Startup Stories: Jetty

Insight 

Tell us about your start up. Who do you sell to?  What do you offer?  

Completely unique to the UK, Jetty is a white-label customer management platform built specifically for fibre retailers. It uses the latest technologies to manage the full journey of a residential fibre customer efficiently, compliantly and at scale.  

Jetty provides all this functionality out-of-the-box to Altnets and Communication Service Providers, enabling a rapid route to market and the reassurance that their customers will be managed efficiently and compliantly.  

The Jetty platform is totally end-to-end, bringing together a number of products to support the customer experience, including Sales / Order / Provisioning, Customer Service, Customer Communications, Billing & Payments, Contact Centre Technology, Hardware Logistics and Digital Applications. 

This full service offering allows our clients to focus on scaling their business either organically, or through acquisition by leaning on Jetty’s expertise of consolidating customer bases.  

 

 What is your USP?  

Jetty is the only white-label SaaS platform in the UK that automates the full journey of a residential fibre customer – efficiently, compliantly and at scale.  

Jetty is run by a team who, individually, have all previously worked in customer telcos. As a result, the client and its customers are put at the heart of every single decision. Being built around the principles of case management, Jetty automates the customer journey and creates frictionless digital experiences for customers. Consequently, customer service agents only handle the most complex cases. 

 

What is your relationship with the telecom sector? 

Jetty has worked hand-in-glove with its clients to enhance the experience of its customers and customer service agents, as well as delivering a transformation programme to unlock millions of pounds of value to the group. 

We are now offering this platform to other fibre retailers to transform the experiences of their customers too. 

 

How have you got to your current stage of development? (role of accelerators, partners etc)  

Jetty launched in 2022 following a management buy-out led by OVO’s previous Director of Telecoms, Alex Hollingdale.  

As well as Alex, the Jetty board includes Vinny Casey (CFO at OVO) and Steven Ackroyd (VP at OVO & Vertical Aeropace).  

 

Why did you establish the business?  

For the last few years we have seen over 100 UK Altnets secure funding to build a fibre network and start acquiring customers. We knew that once they started reaching some degree of scale, the manual processes and systems that had got them to launch, would not be fit for purpose. We know how hard and expensive it is to build an efficient and compliant BSS. We believe a more efficient model is for Jetty to license our platform to them as part of a managed service. This would in turn mean the Altnets could focus on the things that add the most value to them; a) building fibre networks and b) putting customers on those networks 

 

Who inspired you? Do you have a mentor?  

I have been fortunate to work for 2 incredible entrepreneurs in my career, both of whom have founded not just one, but two £1bn+ unicorns. 

Firstly Sir Charles Dunstone (Carphone Warehouse, TalkTalk), who taught me the importance of putting the customer and those that speak with customers at the heart of every decision you make.  

Secondly, Stephen Fitzpartick (OVO, Vertical Aerospace), who continually challenges the status quo and is driven to help solve our greatest global challenge of achieving net zero. 

 

What does the future hold for your business?  

Since Jetty is a cloud-based application and multi-tenant by design, technologically its scalability is limitless. Over time we anticipate Jetty expanding to offer its clients a multi-product offering (Fibre, Mobile, TV, Energy) completely on their brand. In addition we are already seeing opportunities to expand into Europe, Africa, Australia and North America. 

Fundamentally we will be successful only if our clients are successful. Our belief is that by enabling them to grow by using our technology and our deep industry knowledge, Jetty will be the platform of choice for retailers globally.  

Company CV  
HQ London, UK 
Number of employees 21 
Last fund type Self-financed management buy-out 
URL http://www.jettytechnologies.com 
Founders Alex Hollingdale 
Linkedin Address http://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhollingdale 

Make sure to catch Jetty exhibiting at this year’s Connected Britain on stand S5

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UK government announces £88 million investment in connectivity R&D

News 

The investment will aid the UK’s aim to be a global leader in telecoms research and development 

The UK government has announced an £88 million investment in open 5G open network solutions across the country. 

The funding has been awarded to 19 successful projects through the Open Networks Ecosystem competition, which aims to find new solutions for the delivery of mobile phone data in densely populated places, such as tourist hotspots or sports stadiums. In areas such as these, the simultaneous use of many devices can create issues for mobile operators, as they are handling high levels of traffic. 

The 19 successful projects will demonstrate the reliability and usability of Open RAN technologies, highlighting how they can bring resilient connectivity to UK citizens and businesses.  

Instead of using only one company’s equipment, Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN) allows different companies’ technology to work together, allowing for a better and more flexible network. 

“Whether you’re in a busy city centre or a rural village, a fast and reliable mobile connection is vital to staying in touch, accessing services and doing business,” said Sir John Whittingdale, Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure. 

“In order to secure that, we need to embrace a diverse and secure range of technology that will underpin the network”

“The projects we’re backing today with £88 million in government research and development investment will use innovative Open RAN solutions to make our mobile networks more adaptable and resilient, with future-proofed technology to support bringing lightning-fast connections across the country for many years to come”. 

The successful projects will run until March 2025 in major urban areas such as London, Glasgow and Liverpool, large events venues such as Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, and seaside resorts of Blackpool and Worthing.  

The four major mobile network operators in the UK: EE, Three, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone, have all endorsed the UK’s Open RAN principles, which aims for 35% of the UK’s network traffic to pass through open and interoperable Radio Access Network (RAN) technologies by 2030, which has been affirmed by a Memorandum of Understanding. 

“The Government’s funding to tackle adoption barriers of open mobile networks is another significant contribution to the telecoms industry, and once again highlights the important role the sector plays in driving connectivity and economic growth in the UK,” said Nick Johnson, Head of UKTIN. 

“Building a diversified telecoms infrastructure in the UK is crucial to unlocking opportunities for growth and creating a prosperous future. The projects announced today, in support of that mission, will both deliver exciting innovations and consider how to overcome some of the tricky but important challenges to wide-scale deployments.” 

The full list of successful projects can be found here. 

Hear from Sir John Whittingdale, Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure, at this year’s Connected Britain in his day one ministerial address. It’s not too late to get tickets – grab yours now!

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Calix Launches SmartBiz in the UK, Equipping Altnets With Industry-First Solution To Address the Needs of 5.5 Million Small and Medium Enterprises

PRESS RELEASE

With the launch of Calix SmartBiz in the United Kingdom, altnets like Connexin finally have an all-in-one solution designed specifically for small businesses, packaging reliable managed Wi-Fi, robust network security, and business productivity applications on top of high-speed internet access

SAN JOSE, CA & LONDON—September 14, 2023—Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today announced that Calix SmartBiz™ is available in the United Kingdom (UK). Now, alternative service providers (altnets) can expand their markets with a managed service purpose-built to meet the specific needs of the 5.5 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the UK. SmartBiz on the Calix broadband platform integrates everything altnets need to support SME growth in their communities— managed Wi-Fi (indoor and outdoor), network security, and business productivity applications on top of high-speed internet access.

Until now, altnets have not had a single broadband solution built for the specific needs of SMEs. They were left to choose between repurposing residential products or scaling down complex and expensive enterprise-grade solutions to address the SME market.​ SmartBiz gives altnets a turnkey offering that enables them to open additional revenue streams and expand their subscriber base as they race to compete in crowded broadband markets.

SmartBiz is composed of SmartBizWorx™ productivity software and the CommandWorx™ mobile app. CommandWorx is integrated with award-winning Calix Wi-Fi systems and Calix Support Cloud to enable self-service access to SmartBiz and its features. Small business owners can monitor and manage SmartBiz from anywhere with one easy-to-use app built for their needs. Additionally, a customisable customer Wi-Fi portal allows them to offer convenient, secure internet access while building brand loyalty.

SmartBiz also gives small business owners:

Dedicated networks to maximise productivity. With network access control, SmartBiz offers out-of-the-box, dedicated primary, staff, point-of-sale, and customer networks. Every user has appropriate access to the network resources they need, improving role efficiency and driving higher productivity.
Robust network-level security to prevent cyberattacks. SmartBiz delivers robust security capabilities to protect staff, customers, and critical business infrastructure from cyberattacks, in addition to network-specific, customisable content restrictions.​
Network resilience to keep small businesses up and running. Network outages can be catastrophic for SMEs—a single hour of downtime can cost nearly £20,000. Network resiliency offers automatic cellular failover, ensuring that SMEs stay up and running—and productive—no matter what.

“The launch of SmartBiz in the UK is a game changer – SMEs have been waiting for a solution that offers features previously only available to large enterprises,” said Furqan Alamgir, chief executive officer at Connexin. “In 2022, more than half (54 percent) of SMEs in the UK experienced cyberattacks, marking a 15 percent increase from 2020. SmartBiz extends the security and managed broadband experiences we deliver to our residential customers (with Calix Revenue EDGE™) to address the specific security needs of SMEs, powering us to expand our presence in the market by delivering a service that goes beyond basic connectivity. Critical features like mobile backup for resilience are essential for SMEs, especially as they increasingly rely on digital payments. Whether it’s a pub, cafe, or hair salon, we can now alleviate small business owners’ IT concerns and contribute to the success of the SMEs that form the backbone of our communities.”

“SMEs underpin the UK economy,” said Eoin Heaney, vice president of international at Calix. “With an annual turnover of £1.4 trillion, they account for more than 30 percent of UK revenue and employ almost half the country’s workforce. Small business owners face a long list of challenges—and finding the right productivity solutions to support their growth is just one more issue they must tackle. With SmartBiz, altnets can finally give SMEs the critical productivity capabilities they need without the dedicated IT staff, or the hefty price tag typically associated with such solutions. SmartBiz presents an opportunity for altnets to both expand their business or grow a new market altogether. We’re excited to work with innovative altnets like Connexin that deliver differentiated managed services that enable their SME customers to focus on what they do best: running their own business.”

Calix will showcase SmartBiz at Connected Britain 2023, taking place 20-21 September at ExCel London. On Wednesday, 20 September, Calix area vice president Tiffany Shurr will discuss the small business opportunity in the Digital Britain panel session “Addressing the UK’s Productivity Challenge.”

Alex Yeung, Connexin deputy chief executive officer and co-founder, will also speak on Wednesday at Connected Britain. He will discuss the critical connection between subscriber experience and brand identity in the panel, “Speed alone is not a winning strategy-building brand equity in their community is how Connexin is winning.”

To learn more about SmartBiz, schedule a meeting or visit the Calix stand (#76) on the show floor at Connected Britain 2023.

About Calix

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX)—Broadband service providers of all sizes leverage the Calix platform and teams to simplify their business and excite their subscribers to grow the value of their business and for their communities for generations. The democratizing power of the platform and portfolio of managed services enables them to operate efficiently, acquire subscribers, and deliver exceptional experiences. Calix is dedicated to driving continuous improvement in partnership with our growing ecosystem to support the transformation of our customers and their communities.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix’s business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix’s results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

Calix and the Calix logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Calix and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Calix’s trademarks can be found at https://www.calix.com/pages/trademarks.html. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Press Inquiries:
Alison Crisci
919-353-4323
alison.crisci@calix.com

Investor Inquiries:
Jim Fanucchi
investorrelations@calix.com

Ensuring RFT field Operations Through Computer Vision: Opportunities for UK Full Fibre Network Providers

Insight

Summary:

• RFT operations are fundamental for all operators building and running FTTP networks

• Computer vision is a game changing technology that can help operators enhance RFT operations

• Learn which are the immediate use cases that can benefit from computer vision

Market landscape

The race is on for UK FTTP operators to complete their network deployments, whilst juggling the challenges of build contractor shortages, network overbuild, rising cost bases and most recently consolidation, as market dynamics and insufficient scale proves unsustainable for some players.

Network deployments are often plagued with quality issues, leading to roll-out delays, additional costs and disruption for residents. In overbuild areas, delays lead to a detrimental impact on ROI when customers make the switch to full fibre using a competitor.

Once the network is ready for service (RFS), there is also an ever-increasing focus on delivering the best possible installation journey, not just to differentiate, but to better manage the cost base, accelerate time to revenue and ensure great Net Promoter Score (NPS) feedback when engaging with customers.

Enhancing RFT through computer vision

Right First Time (RFT) operations have become the key metric of choice in helping operators address these challenges. It measures whether tasks are correctly completed to the required standard in the initial attempt, without the need for rework. Whether applied to network build, customer install or resolving network faults, RFT reduces revisits, operational costs and time spent on each task.

Computer vision solutions are being deployed to help operators significantly increase RFT rates through the detection of anomalies and poor-quality operations, enabled by the automated analysis of visual data, captured and uploaded by engineers or auditors in the field. Having successfully deployed with FTTP providers in Europe, we see immediate benefits for UK alt-nets.

Openreach PIA: Managing Openreach’s PIA compliance process is a pain-point for many FTTP providers reliant on access to Openreach’s ducts, poles, and chambers to deliver and build out their own networks. Similar to other markets, adherence to strict quality standards and compliance with photographic evidence is mandatory. Using computer vision, operators are able to capture noncompliant photos or sub-standard work prior to sending to Openreach, avoiding delays and unnecessary costs that come with resubmissions or additional site visits.

Network Build Audits: As-built network auditing and documentation is often incomplete, with many operators seeking to improve their quality control processes. Computer vision can be used to ensure build standards are met, avoiding delays in handover and accelerating RFS network availability. Relevant for equipment across end-to-end fibre network, automating real time quality checks via AI, significantly reduces rework, as well as the time, effort and costs needed to complete desktop and site surveys.

Customer Installs: Issues with network availability, splicing, broadband speeds, reinstatement or even poorly mounted ONTs can result in service delays, issues or unhappy customers, where an additional site visit maybe required. Using computer vision to automate install health checks, operators can detect any corrective rework needed on the day of install, as well as guarantee the best possible install experience for their customers.

Inveniam AI – a better way to benefit from computer vision. Inveniam AI is a fully managed solution that integrates computer vision and machine learning capabilities to enhance field service operations, transforming raw data into real time actionable insights when engineers are in the field. With every stage of the computer vision life cycle covered, we build, deploy, and manage transformative computer vision solutions without our customers having to invest in their dedicated AI resources.

Get in touch or meet us at Connected Britain to explore how Inveniam can support you to enhance RFT operations.

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Alternative network operator Spring Fibre, which only a few months ago began to deploy a new 10Gbps capable wholesale Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network for UK ISPs – starting in Lincolnshire (England), has announced that Rosalind Singleton has been replaced as CEO by ex-Virgin Media man Gareth Greppellini. Just to recap. Spring Fibre, which was initially […]

Freedom Fibre Add 2 Manchester Towns to UK Full Fibre Build

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Intelsat reaches teleport network deal with Italy’s Telespazio

News 

According to Intelsat, the partnership “designed to enhance the digital infrastructure, broadband and broadcast capabilities of the region” is already underway  

Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and provider of inflight connectivity, has reached an agreement with Telespazio, to add Telespazio’s Italian Fucino space centre to its partner teleport network. 

The partnership, Intelsat claims, will expand their point of presence in Europe, facilitating connectivity between their existing data centre in Fuchsstadt, Germany and Telespazio’s Fucino facility. It will also allow Intelsat to accommodate the growth of its global FlexEnterprise offering and to enable other managed satellite services. 

Telespazio, a global player in satellite solutions and services, is a joint venture between Leonardo and Thales, each owning 67% and 33% respectively. 

The company’s Fucino Space Centre has been active since 1963, and carries out in-orbit satellite control, space mission management and telecommunications, television and multimedia services. It has 170 antennas and is widely considered the world’s first and most important teleport for civilian use. 

“We are delighted to have reached this agreement with Intelsat, allowing us to expand the set of services available from our Fucino teleport in the energy and government market segments which are of great interest to Telespazio,” said Alessandro Caranci, Senior Vice President of Satellite Communications at Telespazio. 

“Through this agreement with Telespazio, Intelsat is expanding its FlexEnterprise solution for its global customer base. The Fucino gateway will deliver in-country ground facilities for customers such as Italian energy and government organizations that may have regulatory and security requirements to land satellite traffic locally as well as Media businesses looking for European or global distribution,” said Rhys Morgan, VP and General Manager, EMEA Media and Networks Sales at Intelsat. 

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VETRO Recognises Outstanding Achievements in the Broadband Industry at Connected Britain

Insight

To help the UK reach its goal in delivering next-gen gigabit broadband to over a million businesses and households, access to best-in-class technology and innovation is essential. At this year’s Connected Britain event, VETRO proudly sponsors the Connected After Hours with Calix and Vitruvi. In addition, VETRO is sponsoring the prestigious Broadband Provider of the Year award. We sat down with Pete Pizzutillo, VETRO’s Head of International and Partner Development, to learn more about why VETRO decided to sponsor this award.  

 

What motivated VETRO to sponsor this award? 

VETRO’s decision to sponsor this award aligns with our core values and objectives. We recognise the importance of operators and service providers who prioritise the end consumer as their primary customer. We believe in celebrating organisations that excel in delivering exceptional customer service. Brsk Ltd, Fibrus, Giganet, Lightning Fibre, Truespeed, Wessex Internet, and Wildanet—are the finalists for the Broadband Provider of the Year award. They’re leaders in the industry, and this award honours their efforts to improve connectivity in the UK by providing outstanding service. 

 

How does VETRO relate to the award’s focus on customer satisfaction, innovation, and community collaboration? 

VETRO values our relationships with our customers. Whether it’s the first point of contact, the onboarding process, or providing ongoing support, we prioritise our customers throughout their journey with us. We are proud of our exceptional customer reviews, and we appreciate companies that share our commitment to customer-centric values. 

 

How can VETRO FiberMap assist operators in excelling in customer-centric, innovative, and community-focused areas highlighted by this award? 

VETRO FiberMap provides tools for quick customer issue resolution, supports innovative network planning, and facilitates efficient operations. Operators can easily share information with local partners, fostering community collaboration. The platform offers data-driven insights to improve services and reliability, aligning perfectly with the award’s focus on customer-centric, innovative, and community-oriented achievements. 

Meet Pete and the rest of the VETRO team at Connected Britain 2023. Visit stand 61B at ExCeL London from September 20-21 to learn more. 

About VETRO
VETRO builds software that makes it radically simpler and faster for broadband providers to plan, design, build, and operate their fibre optic networks. VETRO is the only SaaS-based GIS fibre management platform that optimises the business value of networks by simplifying the digitisation, data visualisation and management of fibre assets through an open, highly accessible and precise system of record for network assets. Our map-based SaaS platform is easier to use and more powerful than traditional tools and enables network operators and ISPs to benefit from a modern, integrated, and connected digital hub for their physical network assets. VETRO is leveraged by broadband providers for all phases of the fibre optic network. 

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