Rural broadband ISP Wildanet, which is rolling out a new gigabit speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across parts of South West England (mostly Cornwall), has today revealed the next 4 locations in Devon that will benefit from their ongoing infrastructure build. The provider, which is being supported by an investment of £50m from the Gresham House […]

Internet video streaming giant Netflix has reportedly contacted several major UK broadband ISPs that bundle their service with Pay TV products, including Sky Broadband, BT, Virgin Media and TalkTalk, to discuss the potential impact on customers of their imminent crackdown on password / account sharing. At present Netflix’s terms merely state that access to your […]

Crewe-based broadband and phone provider Ice Telecommunications Ltd (Ice Comms) has been fined £80,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) after they were found to have made 72,682 unsolicited marketing (SPAM) calls to businesses registered with the CTPS or TPS between 13th Sept 2021 and 31st Jan 2022. The ICO said they received 30 complaints […]

The Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA) and Point Topic just published their 2023 report into the impact of alternative “full fibre” (FTTP/B) gigabit broadband networks, which reveals that AltNets grew their UK cover by 50.18% in 2022 to top 8.22 million premises (up from 5.46m in 2021). But the rollout slowed. The figures above are […]

News

From improved coverage to beam forming and energy savings, the emergent technology is one that could come to define the future of wireless network deployment

As we look towards the future and the 6G era, one of the most anticipated emerging technologies is surely Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS).

A RIS is a surface comprising arrangement of scattering elements called unit-cells, which can be controlled to change its electromagnetic behaviour. This allows the RIS to dynamically alter the way in which it reacts to wireless signals, through increased or decreased reflection, refraction, focusing, collimation, modulation, and absorption.

When strategically deployed, the adaptability of RIS will not only allow operators to increase their coverage, but also provide additional spectral efficiency, security, energy savings, and more.

RIS could also allow for a cost-effective network deployment in areas that were previously unfeasible using traditional solutions, such particularly indoors.

Now, European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has released a new report on the topic – ETSI GR RIS-001 – seeking to identify and define RIS use cases and produce related Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

The report includes 11 defined use cases for the new technology, including deployment scenarios and potential requirements for the new technology.

“In the future 5G-Advanced and 6G wireless networks, many new applications, such as in eHealth, strongly impose requirements on both the communication and sensing performance,” explained Arman Shojaeifard, Chair of the ETSI RIS group. “As an example, a RIS can reconfigure the radio environment to sense human posture and detect someone falling, a useful application for elderly care.”

Numerous operators are already exploring the potential of this latent technology. In fact, last year Orange became the first operator in Europe to demonstrate RIS in action at their Orange Research and Innovation Exhibition in Paris, France.

Also in the news:
Wind Tre carves out network assets, sells majority stake to EQT
Rakuten Mobile and KDDI strike roaming agreement
CMA gives Viasat the thumbs up to acquire Inmarsat

News

State-lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA (CDP) will reportedly withdraw its bid for ownership of TIM’s network infrastructure unit, leaving the path unopposed for private equity fund KKR

This week, anonymous sources speaking to Bloomberg suggest that CDP is preparing to drop its multi-billion euro bid for TIM’s fibre network.

According to the sources, CDP is unwilling to increase its offer to exceed that of rival bidder KKR, but still remains interested in taking a minority stake in the business, either alone or in partnership.

TIM has been considering spinning off its network infrastructure unit ever since new CEO Pietro Labriola took over the role in January. The move would come as part of a major restructure that would see the company split off its network and service arms into separate businesses, potentially opening them up to external investors.

This news quickly drew the attention of private equity firm KKR, a company that had already demonstrated a significant appetite for TIM’s assets, having presented the company with a rejected takeover offer back in 2021. The private equity firm already owns a 37.5% stake in TIM’s ‘last mile’ network, Fibercop.

As such, KKR first approached TIM with a non-binding offer for a stake in the NetCo in February this year for an undisclosed sum.

However, KKR was not the only potential investor for the nascent NetCo. Within a month of KKR’s offer, state bank CDP announced that it had formed a partnership with Australia’s Macquarie Asset Management to present a counterbid for a stake in the emergent business unit.

This bid was felt to be more likely to appease the new Italian government under Georgia Meloni, which had previous said that the nation’s critical infrastructure should be under state control.

The Italian government has so-called Golden Power rights, which allows it to veto investments from foreign companies in sectors of strategic importance, including defense, energy, and telecoms.

The two competing bids led TIM announce a formal auction for the infrastructure unit and invite the two parties to improve their bids. At the time, TIM described the bids as ‘not yet adequate’.

According to Bloomberg’s sources, CDP’s initial bid valued the NetCo at €19.3 billion, a figure which has since been eclipsed by an increased bid from KKR at €21 billion.

This new bid from KKR includes debt and €2 billion in a performance-based ‘earn-out’, allowing KKR to recoup some of its initial investment if certain financial goals are reached.

It would appear, however, that CDP is unwilling to revise their offer to exceed this latest bid, leaving KKR unchallenged in its approach.

Final bids for the network are expected to take place by June 9.

Keep up to date with all the latest telecoms news with Total Telecom’s daily newsletter

Also in the news:
Wind Tre carves out network assets, sells majority stake to EQT
Rakuten Mobile and KDDI strike roaming agreement
CMA gives Viasat the thumbs up to acquire Inmarsat

Press Release

EllaLink, the high-capacity fibre-optic submarine cable directly connecting Europe with South America, and EXA Infrastructure, the largest dedicated digital infrastructure platform connecting Europe and North America, today announce a unique joint transatlantic service, connecting South America with the heart of Europe’s main business centres.

Customers of both companies will benefit from the latest high capacity direct data route across the Atlantic that joins up with EXA’s extensive European footprint. The 9,120 kilometres route will enable Internet traffic to bypass North America, and it will deliver a 50 per cent increase in network performance between data centres in Brazil, Portugal, and Spain. Once landed, EllaLink’s customers will also benefit from optical connectivity to and from Sines in Portugal, thanks to the direct interconnect with EXA’s extensive pan-European network.

Ellalink’s Brazil to Portugal routes won the Global Carrier Awards’ ‘Best Subsea Project of the Year’ category in 2019 and 2020. According to Nick Collins, CCO at EXA Infrastructure, “The partnership with EllaLink testifies to EXA’s ambition to become the leading data centre to data centre connectivity provider in Europe and beyond. We have committed €39 million of network investments to date in Portugal and Spain and this partnership enables us to interconnect with South America, closing the connectivity gap for companies in this fast-growing, bandwidth-demanding environment.”

Ellalink and EXA are also collaborating on the Olisipo project, a unique cable system connecting the main data centres and all the landing stations in Portugal. This project will reinforce connectivity and improve network infrastructure in Portugal, which is emerging as another key digital hub in southern Europe. “We understand the importance of securing diversity as an alternative to the north transatlantic routes. Combining EllaLink’s low latency network with EXA Infrastructure’s extensive and advanced footprint enhances both our portfolios and the value proposition we can offer to the market. This is a strong partnership for EllaLink, that will significantly benefit our customers” – says Vincent Gatineau, CSMO at EllaLink. “EXA is a leading company in the market with prime assets and robust experience. Our complementary connectivity offer has a compelling potential for customers demanding the highest quality and performance”.

Want to learn more about EXA Infrastructure and EllaLink? Join them in discussion at this year’s live Submarine Networks EMEA event in London

Also in the news:
Wind Tre carves out network assets, sells majority stake to EQT
Rakuten Mobile and KDDI strike roaming agreement
CMA gives Viasat the thumbs up to acquire Inmarsat

News

The operator said it will make the job cuts across its international footprint over the coming three years

Today, Vodafone’s new CEO Margherita Della Valle has unveiled a new strategic plan to revitalise the operator group’s finances, including the loss of roughly 11,000 jobs over the next three years.

Announcing that the company’s results had “not been good enough” and acknowledging that “Vodafone must change”, Della Valle said that the company must move to streamline and simplify its operations and generate efficiencies.

“My priorities are customers, simplicity and growth,” said Della Valle. “We will simplify our organisation, cutting out complexity to regain our competitiveness.”

The operator noted a 1.3% drop in full-year earnings to £12.8 billion, missing its own guidance. The company’s performance was particularly poor in the operator’s largest market, Germany, with lacklustre results also recorded in Spain and Italy.

According to Della Valle, growth is expected to remain flat for the business over the coming year.

That Vodafone is looking at major job cuts – around 12% of its roughly 100,000 global staff – in order to reverse its financial fortunes should come as little surprise. Indeed, under previous CEO Nick Read, the company had devised a €1 billion cost-savings plan, saying in November that driving efficiencies, product improvements, and digitisation would naturally engender some job losses.

Since then, the company has already job cuts in various markets, including in Germany and the UK.

Della Valle herself replaced Read as interim CEO in December last year after investors grew increasing vocal about the company’s falling share price. Her position was made permanent last month, having convinced said investors that she was prepared to make the drastic changes necessary to bolster the business.

“It’s a long road back for Vodafone after years on the slide. But the vision of a leaner, simpler and more efficient organization is the right one, and the move to axe thousands of jobs shows Della Valle is not afraid to make difficult decisions,” noted industry analyst Kester Mann for CCS Insight. “The new boss will also be looking to stamp her mark by quickly agreeing a tie-up with Three in the UK after months of discussions, in a move which would be welcomed by investors but scrutinized by regulators.”

Regarding the potential merger of Vodafone UK and Three UK, Della Valle provided little in the way of updates, saying simply that discussions were ongoing and no decision had yet been made.

How is the UK telecoms market changing in 2023? Join the operators in discussion at this year’s live Connected Britain conference

Also in the news:
Wind Tre carves out network assets, sells majority stake to EQT
Rakuten Mobile and KDDI strike roaming agreement
CMA gives Viasat the thumbs up to acquire Inmarsat

Press Release 

Truespeed, the independent broadband provider, has reported a storming start to 2023.

The Bath-based full-fibre broadband provider has extended its footprint by 25 per cent in the first five months of the year, now offering ultrafast broadband to 75,000 properties. The figures demonstrate a 364 per cent growth in Truespeed’s network rollout, in comparison to the same period last year.

This year the company has invested an additional £6 million into its home city of Bath, expanding the network to properties in Batheaston, Bathampton and Bathford alongside notable landmarks such as Pulteney Road and Henrietta Park.

Truespeed has also extended its coverage further into rural and semi-urban towns and villages across the region, as part of a £24 million investment in Somerset and Wiltshire. The company’s ultrafast broadband can now also be accessed by 27,500 properties across Frome, Faulkland, Trowbridge, Mark, Woolavington and Walton.

The company has also seen further growth this year, now connecting more than 15,000 customers across the region, an increase of 15 per cent and now employing 270 local team members.

This significant growth has been driven by the company’s investment in full-fibre infrastructure in the region. Truespeed has continued, at pace, to build and own its proprietary network across the region, offering an independent local alternative to the big household-name broadband providers.

The news of the network’s expansion in the early part of 2023 comes as Truespeed is ranked 53 in the ORESA Growth Index, which lists the top 100 fastest growing businesses in the UK.

Hitting these considerable milestones so early in the year puts Truespeed’s rollout on target to meet the company’s ambitions to double its network footprint and customer numbers in 2023.

James Lowther, chief executive, Truespeed, commented: “Since we started in 2014, our focus has been on providing local people with a network they can trust. The South West is one of the UK’s most underserved regions for broadband and we are on a mission to bridge the digital divide and deliver high quality, reliable broadband at affordable pricing to communities across the region.”

Alongside its business growth, Truespeed also connected its 150th community organisation for free last month (April). St Benedict’s Junior School in Glastonbury became the latest recipient of the provider’s ‘free broadband for life’ promise. In just eight years, the company has now connected 40 schools and 110 community hubs, giving more than 5,700 children direct access to full-fibre broadband.

Lowther, added: “For us, while these milestones may sound impressive, our journey is just as much about our commitment to the region and putting customers and communities at the heart of everything we do. We believe this is what differentiates us and is key to our success to date – we are just as much a people business as we are a tech business.”

Truespeed offers broadband packages starting from 150 Mbps and guaranteed speeds as fast as 900 Mbps. The average home internet speed in the UK is less than 60 Mbps3. However full-fibre broadband isn’t just about the speed; as every home has its own fibre connection, the service is more reliable, upload and download speeds are consistent and there’s greater capacity to handle the needs of multiple connected devices using the network simultaneously.

Founded in 2014 to bring ultrafast broadband to rural, semi-urban and suburban areas across the South West, Truespeed has now passed over 75,000 homes across the region all of which are ready for connection, a total investment of £134 million. Local residents and businesses in Glastonbury, Street, Shepton Mallet, Wells, Portishead, Clevedon, Keynsham, Saltford, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Peasedown, Nailsea, Bradley Stoke, Patchway, Stoke Gifford, Almondsbury, Thornbury, Uphill and Chipping Sodbury can now benefit from full-fibre broadband.

The company also designs bespoke connectivity solutions for large businesses and enterprises requiring ultrafast broadband and industrial-grade resilience. Companies like Thatchers, Yeo Valley and Charlie Bigham’s have chosen Truespeed’s Enterprise broadband for their connectivity and networking needs.

Truespeed Chief Executive Officer, James Lowther, will be speaking at Connected Britain in London this September. To find out more or to get your ticket visit totaltele.com/connectedbritain

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has published a new technical report that could form the basis of a roadmap toward setting standards for the adoption of Space-Division Multiplexing (SDM) transmission into fibre optic broadband cables, which could in turn deliver a big data capacity boost for some future links. Most fibre optic cables tend to […]