Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Internet service provider Octaplus, which sells broadband package to consumers via various networks (e.g. MS3, CityFibre and FullFibre Limited), has today announced the launch of its first Multi-Gigabit speed packages – delivering ultrafast speeds of 1.8Gbps and 2.3Gbps. But there’s also a special mobile data bonus.

Prices for the new plans are said to start at £40 per month. A quick look at their CityFibre based full fibre (FTTP) packages shows that the ISP is selling their top 2.3Gbps symmetric speed package for £50 per month. This includes a Wi-Fi 6 capable router, “guaranteed” wired speeds of 1300Mbps, free installation and a discounted one-off setup fee of £50 on a 24-month minimum term (shorter 18 and 12-month terms are also available).

In addition, Octaplus are also bundling 3GB (GigaBytes) of FREE mobile data every month alongside some of the new plans, delivered via SIM or eSIM, for the duration of the promotion. “This exclusive benefit reflects Octaplus’ belief in enriching everyday connectivity — not just through great pricing, but by adding real, practical value to customers’ lives,” said the provider.

We should add that the mobile service harnesses EE’s national 4G and 5G network.

Gladstone Gonsalves, CEO of Octaplus, said:

“This is more than just faster internet — it’s a symbol of progress, status, and digital future-readiness. We’re not just providing broadband; we’re delivering the digital lifestyle of tomorrow.”

George Wareing, Chief Sales Officer at CityFibre, said:

“Octaplus has continued to thrive across CityFibre’s growing full fibre network, bringing fantastic speeds and a brilliant online experience to its customers. This is yet more evidence that the UK’s full fibre, Multi-Gig future is here.”

The Multi-Gig packages will be available to new and existing Octaplus customers in areas where the network infrastructure supports higher speeds. Customers can check availability for their address by visiting octaplus.co.uk and entering their postcode. Rollout will continue to expand in line with full fibre network deployments.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

The UK Government has published its National Security Strategy (NSS), which may or may not confirm earlier reports (here) that broadband (inc. telecommunications) will now be considered part of national security investment in order to help reach a new NATO target for spending 5% of GDP on defence by 2035. Subsea fibre protection also gets a brief mention.

At present, the United Kingdom is already spending 2.33% of its annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defence, and this is expected to reach 3% by around 2029. But NATO members will today discuss a new 5% goal by 2035, which actually reflects 3.5% for core defence (e.g. military hardware and personnel) and 1.5% on defence-related areas (resilience and security). The latter is where telecoms may soon come into play.

The Prime Minister, Kier Starmer, argues that the reclassification of defence spending reflects the fact that “economic security is national security, and through this strategy we will bring the whole of society with us, creating jobs, growth and wages for working people.” But there’s also no escaping the fact that it will make that 5% target much easier to meet if they can dilute it to include lots of other spending. In the past, NATO has tended to reject such approaches, but times change.

In fairness, telecommunications networks are already considered to be part of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) and maintaining their security has been a key focus of recent laws, so there is at least some logic to lumping associated public investment into defence-related areas (e.g. the £5bn Project Gigabit broadband programme). Not to mention that most of us do depend upon these networks, viewing them as a critical service.

In addition, those vital subsea fibre optic cables that we all rely upon for most of our international connectivity are also a part of the equation, which is relevant because in recent months we’ve seen several seemingly deliberate attempts at sabotage in other parts of Europe (here and here) – with mixed success. The new NSS does touch on this too, albeit only briefly.

Section (1) – Defend our territory

4. An island nation needs to be able to control its borders and maritime environment. Security at home requires monitoring and managing who and what enters our waters and airspace. The UK depends on subsea fibre optic cables for 99% of its digital communications and approximately three quarters of the UK’s total gas supply comes from subsea pipelines. Our territorial security therefore begins at sea – from our ability to stop criminal gangs and deter hostile states to the import of food and energy supplies.

Fibre-optic subsea cables carry 99% of UK digital data

➤ 99% of UK international data traffic transmitted via subsea cables
➤ £65 bn of UK economic activity relies on the subsea cable industry including fibre optic cables
➤ Subsea cables provides 66 million Britons with access to the global internet
➤ The cost to repair a single damaged fibre optic cable is up to £1 m and £100 m for power cables per incident.

The Royal Navy will take a leading and coordinating role in securing undersea infrastructure and maritime traffic carrying the information, energy and goods upon which we depend. Under Operation Atlantic Bastion, we will counter the persistent and growing underwater threats from Russian submarines and the shadow fleet. Changes to our Rules of Engagement means our warships can now do more to track vessels we suspect of spying or conducting sabotage.

Under UK leadership, the ten-nation Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is increasing efforts to track potential threats to subsea infrastructure and the Russian shadow fleet at its Operational headquarters in Northwood. Our NATO allies are also helping us defend our waters through the UK-hosted NATO Maritime Command, as well as Operation Baltic Sentry, which ensures Russian ships cannot operate in secrecy near UK or NATO territory.

Despite this, it should be said that the new NSS doesn’t actually provide much in the way of any solid detail on precisely which bits and pieces will make up that 1.5% for “resilience and security” spending. Rural broadband has of course been mentioned as one of the possible elements, but roadworks and food aid might well be others. We suspect this may first have to be given a nod of approval by NATO this week, before it can be confirmed.

However, there will be many people who would still expect national security spending to be focused squarely on areas like the military (soldiers, drones, tanks etc.), yet the new approach – if confirmed – risks being a bridge too far for how we define such investment. We’re also unsure whether such a change would, despite all the talk of new jobs (likely a reference to other areas of the strategy), bring any tangible benefits for the broadband and mobile side of things.

At the same time, it wouldn’t be the first occasion where a government has utilised a touch of creative accounting in order to make something seem bigger than it actually is.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Developed and manufactured by Camozzi Technopolymers—part of the Camozzi Group—and brought to the UK market by Camozzi Automation UK, the V4000 PLUS LE Series is crafted from sustainable, bio-renewable raw materials. This innovative product series exceeds performance standards while cutting carbon emissions by an impressive 85% (compared to the standard Series V4000 PLUS). Known for their technical expertise and commitment to quality, Camozzi Automation is one of Europe’s most innovative manufacturers, with its headquarters in Italy.

Camozzi Automation appointed Altnets as its first UK distribution partner, stressing Altnets’ extensive telecoms experience, dedication to innovation and sustainable supply chain practices. The relationship is already making waves with the release of the V4000 PLUS LE Series, which is seen as a watershed moment for environmentally conscious Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across the UK.

“At Camozzi Technopolymers, a key part of our identity is our commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles, with a strong focus on advancing sustainable manufacturing processes”, said Nausicaa Martinelli, Sales Manager at Camozzi Technopolymers. She added: “The V4000 Series PLUS LE marks a significant result in this journey, as it embodies all the essential elements of a truly traceable green product—from the use of bio-based raw materials and energy-efficient electric injection moulding machines to 100% green energy powering the production process.”

“At Camozzi, we’ve long prioritised sustainable innovation, and Altnets was the clear choice to carry our message forward in the UK,” said Les Brogden, Sales Director at Camozzi Automation UK.

“Their technical knowledge, market insight, and shared sustainability values make them the ideal partner to introduce the V4000 PLUS LE to UK telecoms providers.”

Introducing the V4000 PLUS LE: A Greener Future for FTTx

The product series consists of three components: a Low Emissions Connector, an End Cap, and a Reducer, all of which are designed to provide superior functional and technical performance while also aligning with the UK’s carbon reduction targets. These modernised components contribute to greener telecommunications builds and have strong impact resistance and thermal stability, assuring long-term dependability. Camozzi Technopolymers’ products, manufactured in Italy, exceed quality standards and combine creativity, durability, and sustainability in a ground-breaking solution.

With the UK Government’s net zero targets creeping closer, this partnership comes at a crucial time for ISPs. Due to its strong focus on ESG, Camozzi Technopolymers has made a Life Cycle Assessment of the connectors Series V4000 PLUS LE. This methodology made it possible to calculate the Carbon Footprint value of the connector.

“Altnets and Camozzi Automation UK are spearheading the journey towards a greener future in the UK telecoms industry,” said Leigh Buckwell, Altnets’ Technical Director.

“Altnets remains dedicated to providing cutting-edge solutions in the telecommunications sector, supporting and emphasising innovation to meet the rapidly evolving needs of our customers while reducing environmental impact.”

As ISPs seek solutions to decrease emissions and future-proof infrastructure builds, the V4000 PLUS LE arrives at a pivotal moment. It is a significant step forward in environmental responsibility alongside technical engineering quality, designed for challenging circumstances and built for longevity. Together, telecoms industry specialists can make a meaningful difference in carbon emissions associated with the sector by adopting sustainable practices and choosing planet-friendly solutions that benefit both fibre builds and our environment, now and into the future.

Ready to future-proof your fibre network while reducing environmental impact?

Speak to the Altnets team today to learn more about Camozzi Technopolymers’ V4000 PLUS LE Series and how sustainable, high-performance microduct connections can support your next build.

Email info@altnets.co.uk to request product details and technical specifications or to discuss your project requirements.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Press Release

 A study by BT in partnership with Be the Business reveals that two in five (39%) SMEs, equivalent to two million businesses, have not arranged cyber security training for their teams – despite four in ten (42%) small businesses having experienced a cyber attack in the last 12 months, increasing to two in three (67%) for medium-sized companies.  

The impact can be severe too, costing companies considerable time and money to recover from an attack. Micro and small businesses have to pay £7,960 on average to cope with their most disruptive breach when it resulted in damage, according to the latest Government survey.  

The most common attack SMEs face is phishing, with email scams targeting 85% of UK businesses. Damaging ransomware incidents, meanwhile, have more than doubled in the last 12 months, rising from affecting less than 1 in 200 businesses last year to 1 in 100 in 2025. A separate report by BT has revealed large businesses which are more proactive with their cyber security are more likely to grow than those who aren’t. It showed that these “cyber agile” companies have a 20% higher growth rate on average.  

In response, BT is bolstering its suite of security products with the launch of dedicated security training, to help SMEs understand the practical steps they can take to protect themselves against cyber attacks and potential breaches. The training, unveiled today at an event for SMEs featuring cyber security experts from BT, educates small businesses about next-generation threats, including the role of AI and quantum computing. It also highlights the rise of attacks, including account takeovers, where stolen customer credentials are used to breach systems, as well as QR code scams – or “quishing” attacks – which have surged by 1,400% in the past five years. 

Tris Morgan, Managing Director for Security at BT, comments: “At BT, our mission is to enable UK businesses to grow and prosper, and we know the challenges SMEs face protecting themselves from growing cyber threats. These often include budget constraints and the lack of a dedicated cyber team, but for SMEs a cyber attack isn’t just an inconvenience; it poses an existential threat.  

“The good news is that effective cyber security doesn’t require corporate-grade resources. With the right training, basic security measures, and awareness, SMEs can dramatically reduce their risk profile. The key is recognising that, in today’s digital landscape, cyber security is not a luxury but a foundation that enables companies to face forwards confidently, rather than forever looking over their shoulder.” 

Further research findings:  

• 18% of UK SMEs say their biggest cyber concern is the threats posed by AI. Seven in ten business leaders (69%), however, are considering using AI tools to protect themselves. 
• About half (46%) of business leaders turn to industry experts for cyber security advice, more than any other source.

How is the UK’s telecoms market changing in 2025? Join the industry in discussion at Connected Britain, the UK’s largest digital economy event

Also in the news:
SWR deploys Europe’s first ’Rail-5G’ Wi-Fi  
BT accelerates fibre rollout amid cost cuts
AT&T agrees $5.75 billion deal for Lumen’s consumer fibre asset

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Press Release

Rural broadband provider Quickline Communications has today unveiled the full list of communities set to benefit from its full fibre rollout over the next three years, bringing fast and reliable, gigabit-capable connectivity to a further 360,000 premises across thousands of rural communities. 

The announcement marks a major milestone in the company’s mission to close the digital divide and revolutionise broadband access across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. 

The rollout is fully funded following a £250 million financing deal secured last summer with the National Wealth Fund and Natwest, alongside long-term investors Northleaf Capital Partners, enabling Quickline to press ahead at pace. 

The programme comprises locations included in the UK Government’s Project Gigabit rollout, which Quickline is delivering in four regions, with a combined subsidy value of over £300 million. They span West Yorkshire and the York area, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, and the East Riding of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, targeting more than 170,000 hard-to-reach homes and businesses. 

In addition, nearly 200,000 surrounding addresses will be connected through commercial investment, densifying the rural network footprint. 

Project Gigabit is the UK Government funded programme enabling hard-to-reach communities access fast, reliable, gigabit-capable broadband, reaching parts of the UK that might otherwise miss out on upgrades to next-generation speeds. 

Dozens of rural communities are already enjoying the benefits of full fibre thanks to the progress made so far on the Project Gigabit programme, including Escrick (near York), Barnby Dun (South Yorkshire), Hunmanby (North Yorkshire), Burgh le Marsh (Lincolnshire), and North Cave (East Yorkshire). 

And construction is currently underway in more locations such as villages outside Hoyland in South Yorkshire, Leven and Skipsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Grainthorpe in Lincolnshire, Cayton Bay and Felixkirk in North Yorkshire and Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire – to name just a few. 

Quickline’s gigabit-capable full fibre network will have reached around 200,000 rural premises by the end of this year and the company’s latest plans will more than double that figure by 2028. 

The full rollout plan, including the list of communities and expected availability dates, is now live here. 

Sean Royce, CEO of Quickline, said: “We’re proud to publish our full fibre rollout plan and give some clarity and confidence that better broadband is coming. 

“Our rollout is transformational for hundreds of thousands of people living in rural areas who have been left behind by the big providers. Our investment, alongside the much-needed government support through Project Gigabit, means real change is on the way. 

“This is about more than speed. It’s about fairness, opportunity and inclusion. Reliable, high-speed broadband will unlock new opportunities, boost local economies, spark innovation, and help entire communities thrive and connect in ways they’ve been denied for too long. 

“This is about ending broadband poverty and delivering the digital future the people of rural Yorkshire and Lincolnshire need and deserve.” 

How is the UK’s telecoms market changing in 2025? Join the industry in discussion at Connected Britain, the UK’s largest digital economy event

Also in the news:
SWR deploys Europe’s first ’Rail-5G’ Wi-Fi  
BT accelerates fibre rollout amid cost cuts
AT&T agrees $5.75 billion deal for Lumen’s consumer fibre asset

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

News

The South Korean mobile operator will resume subscriber acquisition while continuing to issue replacement USIM cards to existing customers affected by the attack

Earlier this year, SK Telecom (SKT) released details of a major cybersecurity breach that saw data from up to 26.9 million customers compromised. The cyberattack took place in the summer of 2022, but was not discovered and reported to the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA) until April this year.

The attack reportedly impacted 23 of SKT’s servers, with roughly 9.32 gigabytes of USIM-related data, including 26.9 million International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) numbers, potentially being exfiltrated by cyber criminals.

In response to the breach, SKT quickly announced it would replace impacted customer USIM cards for free. The subsequent rush for USIM replacements quickly caused a national shortage, leading the government to step in and advise SKT to pause customer acquisition until its USIM stocks were replenished.

SKT followed this guidance, suspending subscriber recruitment for the past two months.

Today, the South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT has announced that it will lift its administrative guidance, allowing SKT to once again begin acquiring subscribers for their mobile services.

“SK Telecom has secured sufficient USIM inventory to meet replacement demands and has successfully implemented and stabilized a new reservation system,” the ministry said. “As the objectives of the administrative guidance regarding USIM shortages have been met, we have decided to lift the suspension of new business activities.”

It should be noted that this news does not mean SKT has replaced all affected customer USIMs, with the ministry urging SKT to continue to prioritise these replacements.

“We are ready to welcome new customers after successfully focusing on USIM replacements for existing subscribers,” said an SKT official in a statement. “Support for those affected by the cyberattack will continue as part of our ongoing recovery efforts.”

While this marks a major positive step in SKT’s recovery effort following the cyberattack, the full impact to the business remains to be seen. The incident has led to many thousands of customers moving to rival operators, with SKT’s CEO, Ryu Young-sang, suggesting that the total number of lost customers could reach 2.5 million, potentially costing the company up to $5 billion in lost revenue over the next three years.

Also in the news:
SWR deploys Europe’s first ’Rail-5G’ Wi-Fi  
BT accelerates fibre rollout amid cost cuts
AT&T agrees $5.75 billion deal for Lumen’s consumer fibre asset

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Network operator and UK ISP Brsk (Netomnia) has scrapped plans to deploy three additional 9-metre-high wood telecoms poles on Fernwood Road and Bracken Close in Marple Bridge (Stockport, Greater Manchester), which came after a significant portion of locals protested the plan. Residents complained it would have spoilt their view of the surrounding countryside.

Just to recap. Brsk and Netomnia are in the process of merging and have so far deployed their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network to cover 2.5 million UK homes (inc. 325,000 customers), which is expected to reach 3 million premises by the end of 2025 and then 5 million by the end of 2027.

The network operator’s deployment tends to involve a mix of both underground (i.e. new trenching and harnessing Openreach’s existing cable ducts, where available) and overhead work (i.e. running fibre cables via both new and existing telegraph poles). But the use of poles has sometimes got them into a spot of trouble (here) and one of their builds in Birmingham is also the subject of an Ofcom investigation (here).

The deployment of wood poles to run overhead fibre is a common practice across the UK. This is because poles are quick and cost-effective to build (several times cheaper than trenching), can be deployed in areas where there may be no space or access agreement to safely put new underground cables, are less disruptive (avoiding the noise, access restrictions and damage to pavements of street works) and can be built under Permitted Development (PD) rights.

However, such deployments have also attracted a fair few complaints over the past few years. Suffice to say that a lot of people find them ugly, particularly when deployed in areas that haven’t had them before, which has in some parts of the country triggered strong anti-pole protests. But the industry has recently introduced new ‘Best Practice Guidance for Poles’ to help tackle this problem, which generally requires network operators to have greater engagement with and respect for community wishes.

In the case above, Brsk had been mostly intending to harness Openreach’s existing poles and ducts in the Fernwood Road and Bracken Close areas, but they also needed to build additional poles. The problem is that, firstly, there aren’t currently that many poles in the area (a lot of existing infrastructure is underground) and many locals enjoy a scenic view of the surrounding countryside. Suffice to say, residents didn’t want that to change.

In addition, Openreach and Virgin Media (inc. nexfibre) have already made gigabit-capable broadband available, although it should be said that Netomnia/brsk do offer cheaper packages and much faster speeds. But according to the Manchester Evening News, every household on Bracken Close put their names behind a letter to Brsk opposing the plans, while over 60 people on Fernwood signed a petition against the plans and also got local MPs involved. Brsk has now relented and heeded the feedback.

Gareth Cornelius, MD of Brsk, said:

“We can confirm that we will no longer be installing telegraph poles on Fernwood Road and Bracken Close in Marple Bridge.

While these streets already have existing Openreach poles, three additional poles were required to safely complete our network build in line with health and safety regulations, due to the distance between existing infrastructure.

We engaged with local residents and councillors as part of our community consultation process to explore solutions that would work for the whole community.

While some welcomed the prospect of improved broadband choice, others raised concerns. In line with our commitment to the best practice recommendations under the industry code of practice, we have listened to this feedback and decided not to proceed with our rollout in this location.

Our aim had been to invest in the community and bring essential broadband infrastructure to the area.”

It’s notable that Brsk has highlighted the revised best practice recommendations as one of the reasons for their change, which shows that they’re listening and acting on such concerns. We’ve also seen a few more cases like this over the past couple of months (i.e. providers changing their plans after feedback), but the volume of complaints is lower now because so many operators have had to scale-back or pause their builds due to wider economic challenges.

Brsk now only intends to conduct a partial network build in the area, using only existing poles and ducts, which will of course mean excluding a few premises from their originally planned coverage.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

The not-for-profit London Internet Exchange (LINX), which handles a large chunk of UK and global data traffic through their switches via around 900 members (broadband ISPs, mobile and CDN providers etc.), has today announced the official introduction of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) solution as an add-on to their peering service.

The SLA has been introduced in response to demand from enterprise networks seeking resilient, reliable, and accountable connectivity solutions. The new SLA’s (LINX Enhanced Support) aim to address that and support the exchange’s aim of delivering “enterprise-grade performance guarantees“, which includes assurances around Exchange uptime and land support response times.

The new initiative is said to align with LINX’s broader strategy to diversify its membership and service offerings while maintaining its not-for-profit ethos.

Shehram Malik, Solutions Engineer at LINX, said:

“Enterprises today demand more than just connectivity — they need performance, control, and accountability. Our SLA is designed to give enterprise customers the confidence that their interconnection needs are being met with the highest standards of reliability and service.”

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Mobile operator Vodafone (VodafoneThree) has revealed a little bit more information about how their new “Access to roam” feature will work. This will shortly become one of the first major benefits of their recently completed merger with Three UK (here and here) – allowing 27 million customers to roam across both networks at no extra cost.

The official announcement of all this stated that the new ability would be ready “within a few months” and will “happen automatically, with no need to change a thing (phones will connect to the best coverage available)“. By the end of 2025 this will remove a total of 16,500 sq/km of not spots (areas with no mobile signal) – equivalent to 10x the size of London – with the first 25 sites already live. But this didn’t provide the full and correct context.

The service will deliver all this by harnessing a network sharing architecture known as Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN), which allows more than one network operator to share the same Radio Access Network (RAN) – including towers, antennas, and spectrum – while maintaining separate core networks (usually situated inside data centres or similar).

In other words, whether your phone has a Vodafone or a Three UK SIM, it will connect to either a Vodafone or a Three UK mast – whichever one provides the best signal in your location. Naturally this approach has prompted a few questions from the customers of both operators and so Vodafone has now released a useful Q&A, which helps to answer a lot of those queries.

Some of the highlights of this include confirmation that it will take a total of 8 years to fully complete the roll-out of ‘Access to roam’ (it’ll be 95% complete after 6 years), which wasn’t made clear on the original announcement. The deployment is thus initially being strategically focused on areas of the country that will gain the most benefit from it (i.e. those with a poor 4G or 5G signal from one or the other operator).

In addition, while both 4G and 5G (mobile broadband) Non-Standalone networks will benefit, users of the latest 5G Standalone (5G SA) services (i.e. a pure end-to-end 5G only network) will have to wait a bit longer as it’s not yet able to support those (this is vaguely expressed as being planned for the future, with no firm ETA).

However, it’s probably best to think of “Access to roam” as being an interim technology, since eventually Vodafone and Three UK will look to have a single core network that will do away with the need for MOCN. But delivering on this is still “many years away“, which is an interesting thing to say given that MOCN itself will already be taking up to 8 years to fully deploy.

Access to roam Q&A

Do I need to change any settings on my phone for MOCN to work?

No, you don’t need to change any settings on your device. MOCN/access to roam will work automatically. This is thanks to VodafoneThree’s dedicated MOCN servers. Running specialised software and dotted across the country, they identify Vodafone and Three UK SIMs, then automatically route their connections to the relevant core network no matter which radio network they’ve connected to.Think of these servers as helpful multilingual staffers in an airport or train station, directing travellers unfamiliar with the layout of the place to the right gate or platform so that they don’t miss their connection.

Who or what decides which signal/radio network is better?

The decision, on which network a Vodafone or Three customer’s phone will use, is made by the core network of the MOCN-enabled mast that it is connected to. VodafoneThree’s network design team have agreed an intricately weighted set of criteria for when a customer’s phone will move between networks.From the customer’s point of view, the process will be seamless. For example, there won’t be any change in the stated name of the network as it appears in your phone’s settings or at the top of its screen.

Will it cost me any extra to use MOCN/access to roam?

Access to roam is available at no extra charge to customers of VodafoneThree’s five brands.

Where will MOCN/access to roam be available?

As of June 2025, MOCN has been enabled at 24 masts across the UK. By March 2026, 10,000 more network sites will have MOCN.

When will access to roam be available?

The roll out of access to roam has already started in the areas of the country that will gain the most benefit from it. 95% of the rollout will be complete within six years, with the entire rollout finished in eight years.

So the MOCN rollout will be complete in 2033? Why does the rollout take eight years?

Some masts can be upgraded with MOCN remotely with what is effectively a software upgrade. Others, however, will need to have new hardware fitted to them. Completing such hardware upgrades, especially in remote areas of the country, will take time.

Will network-dependent phone features, such as RCS messaging and Visual Voicemail, still work when my smartphone is using access to roam/MOCN?

Yes, any network-dependent phone features that are normally available on your usual network will still be available when your phone is connected through access to roam/MOCN.

Will VodafoneThree’s 5G Standalone (5G SA) service be available through MOCN?

For now, MOCN will provide customers with 4G and 5G Non-Standalone services. 5G SA service through MOCN is planned for the future.

Will VodafoneThree eventually have only one core network, doing away with the need for MOCN?

There will eventually be one core network, but that is many years away.

Does the Shared Rural Network (SRN) use MOCN?

SRN masts that cover areas which were previously Partial Not Spots – which is where service was only available from just one mobile provider – do use MOCN.

What happens if I have a dual-SIM phone equipped with both Vodafone and Three UK SIMs?

MOCN doesn’t affect the behaviour of a phone equipped with dual SIMs. Such a phone would use whichever network for whichever purposes you specify in its settings.

Is ‘roam to access’ the same thing as international roaming?

No, they’re not the same thing.

I’m a foreign visitor to the UK and my non-UK mobile provider has an international roaming agreement with either Vodafone or Three. Will my phone be able to use access to roam/MOCN?

MOCN wouldn’t affect the behaviour of an international visitor’s phone. Such a phone would use whichever network the customer’s home network has a roaming agreement with.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Rural-focused ISP and alternative network builder Wessex Internet, which is building a mix of full fibre (FTTP) and fixed wireless network across Southern England, has today announced that they’ve secured a £50m investment from the National Wealth Fund (formerly known as the UK Infrastructure Bank).

The provider, which also holds several state aid backed Project Gigabit build contracts (i.e. a total of four contracts worth £72m to deliver full fibre broadband to over 53,000 properties in the next four years), currently covers 40,000 premises across parts of Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Somerset with their fibre optic lines (up from 30,000 premises and 10k customers in Nov 2024).

This new funding from the NWF will enable the provider to grow their full fibre network coverage from 40,000 to 137,000 underserved rural premises (note: in 2022 their business plan expressed an aim of covering an “additional” 150,000 premises by 2027).

The NWF’s funding could also be said to reflect a recognition that whilst there are known difficulties in the sector, Wessex Internet, has a “clear strategy” and is “achieving strong commercial results” (their accounts do look healthier than those of quite a few other altnets).

Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO of Wessex Internet, said:

“We are delighted with the National Wealth Fund’s decision to support our ongoing growth story. This investment will support the scale and pace of Wessex Internet’s rural network build and enables us to continue delivering high-quality digital infrastructure in areas that have historically faced limited connectivity.

As many broadband providers scale back, we have continued to grow by focusing on rural, hard-to-reach areas that others overlook. As a family-owned business, our focus has always been on ensuring that these regions can access reliable full fibre broadband, which supports local economic development and long-term community needs. Our success is rooted in that purpose.

Everyone in the business is proud of the huge impact that Wessex Internet has had on the communities we serve – connecting families, strengthening businesses and empowering local organisations.”

Ian Brown, Head of Banking & Investments at the National Wealth Fund, said:

“Every home and business in the UK deserves access to fast, affordable and reliable broadband. Our financing for Wessex Internet will ensure that under-served rural communities will benefit from the continued full-fibre rollout. These are areas where connecting homes and businesses to fast fibre will make the greatest difference, helping to improve connectivity and support local economies.”

Prices for their full fibre packages start at £29 per month for a 100Mbps (15Mbps upload) tier on a 12-month term, but this only comes with a meagre 100GB data allowance (£44 for unlimited), and you’ll have to pay £49 (one-off) for activation. By comparison, their top unlimited usage plan will give 900Mbps (450Mbps upload) for £79 per month. Not cheap, but then they’re often the only FTTP choice in a lot of their locations (remote rural areas cost more to serve).