panels, presentations and an afternoon showcase event, it will demonstrate the latest advancements in smart housing, independent living, and connected social care – demonstrating how innovative projects are driving real change in communities.

Date: Thursday 13 March 2025

Venue: Scottish Exhibition Centre

Register Now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/glasgow-city-region-innovation-showcase-event-tickets-1088507999729?aff=oddtdtcreator

The day will provide an opportunity to:

• Explore cutting-edge projects tackling key challenges in housing, health, and connectivity.
• Engage with industry leaders, innovators, and public sector professionals.
• Learn how smart technologies are enhancing independent living, air quality, and frailty prevention.
• Discover how 5G-enabled solutions are shaping data-driven decision-making and real-time monitoring.

You can attend the entire day or join just the afternoon showcase focused on three themes: Housing Smart Social Assets, Connected Care and Wellbeing, and Independent Wellbeing and Living.

Morning: Keynotes and Expert Panels

The event will kick off with keynote speeches, expert panels and presentations covering:

• How 5G and digital transformation are driving smart city innovation
• The future of connected housing, smart social assets, and tenant wellbeing
• Data-driven decision-making in health and local government

Afternoon: Innovation Showcase Sessions

In the afternoon, interactive showcase sessions will focus on three key themes, allowing attendees to engage with real-world innovation projects that have been developed over the last 6-8 months across Glasgow City Region.

Register now at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/glasgow-city-region-innovation-showcase-event-tickets-1088507999729?aff=oddtdtcreator

With over 30 years of experience spanning five industry sectors and a deep expertise in telecommunications and digital infrastructure, Nick will provide strategic guidance to support nLighten’s growth and innovation efforts in digital infrastructure.

Nick has spent more than 16 years operating at board level, holding leadership positions across global businesses in telecoms, infrastructure, and technology. He currently holds a portfolio of board positions focused on digital infrastructure across EMEA and the U.S., including serving as Senior Advisor to Global Infrastructure Partners (now part of BlackRock), Consultant to I Squared Capital, Chair of the Board with EXA infrastructure, and Non-Executive Director at Booking Holdings Inc., Radius Global Infrastructure, and Oak Consortium.

Previously, Nick had a 22-year career at Vodafone Group Plc, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s global strategy. He served as Group CEO, and was a Board Member from 2014 to 2022, leading Vodafone through a period of major business transformation, network expansion, and operational evolution.

Before joining Vodafone, Nick held senior global finance positions at Miller Freeman Worldwide Plc as Group CFO and at Federal Express Corporation for 10 years. A Fellow Chartered Management Accountant, Nick was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration in 2022. He has been a long-time advocate for diversity and inclusion, serving as a United Nations HeForShe champion and United Nations Broadband Commissioner.

At nLighten, Nick will leverage his extensive industry expertise to support the company’s strategic expansion plans, commercial growth, and operational excellence. His deep understanding of global telecom markets and their evolving needs will be instrumental in guiding nLighten’s leadership team as the company scales its European footprint.

“We are excited to welcome Nick as Chair to the nLighten Board,” said Harro Beusker, CEO and Founder of nLighten. “His leadership experience in telecoms and digital infrastructure, combined with his track record in business transformation, will be invaluable as we continue to grow and evolve our platform. We look forward to working with him.”

Commenting on his appointment, Nick Read stated: “I am excited to join nLighten at such a pivotal time for the digital infrastructure industry. The increasing demand for edge computing and sustainable data center solutions presents a unique opportunity, and nLighten is well-positioned to lead in this space. I look forward to collaborating with the team to drive nLighten’s continued innovation and growth.”

Founded in 2021, nLighten has rapidly grown to 34 data centers, serving over 1,000 customers with over 200 employees. As nLighten continues to scale across key European markets, the addition of experienced leaders like Nick Read reinforces its commitment to providing high-performance, sustainable infrastructure solutions for the digital economy.

BubbleRAN and Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) are thrilled to announce their collaboration to demonstrate Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), a foundational technology for 6G networks, at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona. 

This joint effort highlights the transformative potential of ISAC, merging sensing and communication capabilities, effectively creating new business opportunities and redefining the role of cellular networks in future industry.

The collaboration between BubbleRAN and ITRI brings this vision to life with a proof-of-concept (PoC) demonstration powered by BubbleRAN’s 5G O-RAN platform and ITRI’s cutting-edge AI-driven algorithms. The PoC features a real-time sensing xApp that spatially locates user terminals and constructs power and interference heatmaps using sounding reference signals and I/Q samples transported via the O-RAN stack. 

The sub-millisecond sensing capability opens the door to a plethora of applications that demand low latency, including:

• High-Accuracy Localization & Tracking – Ideal for warehouse automation and precise device movements;
• Imaging, Mapping, and Environment Reconstruction – Essential for smart cities and virtual city simulations;
• Augmented Human Senses – From telemedicine to pollution monitoring;
• Posture & Gesture Recognition – Applicable to smart homes and autonomous vehicles.

“This collaboration marks a major milestone toward groundbreaking innovations in 6G, where  our combined expertise in applied research is key to success. Together with BubbleRAN, we are shaping a future where science and innovation address real-world challenges”, says Dr. Pang-aAn Ting, Vice President and General Director of ITRI.

“This solution is the first step toward enabling real-time optimization of the next generation radio access network based on ISAC.” added  Mikel Irazabal, Principal Engineer at BubbleRAN.

The full demonstration will be showcased March 3–6, 2025, at the booth 6E9 during MWC Barcelona 2025. Attendees are invited to explore this cutting-edge development in 6G technology and witness how real-time sensing is poised to transform industries and drive new business models.

Contributed Article

Thailand’s AIS reports that 180,000 users have adopted its “5G Mode” acceleration add-on packages, showcasing a new approach to mobile revenue growth through targeted offerings. 

Thailand’s AIS has racked up over 180,000 users for its “5G Mode” add-ons that supercharge network performance with faster speeds, quicker responses, and better uploads exactly when customers need the extra oomph. 

The add-ons, launched in December 2023, have turned heads across the industry. It’s not hard to see why – while many operators are still trying to sell traditional data allowances, AIS has found a way to monetize network performance itself. 

The concept is elegantly simple. Rather than asking users to commit to premium prices month after month, AIS lets them buy bursts of souped-up connectivity as needed — more like a curated tasting menu than an all-you-can-eat buffet. 

“This pay-as-you-need model offers flexibility to users who want premium connectivity only at specific times,” an AIS representative explained. “For example, online sellers can ensure reliable livestreams during flash sales, while competitive gamers can lock in split-second response times during crucial matches.” 

Each add-on is precisely engineered for its specific use case. BOOST Mode gives everyday users faster speeds for regular tasks, GAME Mode is optimized for low latency to improve gaming experiences on titles like PUBG Mobile, and LIVE Mode ensures that content creators can stream with studio-quality clarity, even from less-than-ideal environments like crowded markets or beachside cafés. 

Users can purchase boosts through the myAIS application at 49 baht ($1.45) for three hours, with a daily limit of 10 packages. According to AIS, each purchase increases monthly revenue per customer by approximately 22%. 

A screenshot of AIS’s “5G Mode” [Screenshot courtesy of AIS] acceleration add-ons as shown on its website.

The rollout is part of AIS’s “Living Network” initiative, which aims to give customers more control over their network experience. “We want to empower customers to control and customize their data usage according to specific lifestyle needs,” said a company representative. 

This approach is a clever flip of the traditional telco playbook — instead of pushing bigger data bundles, AIS is pioneering what the industry calls “experience-based monetization,” selling guaranteed performance precisely when users need it. 

The rest of the industry is paying close attention, and for good reason. Across mature 5G markets, telcos face a common challenge: high-spending customers, already on unlimited plans, have little incentive to spend more. AIS’s performance-boost strategy offers a solution to this growth challenge. 

“Differentiated, experience-based services are the key to monetizing mobile data,” according to a recent report by Omdia. The report found that 80% of respondents would be willing to pay for temporary booster packages, with 94% of regular video conference users expressing interest in boosts that enhance their conferencing experience. 

This trend is evident in AIS’s success, which mirrors similar achievements in other markets. In the Netherlands, KPN’s introduction of speed tier options resulted in a 5% year-on-year increase in average monthly payments. Meanwhile, China Unicom Guangdong has targeted social media influencers with VIP uplink plans, attracting over 500,000 customers and leading to a 76% increase in revenue from this segment. 

Yet the path to widespread adoption isn’t without its hurdles. Consumers, accustomed to evaluating mobile plans solely on data allowances, often struggle to see the value in paying extra for performance boosts. For operators, this creates a classic chicken-and-egg scenario: how do you convince users to pay more for something they haven’t experienced? 

AIS’s answer lies in a carefully orchestrated mix of digital and physical engagement. The company has recognized that in Thailand’s highly saturated mobile market, success depends on making the benefits tangible to different user segments. Their strategy combines loyalty rewards for early adopters with targeted outreach across multiple channels. 

“We’re reaching potential users through both digital platforms and targeted on-ground engagement,” said an AIS representative. “Our focus is on locations where users are most likely to benefit from enhanced connectivity, such as universities, markets, airports and tourist attractions.” 

Building on this momentum, the company plans to expand these comprehensive marketing efforts to other major cities, including Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai, in the coming weeks. 

Operators will likely follow AIS’s lead — over 30 European carriers have already rolled out similar speed-tier packages. Industry watchers at Omdia put it bluntly: operators need to embrace experience-based services or risk watching their premium customers drift away to more innovative rivals. As such, AIS’s success could serve as a blueprint for the future of mobile data services.  

 This article was written by Jay Ian Birbeck and originally published on telecoms.com 

Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL), which represents the four major UK mobile operators (EE, O2, Vodafone and Three UK), has today confirmed that 10 more government-funded rural 4G (mobile broadband) mast upgrades have just gone live in Scotland as part of the industry-led £1bn Shared Rural Network (SRN) project.

The SRN – supported by £501m of public funding and £532m of private investment from operators – involves both the reciprocal sharing of existing masts in certain areas and the demand-led building and sharing of new masts in others between the operators. The target is to extend geographic 4G coverage (aggregate) to 95% of the UK by the end of 2025 (5G will also benefit from the new infrastructure).

Most of the early work on this project has typically involved private investment from the main mobile network operators, although over the past year or so we’ve also seen government-funded mast upgrades and new site builds taking place in other parts of the country (examples here, here, here, here, here and here). A total of 39 mast upgrades have now gone live across the UK, including the 10 announced today in Scotland.

The latest 10 mast upgrades mean that residents, local businesses and community organisations in areas including Tobermory and Aros on the Isle of Mull can now take advantage of better connectivity, which adds to the coverage enhancements already made to parts of Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders and Argyll and Bute. The activations bring coverage from all 4 mobile network operators to nearly 200,000m of roads across Scotland.

The work focused on the part of the SRN that sees the government (DSIT) providing a total of £184m from their pot to the Home Office and mobile network operators, which is helping to upgrade Extended Area Service (EAS) masts being built as part of the 4G Emergency Services Network (ESN) – these masts previously only connected EE customers and anyone making 999 calls (all operators can now use them).

Ben Roome, CEO of DMSL, said:

“Since March 2020, when the Shared Rural Network was announced, 4G coverage from all four operators in Scotland has expanded by over 18,000 square kilometres, more than an area the size of Perth and Kinross, Argyll and Bute and the Scottish Borders combined. This programme will continue to improve 4G service for people in rural areas as more shared mobile sites go live.”

Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray, said:

“Powered by UK Government investment, 10 mast upgrades are now providing fast and reliable mobile internet access in rural areas in Scotland. This is a crucial upgrade that will help to improve connectivity – from business to tourism, and particularly to ensure that emergency services can be contacted quickly when they are needed. This is an important step and a key part of our Plan for Change for economic growth right across Scotland.”

Since the SRN programme began in 2020, an additional 34,000 square kilometres – an area equivalent to roughly double the size of Northern Ireland – are now receiving 4G coverage from all four operators across the UK. Through the SRN programme, the UK government and mobile network operators aim to provide 4G coverage to an additional 280,000 premises and 16,000km of the UK’s roads.

Ofcom’s most recent Connected Nations 2024 report revealed that 4G coverage, where it is available from at least one mobile operator, has now reached 95% of the UK’s landmass (delivering early on one of the key targets for the SRN programme), with 4G geographic coverage across individual MNOs in the UK rising from a range of 80-87% last year to 88-89% this year.

Just for some extra context. The SRN includes two key targets. The first involves the delivery of industry funded coverage improvements in Partial Not-Spot (PNS) areas (i.e. areas that receive coverage from at least one operator, but not all), which Ofcom said was hit last year (here).

The second target involves tackling Total Not-Spot (TNS) areas by early 2027. Just to be clear, Ofcom’s licence obligations commit each individual operator to increase its 4G coverage to 88% of the UK’s landmass by June 2024 – rising to 90% by January 2027 – with these individual obligations supporting the overall target of 95% by December 2025.

Network technology firm Adtran has revealed that their Software-Defined (SD), open and disaggregated SDX Optical Line Terminal (OLT) platform now powers 8.6 million UK premises passed on Openreach’s (BT) new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network, managed by Mosaic CP. This is said to reflect about 30% of their national full fibre network.

Openreach’s full fibre network has so far covered over 17 million premises (there are around 32.5m across the UK), but they aim to reach 25 million by December 2026 and have also expressed an ambition to reach “up to” 30 million by 2030. This is all being supported by a commercial investment of around £15bn.

Adtran is one of the strategic suppliers (since 2021) for this new infrastructure alongside Nokia, as well as Huawei if you include their legacy kit before the government restricted its use. The company boasts that their SDX platform “outperforms traditional architectures, reducing space by over 30% and cutting power consumption by 50%” compared to previous-generation OLTs, although Nokia could probably make a similar claim.

Openreach is currently known to be adopting this using a ComboPON approach to their network. This should make it easier for them to upgrade without needing to change all of the existing optical modems (ONTs) inside homes, which they’ve deployed via older GPON technology (e.g. they’ll be able to use either GPON or XGS-PON based ONTs, whatever the situation requires).

In fact, Openreach’s first 1Gbps symmetric speed broadband package using 10Gbps capable XGS-PON technology is due to launch around April 2025, albeit only in some of Openreach’s contracted Project Gigabit areas (here).

Trevor Linney, Director of Network Technology at Openreach, said:

“Extending our full-fibre network is a key step in our mission to build a faster, more reliable digital future for the UK. This expansion, with 5.2 million premises ready for service and 1 million connected customers using Adtran technology, is part of our long-term investment to upgrade the nation’s infrastructure, moving from legacy copper to a robust, future-ready fibre network.

Our partnership with Adtran and its fibre access technology began with their data centre-inspired leaf-spine architecture, which has been instrumental in supporting our rollout that has already passed 17 million premises. This approach enabled us to efficiently connect more than 650 communication provider partners at scale across large cities, towns and rural areas throughout the UK.

Our network will be the backbone of the nation’s economy for decades to come, supporting millions more customers as we continue to expand across the country.”

Stuart Broome, GM of EMEA sales at Adtran, said:

“Openreach’s rollout is setting new benchmarks for speed and scale. Across its full FTTP network, Openreach has now passed 17 million premises, with our technology central to that growth. This deployment represents the largest and fastest rollout of our disaggregated SDX OLTs and switches to date. By integrating our SDX 6330 OLT featuring Combo PON technology and our comprehensive Mosaic CP management platform, Openreach is rapidly growing its fibre footprint while seamlessly preparing for XGS-PON. Our solution is designed to accelerate deployments, simplify operations and ensure a sustainable fibre infrastructure. We look forward to continuing our collaboration to connect millions more homes and businesses throughout the UK.”

The eagle-eyed may note the discrepancy above between how the announcement, on one hand, talks about a figure of “8.6 million premises” on Adtran’s OLT platform, while Trevor Linney then gives a differing figure of 5.2 million premises (this seems to be where the figure of 30% comes from). At least part of this is because the 8.6m figure is a “passed” footprint, while 5.2m is the ‘Ready for Service’ figure (i.e. where you can actually get the service installed on a completed / live network).

The announcement notes that Adtran’s SDX OLT technology is now helping support the acceleration of Openreach’s network build and “future deployment of ‘hyper-fast’ 10G broadband“. But for now the fastest package you can actually buy is 1.8Gbps and that only offers uploads of 120Mbps.

The UK government has today set out its plan for increasing digital skills to help “deliver growth and opportunity for all“, which among other things includes various pledges from key ISPs and mobile operators (e.g. BT, CityFibre, Vodafone etc.) to help support the initiative and break down the digital divide that still exists for many people.

Research typically shows that people who are digitally excluded can face higher costs for things like home insurance, train travel and food – often paying up to 25% more than consumers who are online and better able to take advantage of such access.

The Government’s new Digital Inclusion Action Plan is thus an attempt to address this problem via a series of “urgent actions” that it hopes will “begin fixing digital exclusion“. The plan includes funding for local initiatives targeted to the most digitally-excluded groups (e.g. the elderly and low-income households) and partnering with inclusion charity Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) to provide laptops to people who are digitally excluded.

Peter Kyle MP, Technology Secretary, said:

“The technological revolution we are living in is not only transforming everyone’s lives, but is advancing at breakneck speed, and will not slow down any time soon.

Leaving people behind in the process could threaten our mission to maximise technology for economic growth and better public services, which is central to our Plan for Change.

Only by making technology a widely accessible force for good can we make it a positive catalyst for societal change – whether that means helping a sick patient speak to a GP remotely or giving a young person the devices they need to apply for online jobs or renting a flat.”

Till Sommer, Head of Policy, ISPA UK, said:

“We welcome today’s cross-departmental government action to help meet the challenge of digital inclusion, an issue which has been insufficiently addressed for too long.

The proposal for cross-government working, if implemented effectively, will complement existing industry initiatives that our members and the broadband sector have long championed. The Action Plan rightly acknowledges that real-term prices for broadband have decreased, however, it is important to recognise that a holistic approach is needed to help those in lower income brackets and will require close collaboration between the Government and industry.

We are pleased that the Action Plan acknowledges the efforts of our members, reaching communities at both local and national levels, including extending networks to all corners of the UK, offering a range of broadband social tariffs to provide affordable and reliable connectivity, collaborating with local authorities and housing associations to provide free connectivity, supporting job seekers, and working with charities on digital skills programmes and device donations.”

The plan has also managed to extract pledges from key technology and telecoms companies to help the Government achieve its mission. For example, Google and BT have pledged to deliver digital skills training to thousands in the UK, while Vodafone has committed to help 1 million people by donating connectivity and technology, affordable services, and upskilling communities (see a full list below).

Some of these pledges are really just a continuation of what such operators have already been doing for the past few years, although we have our doubts about the Government’s ability to resolve the issue completely. This is because we’ve seen lots of initiatives aimed at improving digital skills over the years, but they often struggle when it gets to the more challenging questions.

For example, it’s often overlooked that not everybody actually wants to go online and nobody should be forced to use the internet, even if this may leave them at a disadvantage. Similarly, digital skills can change with age, as well as disability (the two are often associated). For example, you might be digitally skilled today, but this can go in reverse when you develop a disability (loss of sight, strokes etc.), which can make life a lot more difficult.

The reality is that some people will always require offline support in order to achieve what society asks or expects of us. Now for that list of industry pledges..

Pledges from Technology and Telecoms Firms

Google 

Google will develop a new partnership with DSIT to deliver intensive digital skills training to support adults with low digital skills, helping them succeed in the modern work environment.

CityFibre  

CityFibre has committed to installing 170 connections to 170 premises in Norfolk, Suffolk, Leicestershire, Kent, East and West Sussex, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas by 2030. As part of this, these premises – including residential and community hubs – will be given their first 6-month broadband package for free.

Virgin Media O2  

Virgin Media O2 has already connected over 350,000 digitally excluded people. It is committing to increasing this to 1 million people by the end of 2025, through expanded provision of data and devices to those that need it.

Vodafone  

Vodafone will help 1 million people cross the digital divide in 2025 through donating connectivity and technology, affordable services, and upskilling communities. This includes a commitment to maintain their social tariff product offerings. To support closing the digital infrastructure divide, Vodafone will continue to invest in rolling out their network to the whole of the UK.

WightFibre  

WightFibre commits to providing free or discounted broadband to community groups and charities, including community centres, digital hubs and village halls, on the Isle of Wight. These community organisations will promote that they have free Wi-Fi available on-site for public use.

Good Things Foundation, Vodafone and Deloitte  

Good Things Foundation, Vodafone, and Deloitte are working together with the Government to lead the development of a charter for responsible device donation. This will establish common principles for businesses and organisations to commit to: increasing the number of devices donated to digitally excluded people; reducing electronic waste; and promoting circularity.

BT  

Connectivity:

· BT has already connected over 300,000 digitally excluded households through its social tariffs, which also include a lower £15 tariff for ‘zero income’ households, and will continue to offer these tariffs to millions of people on Universal Credit who are eligible for them.

Community WiFi:

· BT Group has the country’s largest public WiFI network, with some 5.5m EE and BT hub locations (in households and commercial premises) available for eligible customers to connect to.  BT and EE have agreed to pilot two new approaches to extend the use of this network to a much larger number of digitally excluded households:

– by providing log-ins for free WiFi to eligible families through charity and public sector partnerships

– by providing community WiFi services, free at the point of use, at a much larger number of libraries and community centres, including working with government to identify and prioritise connections to 500 community hubs in deprived areas

· To succeed, this initiative will need support from local partners, which the pilot phase of the project will seek to ensure.

Skills:

· BT commits to providing digital training to thousands of older people and children in 2025, through their partnership with AbilityNet and their Work Ready programme.

· BT commits to providing 500 adults with disabilities with digital devices, data and support in 2025, through their partnership with Keyring.

Openreach  

· Openreach is building ultrafast ultra-reliable Full Fibre broadband to 25 million premises by December 2026 and ultimately aiming to reach as many as 30 million by 2030 if the right investment conditions exist.

· As we build, we’ll work with the government to upgrade connectivity to at least 500 community hubs in deprived areas, helping people across the country to get online, with the majority delivered by the end of 2026. We’ll also work with our communications provider customers to offer the services these sites need, as soon as our network’s been built.

Sky (Sky Broadband, Sky Mobile, Sky TV)

Through Sky Up – Sky’s social impact programme – Sky will commit to supporting 70 Sky Up Hubs across the UK help people bridge the digital divide by providing reliable internet connections, tech equipment and digital training in partnership with local charities in 2025.

Three UK

· To support those facing digital exclusion, Three will donate over 2 million GB of data to an estimated 80,000 people by 2026.

· To help bridge the digital divide, Three’s Discovery digital-skills training programme seeks to reach over 270,000 people by 2030.

· Through the Reconnected scheme, Three aims to save around 30,000 unused devices to help disadvantaged people get connected.