Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Connectivity provider Neos Networks, which operates one of the biggest 34,000km long and 400Gbps capable business fibre networks in the UK – spanning 550 exchanges, 90+ data centres and 600+ Points of Presence (PoPs), has claimed in a new survey that 82% of UK data centre operators have delayed site builds or expansion due to fibre availability.

The work is based on a Censuswide survey of 100 data centre decision-makers, 100 large enterprise tech/IT decision-makers (with at least 1,000 employees), and 100 local government stakeholders – conducted during August 2025. The results suggest that, despite a big push by the UK government and enterprise momentum around data centre development and artificial intelligence (AI), fibre remains a “critical bottleneck” that could slow the UK’s digital growth.

Naturally, nearly all respondents agreed that investment in high-capacity fibre optic corridors will transform confidence in the UK’s ability to attract and scale AI projects. For example, 95% of data centre operators, 96% of enterprises and 96% of local authorities say new fibre corridors into underserved areas would positively impact AI and data centre growth. Some 53% of local authorities believe such projects would be transformative.

Key Survey Findings

➤ 89% of local government stakeholders report that fibre gaps have delayed infrastructure projects in their regions.

➤ 45% of enterprises cite fibre as the key bottleneck holding back AI and digital infrastructure.

➤ 46% of local government authorities say their region’s fibre infrastructure is not fully ready to support AI data centres.

➤ 16% of companies doubts the ability of the UK’s current fibre infrastructure to support their AI ambitions.

➤ 96% of data centre operators say AI Growth Zones are influencing expansion and site selection, with 44% citing them as a strong influence.

➤ 68% of enterprises view AI Growth Zones as a strong driver of change in their infrastructure planning.

➤ 23% of data centre operators still expect new investment in Greater London, a greater share pointed to the North of England and the Midlands (39%), signalling a shift towards regional hubs of AI activity.

➤ 97% data centre operators expect up to half of their UK compute to move to the edge of the network by 2030, underlining the need for high-performance, resilient fibre across every region.

➤ 41% of data centre leaders believe the UK’s fibre networks are only partially prepared to support regional AI workloads.

➤ 70% of enterprises feel the UK’s attractiveness for data centre investment needs improvement (53%) or is lagging (17%).

It’s important to stress that the sort of fibre connectivity required by a data centre is not the same as the sort of fibre (FTTP) broadband that reaches your home via the local access network. Data centres typically require extremely high-capacity core links and redundancy to help serve customers. Obviously, Neos Networks has a vested interest in this field, as this is precisely the sort of problem they exist to resolve (i.e. take the survey with a pinch of salt).

Lee Myall, CEO of Neos Networks, said:

“Over the past decade, we’ve seen a huge amount of investment in last-mile fibre builds, but core fibre networks across the country have received much less attention. Without them, workloads cannot move between data centres, data cannot be trained, and investments stall. The UK has the ambition, the demand and the regional readiness to lead in AI, but if we don’t address fibre gaps, we risk losing out on one of the greatest economic opportunities of our generation.”

Sadly, the study didn’t include any practical examples to help illustrate the point. Not to mention that you can’t always rely on the right fibre being present exactly where you want to build a new data centre, which is why such projects often have to factor in the need (and costs) for extra network build when they’re in the design stage (i.e. par for the course).

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Internet provider Lit Fibre, which harnesses CityFibre’s national UK Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network (they originally ran their own fibre network too – here), has today introduced a new national broadband pricing framework that charges residential consumers more for those on their National (off-net) vs Local (on-net) network tiers.

The provider’s announcement doesn’t explain precisely what they mean by “National” or “Local“, particularly since they only serve CityFibre’s network areas (c.4.6 million UK premises), but through our testing we’ve been able to confirm that it references the difference between the price they charge in areas where they built their own FTTP vs areas where the FTTP was first built by CityFibre. Clearly, Lit Fibre still has some degree of beneficial access to their original network areas, despite all now being owned by CityFibre.

Lit Fibre has a number of different types of broadband packages and contract lengths, which makes it a bit difficult to summarise the impact of this without overloading our visitors with too much information. Instead we’ll simplify by focusing on just their ‘Speed’ packages when taken via a longer 24-month minimum contract term, which includes a wireless router, free installation and a pledge of no mid-contract price hikes.

Lit Fibre Package Pricing – Local vs National

Lit 100Mbps (symmetric)

Local Price: £22.99 (monthly)

National Price: £26.49

Lit 500Mbps

Local Price: £25.99

National Price: £32.49

Lit 1000Mbps

Local Price: £26.99

National Price: £32.49

We assume the Lit 1000Mbps package is on some sort of special offer in National (off-net) areas, which would explain why the price is the same as on their National 500Mbps tier. In any case, there’s clearly a fairly sizeable saving to be had if you’re lucky enough to be covered by one of Lit Fibre’s original on-net (Local) FTTP areas. On the other hand, £32.49 for a gigabit broadband package off-net is still very cheap.

However, it should be noted that the post-contract prices for all of these packages will rise, with Lit Fibre’s T&Cs indicating that Lit 100 becomes £34.95, while Lit 500 becomes £44.95 and Lit 1000 rises to £49.95. At the time of writing, Lit Fibre’s T&Cs do not include the same Local vs National distinction, so we assume those post-contract rates apply to both.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

The telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today confirmed that the first bidding on their auction of the 26GHz and 40GHz millimetre wave (mmW) spectrum bands for use by 5G mobile (mobile broadband) operators will get underway tomorrow, with BT (EE), O2 (Telefonica UK / Virgin Media) and Vodafone (VodafoneThree) all taking part.

The major mobile network providers already have access to several 5G capable bands between 700MHz and 3.8GHz. Such frequencies reflect the same sort of low and mid-band radio spectrum that mobile network operators have been using since the advent of the first 3G and 4G data networks.

The move to auction off 26GHz (25.1-27.5GHz) and 40GHz (40.5-43.5GHz) will complement the existing bands by providing lots of additional spectrum frequency, which means more data capacity for extremely fast speeds (e.g. multi-Gigabit). But such signals tend to be very weak and can’t cover a wider area without a much denser / more expensive network, which in practice means they’ll primarily be used for serving busy urban areas (shopping malls, airports etc. – “High Density Areas“) and fixed wireless broadband (FWA) links.

The plan is to make this spectrum available in a clock auction (200MHz lots) with 15-year licences across 68 “high-density” areas (i.e. cities and select transport hubs). Bidding for this will take place in two separate stages, which we’ve summarised below. Ofcom’s reserve prices for this spectrum appears to be modest when compared with other European auctions (£2m per 26GHz lot and £1m per 40GHz lot).

The 5G mmW Auction Stages

Principal stage

Companies first bid for airwaves in ‘lots’ to determine how much spectrum each company wins in each band, but not the specific frequencies within each band. Bidding will continue for as long as there is excess demand for the spectrum available. We will announce the results of the principal stage shortly after it has concluded. Once the principal stage is underway, we will publish daily updates on our website.

Assignment stage

There is then a stage of bidding to determine the specific frequencies that winning bidders will be allocated. We will publish the final results of the auction once all stages are complete.

The 26GHz band is already used elsewhere for mmW services and so will be easier for networks operators to adopt and support, although the story is a bit different for the 40GHz band because the UK will be one of the first countries in Europe to award it. The latter may thus take a bit longer to find its feet through deployment and adoption.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Proptech solutions provider Nurtur and comparison service developer BroadbandUK have just become the latest to offer UK property listing providers (Estate Agents etc.) another address-level option for enabling house hunters to see what kind of broadband connectivity and speeds are available to the houses they’re considering.

The service is designed to help fill a critical gap where accurate connectivity information has sometimes been missing from some estate agent listings and websites, despite broadband now being considered the “fourth utility.” A number of commercial comparison services already offer similar tools for integration with Estate Agents platforms (e.g. RightMove has long shown such details), and this is the latest to join that list.

The service is said to cover virtually all UK residential properties and is free to Nurtur’s customers (about 50 of their 1,000 or so estate agent clients are understood to have already piloted it). The platform claims to provide “comprehensive broadband intelligence” including speeds, available ISPs, and technology types for each individual property, although it’s unclear how many altnets are covered by their database.

Richard Combellack, Chief Commercial Officer at Nurtur, said:

“We are thrilled to partner with BroadbandUK to provide a comprehensive solution that not only enhances our clients’ websites but also ensures compliance with the latest regulations. The integration of BroadbandUK’s service into our platform will offer our clients a seamless way to display vital broadband information on property listings, meeting the growing demands of the property sector.”

Saveen Rajan, CEO of BroadbandUK, said:

“This partnership builds on years of research and development to bring address-level precision to the property market. We’re delighted to be working with Nurtur to provide clarity around connectivity, as broadband has become a fundamental part of everyday life. This gives buyers and renters the confidence to make informed decisions before they commit.”

The move comes shortly after the UK government began consulting on new proposals aimed at speeding up the process of home buying and selling, while also improving the material information that Estate Agents are required to provide for every transaction. The availability of broadband, as well as mobile signal and coverage, are some of the data points proposed for inclusion in future guidance (here).

Otherwise, Nurtur are said to be planning a broader rollout of the new feature across their client base throughout the rest of 2025.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Contributed Article 

by Steve Adams, Managing Director at Hutchinson

Britain’s digital future depends on strong, reliable networks. For years, many of the steel structures behind that infrastructure were manufactured oversees; the question now is where they should be made.

Where those structures are made matters. Choosing UK manufacturing is a practical strategy that delivers supply-chain resilience, proven quality, skilled jobs, and long-term value. With a UK supply base, design, manufacturing, and site teams work closer to one another, respond faster and turn design changes into production quickly. UK facilities also operate to the highest recognised standards, so quality is visible and traceable from material through to final inspection.

Jobs, skills and community impact

Hutchinson, a Widnes-based manufacturer of complex steel structures for telecoms and other critical sectors, shows what a modern UK factory can deliver. The company employs around 200 people, contributes more than £9m in local salaries, pays a real living wage (average c. £46k), and has a highly experienced, long-serving workforce, with over a third of the team serving 10+ years. Eleven apprentices are currently in training, and Hutchinson is a proud member of the 5% Club (a UK employer movement whose members commit to having at least 5% of their workforce in “earn-and-learn” roles, including apprentices, graduates and sponsored students, within five years).

STEM outreach with local schools, work-experience programmes, and wider community partnerships help Hutchinson nurture the next generation of engineers from the surrounding communities. Students get exposure to real engineering environments, teachers receive curriculum support, and residents benefit from upskilling initiatives. This builds a talent pipeline that strengthens the regional economy and shows how telecoms investment flows back into the community.

Local supply also supports sustainability. Shorter logistics cut transport emissions and make progress easier to measure. Hutchinson has reduced carbon by 27% since 2023 and is committed to net zero by 2040.

Inside the factory: Standards, speed and control

Hutchinson operates to UKCA and CE requirements, including EN1090-2 Execution Class 4 for the most critical work. Across 12,000 m² of manufacturing space, robotic welding, pre-build jigs and digital quality control with live KPI boards drive right-first-time, lean production methods. End-to-end control of design, fabrication, finishing and pre-assembly means engineering changes can be adopted quickly as designs evolve.

Welding compliance is led by an in-house International Welding Engineer and Responsible Welding Coordinator, with certified NDT capability (VT, MPI and LPI) embedded at key stages. Dimensional accuracy is assured via dedicated jigs and rigorous in-process checks. Total quality management runs from mill certificates to final inspection. For long-term performance, Hutchinson’s patented root systems and foundation details anchor structures for stability and whole-life value.

When clients choose UK-made structures, they aren’t just buying steelwork. They’re investing in predictable lead times, accountable quality, and skilled British jobs, from apprentices on the shop floor to specialist weld engineers. Every order strengthens the domestic supply chain, keeps value in our communities, and helps us build a better, more resilient network for the UK. That is the heart of our vision: A better future, engineered together.

Where should Britain’s telecoms structures be made? Here at home, for speed, quality, skills, and lasting community value.

Keep up to date with all of the latest telecoms news from around the world with the Total Telecom newsletter

Also in the news
Connected Britain Award winners 2025 announced!
Netomnia announces ‘powerful and ambitious’ rebrand ahead of Connected Britain
VodafoneThree drops Samsung, relies on Nokia and Ericsson for £2bn network upgrade

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Mobile operator Vodafone has demonstrated how harnessing 200MHz of radio spectrum in the Upper 6GHz band, using a chipset with the MediaTek M90 Modem within a standard Smartphone, can deliver download speeds of 2.5Gbps over a 5G network using carrier aggregation to combine multiple radio frequencies on a single link. Upload speeds ranged from 50-180Mbps.

Precise details of the test, which took place across an indoor public space in Hannover (Germany), remain unclear (e.g. we’re not told anything about the distances involved either). But Vodafone’s goal in all this was to try and highlight what kind of impact it would have if European regulators decided to allocate the Upper 6GHz band (6425 to 7125MHz) to mobile operators for 5G or future 6G services, instead of handing it to Wi-Fi etc.

“The tests also showed that a 200MHz channel at 6GHz delivered up to 2 times more mobile data throughput than a 100MHz channel, in various indoor and outdoor areas. Notably, these tests used the same amount of power, demonstrating that the use of larger bandwidth channels can enhance network capacity without sacrificing energy efficiency,” said Vodafone’s study.

The Radio Spectrum Policy Group, which advises the European Commission (EC), will soon issue its final opinion on the long-term use of this band. At the same time, Ofcom in the UK has already proposed to allow low power indoor WiFi and mobile broadband (4G, 5G etc.) networks to “share” access to the upper 6GHz radio spectrum band (here), although we’re still awaiting the outcome of that consultation.

The UK regulator’s approach would initially allow the Upper 6GHz band to be harnessed for WiFi, before later introducing a sharing mechanism between mobile and Wi-Fi, once the European harmonisation policy is clear. The approach would prioritise between 160 and 400MHz of spectrum frequency to WiFi, while the remainder (at least 300MHz) would be prioritised for 5G/6G mobile.

The catch being that European harmonisation discussions may not complete until 2027 and so it will be a bit longer before UK mobile operators can take advantage of whatever Ofcom decides.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

The Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA), which represents many of the UK’s alternative broadband networks, has today expressed its “huge disappointment” after Ofcom rejected the competition concerns they helped raise over a recent price cut to Openreach’s “full fibre” (FTTP) lines where proactive migrations are used.

Just to recap. Proactive migrations arise where an internet provider (ISP), not the end-customer, proposes to upgrade your older broadband service (ADSL, FTTC etc.) to FTTP and, at the same time, books an appointment for an engineer to carry out the upgrade. This forms part of Openreach’s efforts to eventually retire their old copper-line based network, services and exchanges.

Last month Openreach introduced a new offer for ISPs using this process, which essentially enabled customers to potentially be upgraded to their faster “1000/115Mbps [download/upload], 550/75Mbps and 330/50Mb bandwidth tiers for the rental price of 80/20Mbps” – lasting for up to 24 months (details). Suffice to say that this was quite a significant discount and would make upgrading much more attractive for some consumers and their ISPs.

However, a number of rival altnets told ISPreview that they viewed the new promotion, which is due to run until 9th April 2026, as being potentially anti-competitive (here). But the end of last week saw Ofcom largely reject those concerns (here), while at the same time pledging to carry out more work “over the coming months“, such as to understand the impact of the offer on Openreach’s average FTTP price levels and ISPs’ behaviour.

In response, INCA has today criticised Ofcom’s decision and accused Openreach of having “gone back on its word regarding further discounted offers”.

Paddy Paddison, CEO of INCA, said:

“This is extremely disappointing and inconsistent with Ofcom’s own objectives of promoting network competition. Altnets and their investors have responded to the government’s policy of promoting competitive network investment. They’ve invested billions of pounds in building full fibre networks in recent years to deliver faster, more reliable and highly competitive broadband services on the back of the government’s commitment to gigabit-capable roll out.

We have been pivotal to the UK’s rapid fibre deployment, bringing in much needed competition and choice into the broadband market and spurring BT Openreach to start its own fibre deployment. Despite that, BT Openreach is yet again allowed to squeeze margins below a reasonable level. It is Ofcom’s job to create a level playing field to foster network competition that will deliver the best deal for customers in the long run. The value offered by Altnets is clearly illustrated by the fact that last year three quarters of a million customers switched to Altnets.

Despite the government’s clear support for competitive network investment, including Project Gigabit funding for rural and high cost areas, it appears as if Ofcom intends to design regulation that instead allows BT Openreach to retain its stronghold on the market. The government’s recent Statement of Strategic Priorities consultation indicated clearly that government wants to promote network competition, Ofcom actions suggest that that it thinks otherwise.

This latest discounted offer risks undermining network competition by setting prices below that of a reasonably efficient operator (as calculated by Ofcom). The decision by Ofcom gives unfair advantage to BT Openreach, who have gone against their word, with their CEO previously stating to the regulator: BT Openreach does not have any current plans to change its Equinox 2 FTTP rental prices once launched and does not intend to initiate any further such changes during this market review.

Ofcom’s decision is likely to result in less choice, higher prices, and reduced innovation for consumers. We expect such an offer will encourage ISPs to accelerate the migration of their existing customer bases on copper broadband services to BT Openreach’s FTTP network, before they are able to migrate their bases to an Altnet.”

Openreach would perhaps argue that their special offer is of a different type and limited to a specific group of users on older copper lines, which is perhaps not directly comparable to the wider remit of Equinox 2. But that clearly isn’t going to hold much water with INCA, which sees a bigger picture of concerns emanating from the new offer.

Openreach’s CCO, Katie Milligan, also touched on this in October last year (here): “There are no plans for [Equinox 3 discounts on FTTP] at the moment. Openreach will do entirely what’s rational … but the priority for us at the moment is building the network at pace, and being the lowest cost builder and connector”. But as we said at the time, it’s always wise to take the phrase “no plans” with a pinch of salt, since it’s easily one of the most used and abused in the PR arsenal. Plans can and often do change, frequently at short notice.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Over the past few minutes we’ve started to receive reports from customers of Vodafone UK about a significant outage of their national network. The details are currently quite limited, with reports coming in from users of both their fixed line home broadband and mobile services, albeit mostly from mobile data (4G/5G) users.

The incident itself appears to have started at just before 3pm and is currently ongoing across the United Kingdom. Customers are broadly reporting a loss of internet connectivity on both their Vodafone linked Smartphones and home broadband connections.

Suffice to say, it’s highly unusual for a major network operator to lose data connectivity on both its mobile and fixed line platforms at the same time. We are currently investigating further.

UPDATE 4:17pm

The sheer volume of visitors trying to get news on the Vodafone outage actually knocked ISPreview’s server for six for a bit, but we’ve adjusted to a hard cache and temporarily disabled the forum to stabilise load a little. In the meantime, we’ve had the following statement:

A Vodafone spokesperson said:

“We are aware of a major issue on our network currently affecting broadband, 4G and 5G services. We appreciate our customers’ patience while we work to resolve this as soon as possible.”

Interestingly, we’re seeing that a number of other broadband and mobile operators are also experiencing problems.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Contributed Article

by Strategic Imperatives

Two models are emerging to solve the UK’s wholesale complexity. One promises convenience, the other flexibility — but which will sustain growth? 

At Connected Britain 2025, one theme came through loud and clear: the UK fibre market has never offered more choice, but that choice is creating new layers of complexity. Service providers are navigating a landscape that includes both established incumbents and a wave of AltNets, each with different systems, processes and commercial terms. 

The question is no longer whether fibre is available, but how providers can access it efficiently and at scale. Two distinct models have emerged to tackle that challenge: integration platforms and aggregation networks. At first glance they appear similar, but their approaches — and their long-term implications for providers and networks — are very different. 

The integration model: Standardising complexity 

Integration platforms act as the technical and operational “glue” between networks and service providers. Instead of building and maintaining multiple bespoke integrations, providers connect once to a standardised set of APIs and gain access to many suppliers. 

The role is not to resell services but to harmonise processes such as availability checks, ordering, fault management and billing — all of which vary by network. By translating them into a single, consistent framework, integration platforms reduce engineering overhead, operational risk and time to market. 

The result is flexibility: providers retain control over their commercial agreements, while networks of all sizes can expose their services to a wider base of buyers without additional development. 

The aggregation model: Consolidating scale 

Aggregation networks take a different approach. They bundle multiple networks under one commercial and operational framework. Service providers sign a single wholesale agreement with the aggregator, who manages the relationships, commercial terms and operational processes. 

The most established example is PXC, which brought together a broad footprint of networks including CityFibre, Community Fibre, Freedom Fibre, Trooli, Netomnia and MS3, alongside its own exchange infrastructure. PXC showed the appeal of a unified wholesale model, giving providers access to millions of premises through one contract and one interface. 

Other aggregators follow similar principles. Zen’s Fibre Hub combines CityFibre, Trooli and Freedom Fibre into one proposition, while AllPoints Fibre’s Aquila aggregates Openreach, BT Wholesale, CityFibre and its own consolidated altnets. These models offer reach and efficiency, often supported by added tools such as migration support or self-service portals. 

The trade-off is independence. Providers are limited to the networks and terms the aggregator defines, with the aggregator effectively acting as an intermediary.

Two philosophies, two outcomes 

The distinction is more than technical. It reflects two strategic philosophies: 

• Integration platforms empower choice and flexibility. Providers retain control of their commercial strategy while benefiting from standardised technical processes. 

• Aggregation networks reduce the number of contracts and integrations a provider must manage, but at the cost of flexibility and independence. 

Both approaches add value. The question is whether a provider values control and flexibility more, or the convenience of a single commercial framework. 

Market implications 

The implications are significant. 

• Integration supports inclusivity. By standardising technical processes, it lowers barriers for AltNets to join the market, allows incumbents to interoperate more easily with new entrants, and gives providers the flexibility to craft differentiated supply chains. 

• Aggregation supports consolidation. It delivers immediate scale, particularly appealing to partners in the channel, but also concentrates influence in the hands of a few large networks. 

As the market matures, both models will continue to coexist. Aggregators already rely on integration platforms behind the scenes. While the boundaries between the two models can sometimes appear blurred, their strategic philosophies remain distinct. 

Looking ahead 

The UK’s fibre rollout has created unprecedented choice, but without mechanisms to reduce friction, that choice risks becoming unmanageable. Integration and aggregation are now essential parts of the ecosystem. 

Both will continue to play a role. Aggregators provide a route to scale for partners that value convenience. But the trade-offs are clear: dependence on a single intermediary and limited flexibility. Integration, by contrast, sustains long-term growth. It lowers barriers for AltNets, supports incumbents and allows providers to retain control over their strategies. 

Ultimately, the health of the UK connectivity market will depend on the balance the industry strikes between short-term consolidation and long-term flexibility — a choice that will shape outcomes for providers, networks and customers alike. 

Keep up to date with all of the latest telecoms news from around the world with the Total Telecom newsletter

Also in the news
Connected Britain Award winners 2025 announced!
Netomnia announces ‘powerful and ambitious’ rebrand ahead of Connected Britain
VodafoneThree drops Samsung, relies on Nokia and Ericsson for £2bn network upgrade

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Interview

At Connected Britain 2025, we caught up with Aprecomm’s Daniel Fearon to discuss the economic crunch facing the UK’s fibre altnet market and what they can do to differentiate themselves from the competition

The UK’s full-fibre broadband market has reached a critical “inflection point,” according to Aprecomm’s Senior Director Sales for Europe, Daniel Fearon. In a recent interview at Connected Britain 2025, Fearon offered a candid assessment of the market’s trajectory, suggesting that a rapid overbuild, combined with a global financial slowdown, is forcing many altnets to confront their long-term viability.

“We’ve now hit saturation point. There’s no more growth from a service provider perspective, so ISPs are now fighting to steal each other’s customers,” said Fearon. “This is a real ‘look in the mirror’, reflection moment for some of these altnets. They’ve got to decide if they’ve taken this as far as they can and begin looking for an exit, or if they can change their strategy to build a sustainable business.”

Part of the challenge these altnets face, Fearon explained, is the broadband industry’s historic preoccupation with speeds. Over the past five years, fibre networks have been built at pace using the latest technology, with a major focus on delivering speeds of over 1 Gbps. Consumers, however, have shown comparatively little interest in the fastest speeds, leaving the network operators looking for new incentives to draw in subscribers.

“Not that long ago, most customers were happy with 10 Mbps DSL. Now, they have hundreds of megabits per second, which is more than enough for most people,” said Fearon. “If these altnets want to survive, they will need to look more closely at the customer and ask, ‘what do they really want?’”

Network visibility and customer experience

Answering this question, however, is no easy feat. Customers rarely communicate their needs effectively to their service providers, leaving the CSPs to dig through obtuse network data for insights. For Fearon, improved network visibility is the foundation for creating a better customer experience.

“The CSPs need to know how people are using their networks. What types of devices are they using? When are they using them? Are they using them at the same time? If so, which device or service should get priority? These are all important questions for how best to serve the end-user,” said Fearon. “This is what our platform at Aprecomm is designed to help with.”

Aprecomm’s AI-driven customer experience platform tracks a wide variety of consumer data metrics, allowing ISPs to proactively manage customers’ Wi-Fi networks for a better experience, including optimised workflows and automated ‘self-healing’, in real time.

Perhaps more importantly, it provides the CSPs with a more granular understanding of their customers’ needs. With this visibility, they can identify trends and craft propositions that are genuinely attractive to specific segments. If the customer base shows a high concentration of young families, for example, a cybersecurity service with parental controls could be more valuable than a generic, high-speed gaming package.

Unlocking value-added services

In discussions of altnet longevity and growth at Connected Britain, the concept of value-added services (VAS) like these was never far away. At a time when altnets are desperately trying to monetise their assets and attract new customers, offering customers services beyond traditional connectivity can be very appealing.

For Fearon, however, altnets need to be careful about making these VAS the core of their offering.

“Lots of value-added services are still in their infancy – things like Wi-Fi sensing and hyperconnected smart home features. These will come in time, particularly as the number of smart home devices increases but they need to be built on a reliable foundation first,” he said, adding that services built on a weak network foundation would “fall like a house of cards” and erode customer trust.

Instead, he suggests these altnets focus on building a localised brand identity based on reliability and quality of service.

“We’ve seen some altnets really double down on their local focus, really becoming the provider of choice for the region, the community, the town,” he explained. “That’s a really powerful base to launch VAS from once you have a much better understanding of your customers’ needs.”

Customer-centricity is the key to longevity

Ultimately, the UK’s altnet community are facing a fundamental pivot away from network build-out to customer relationship management. Survival will depend on the ability to leverage network visibility and data analytics to move beyond the status quo of a commoditised ‘speed and price’ battle towards more reliable and personalised service.

“Everything starts with a reliable network and close understanding of who’s using it,” concluded Fearon. “Without that, sustainable growth will remain out of reach for these altnets.”

Grab Aprecomm’s latest whitepaper, Beyond QoS: Why QoE is the Future of Internet Performance Monitoring, to learn more.