News

The annual report into the risks posed by Huawei – and in particular software it produces – to the UK’s national infrastructure has remained unpublished since 2021, raising concerns about a lack of government transparency.

The Telegraph newspaper article said that the report overseen by the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) – otherwise known as the ‘The Cell’ – has been in existence since 2010, but in 2021 the then-culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, decided to not to make it publicly available.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology did not comment on the decision, leading to suggestions that the government “let Huawei off the hook.” It is not clear if the report is still being produced as the work of ‘The Cell’ continues at its Banbury HQ.

In 2020 Total Telecom reported that the same watchdog report had found numerous flaws during its investigations, including one vulnerability deemed “nationally significant”. HCSEC said at the time that it “continues to reveal serious and systematic defects in Huawei’s software engineering and cyber security competence”.

Connected Britain will examine the issues around securing critical infrastructure at this year’s conference. Join us at ExCel London in September – REGISTER HERE

Alternative network provider County Broadband, which aspires to cover 500,000 premises across the East of England with their gigabit speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network by the end of 2027, has revealed that the specialist team they created to help reach the most remote homes has now completed 200 connections. The full fibre provider, which is being […]

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today opened an investigation into the Quality of Service (i.e. minimum standards for repairs and new line provision) targets that they impose upon some of Openreach’s (BT) broadband and Ethernet products, which comes after the regulator found that the operator had fallen short in several areas. As an operator […]

Network builder and ISP Quickline, which is currently rolling out their new gigabit speed full fibre (FTTP) infrastructure to 96 rural locations (55,000 premises) across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in England, has launched a new “zero cost, zero conditions broadband deal” to help attract new customers away from rivals in their patch. The provider, supported by […]

Broadband provider Yayzi appears to have quietly become the first ISP on CityFibre’s national Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to launch a symmetric speed 2.5Gbps package for UK consumers, which will set you back just £45 per month on an 18-month term (inc. free wireless router). Now that’s cheap. The change, which was spotted yesterday by ISPreview’s […]

Credible sources have informed ISPreview that broadband ISP and mobile operator EE, as part of BT’s ongoing work to turn the provider into their “flagship brand for our consumer customers” (here), are preparing to rebrand the BT TV service to EE TV and re-launch it alongside free multi-room support, while also adding YouTube. The move, […]

News

The GSMA have announced the addition of China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom to the Open Gateway initiative, a global network of operators using Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs) to provide universal access to operator networks.

The aim is to help developers and cloud providers enhance and deploy services more quickly across operator networks via single points of access. Early test programmes have centred on areas including online financial crime and more immersive gaming experiences.

Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA said “This will help unlock further value from 5G connectivity which will flow into the global economy and strengthen future investments, bringing transformational benefits of connectivity to all,”

Li Jun, EVP, China Telecom, said “We believe collaboration and common frameworks between mobile operators, developers and cloud providers will create new opportunities and drive forward new industries and experiences.”

Whilst Gao Tongqing, EVP, China Mobile, said they were “committed to opening up network capabilities and driving positive contributions to promoting the development of the digital economy.”

Launched earlier this year, there are now 29 signatories to the MoU including America Movil, AT&T, Axiata, Bharti Airtel, BT Group, China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, Du, e& Group, KDDI, KPN, KT, Liberty Global, MTN, Omantel, Orange, Singtel, Swisscom, STC, Telecom Argentina, Telefónica, Telenor, Telstra, TIM, Veon, Verizon and Vodafone.

The National Farmers Union recently published the results of their latest annual survey of 814 members across England and Wales, which among other things found that 36% can now access “supefast broadband” (24Mbps+) speeds (up from 20% two years ago), while 80% had access to 4G on their mobiles and 10% could get 5G. Naturally, […]

NEWS

The Italian incumbent is set to enter exclusive negotiations with KKR over sale of its network assets, with private equity firm outbidding rivals CDP & Macquarie

The operator’s board gave the green light for CEO Pietro Labriola to begin exclusive negotiations with US investment fund KKR last Thursday, regarding the sale of the telco’s fixed line networks business , which is to be spun off into a new entity dubbed NetCo. KKR, who hold a stake in TIM’s last-mile operator FiberCop, have been given until September 30 to submit a binding offer. KKR’s earlier non-binding bid for €23bn was accepted ahead of the rival bid from CDP and Macquarie.

While this would seem to draw the protracted sale one step closer to completion, the bid is still subject to both regulatory and governmental approval, while shareholder Vivendi, who hold a 23.75% stake in TIM, plans to block the move due to the offer ‘undervaluing assets’ in reports published in the Financial Times. The French conglomerate have previously valued TIM’s assets at €31bn, and while reports in Italy have suggested that this could drop to €26bn, this is still higher than the non-binding bid previously submitted by KKR.

While Vivendi’s opposition is a significant block to the deal, TIM has noted that any transaction involving NetCo remains subject to regulatory approval and also the government’s ‘Golden Power’ authority, which allows it to have a say on the fate of assets considered to be of strategic national importance as well as antitrust approvals. TIM’s description of KKR’s bid as being “preferable in terms of executability and timing,” suggests some confidence in getting the deal through the regulatory process. However, as Vivendi’s reaction shows, we still have some way to go before we can describe the NetCo sale as completed.

Press Release

Accompanying the hyperlocal ‘Ogi has landed’ advertising campaign is a programme of community-based festivals and events, with the starting pistol kicking things off at the Milford Haven Carnival and Ogi Porthcawl 10K at the beginning of July.

Gaining momentum over the last two years, Ogi is now the leading alternative choice in south Wales, with its ultrafast and ultra-reliable network bringing full fibre connectivity to Welsh towns and villages – often for the very first time.

Ogi’s full fibre entry package is almost three times faster than the Welsh average, offering a minimum download of 150Mbps, with the operators cost-of-living offer giving all new customers the first 6 months completely free.

Existing customers benefit too, as the company committed to freezing prices back in March this year, bucking the trend of mid-contract price hikes applied by most of the major providers.

Ogi propelled onto the scene just over two years ago, kick-starting work on a £200 million first phase plan to bring ultrafast full fibre connectivity to traditionally underserved communities across south Wales.

The initial phase plan committed to bringing Gigabit-capable speeds to 150,000 premises within the decade, and two years in, the rollout has now passed over a third of those promised premises, with work continuing at pace in nine Local Authority areas.

Now working in over 60 towns and villages, the company has welcomed 6,000-customers in less than a year, with satisfaction in the brand and service consistently high.

The workforce has grown in numbers too. Since its launch in 2021, Ogi has gone from a team of 20 to a 200-strong workforce today, based in four dedicated offices across the region. Recruiting, on average, around 3 people every week, and with hundreds supported through the supply chain, it makes Ogi one of Wales’s fastest growing businesses, and one of the UK’s top 10 fibre investors.

Commenting on the campaign launch, Chief Executive Officer, Ben Allwright, said: “In two years we’ve created a company that we – and Wales – can be really proud of. We’re bringing new highly skilled, well-paying jobs to Wales, and a network that means more people can live and work where they choose to with confidence.

“What Ogi are delivering for Wales is a boost today, and a necessity for the future – and I couldn’t be more proud of what we’re creating.”

Head of Brand and Engagement, Sarah Vining, added: “We’ve truly embedded ourselves in the communities we’re working in. From switching on our ultrafast full fibre network, to supporting local groups through our award-winning ‘Cefnogi’ community fund, we land in these communities with a real sense of wanting to help. And our customers are ‘landed’ with our service too!

“I’m looking forward to getting out and about this summer and seeing the impact good connectivity can have on people, businesses and their communities.”

John Tunnecliff, a customer from Porthcawl, commented: “After years of struggling with one of the major providers, Ogi arrived with their full fibre. They connected us immediately, and before we knew it we had a very fast, and stable wifi connection.”

The home-grown broadband provider remains the only altnet dedicated to Wales. The telecoms business boasts one of the fastest networks in the UK, with Nokia’s 25G PON technology powering businesses in Cardiff’s Tramshed Tech.

For a more wide-ranging look at the UK connectivity landscape, join Total Telecom for Connected Britain in London this September