A little-known internet provider called Ashford Fibre has just become the first ISP on Open Fibre Networks Limited‘s (OFNL) open access UK full fibre broadband network to launch a gigabit-class 900Mbps package for residential customers. Most OFNL providers previously only offered up to 360Mbps for homes. The Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network that OFNL builds is usually […]

Chip and technology giants Intel and Broadcom have achieved an important milestone this week after they demonstrated the first cross-vendor Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) network link using prototypes of their next generation Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) hardware, which achieved data speeds of over 5Gbps (Gigabits per second). At present most UK consumers have yet to […]

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 Lightning Fibre has announced its plans for a multi-million-pound investment in West Sussex and Kent.

Full fibre network provider Lightning Fibre, founded in East Sussex in 2018, has announced its plans to expand into West Sussex and Kent. The company has the backing of infrastructure and private equity investment manager Foresight Group.

Lightning Fibre recently passed 60,000 premises and this next stage of investment will fund the expansion to a further 140,000 homes and businesses.

Amit Thakrar, Portfolio Director at Foresight Group and Tim Passingham, Chair of Cambridge Management Consulting both recently joined the Board of Lightning Fibre alongside CEO Ben Ferriman and Simon Bonini, Non-Executive Director. The company’s expansion will also see its headcount increase to approximately 200.

Ben Ferriman, CEO of Lightning Fibre commented: “This is a very exciting time for Lightning Fibre and highlights our rapid progress and success so far. We have not only built a network, we’ve built a brand.  A brand that appeals to our local markets through a clear product and price differentiation as well as a genuine, evidence-based community-centric approach and exceptional customer care.”

Foresight Group’s Portfolio Director Amit Thakrar added: “Progress in terms of network build, as well as uptake on the retail side of the business, has been extremely encouraging. All expectations have been exceeded and the positive reputation in the towns served by Lightning Fibre further supports the case for expansion.”

Additionally, in response to the cost-of-living crisis, Lightning Fibre has also permanently reduced its 1Gbps price by 25% and its 100Mbps price to £24 per month. This move makes its one of the lowest priced full fibre ISPs in the region.

To hear the latest from the UK full fibre market, join us on 20th and 21st September for Connected Britain 2022.

The post Lightning Fibre announces expansion into two new regions in the Southeast first appeared on Total Telecom.

ISP CommunityFibre, which has already covered 500,000 premises in London with their gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network, have this week continued their expansion with the aim of adding “thousands” of residents, businesses and local communities across Harrow. By the sound of it, the operator has probably secured a master wayleave agreement (legal land/property access) with […]

Hull-based network builder and broadband ISP KCOM has today announced a second major expansion of their existing gigabit speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network, which will see them invest a further £100m to cover an additional 50,000 premises across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire (14 new locations). In case anybody has forgotten, KCOM originally invested around £85m to […]

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Satellite connectivity takes a big step forward into the mainstream as Apple announce satellite-to-smartphone applications as part of new iPhone 14’s key features.  

In Apple’s press release they describe how the new Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite will be available across the entire iPhone 14 line-up introducing “groundbreaking safety capabilities that can provide emergency assistance when it matters most”.  

The Crash Detection system utilises the iPhone 14’s dual-core accelerometer with the new high dynamic range gyroscope to detect G-force and automatically dial emergency services on behalf of the user. The satellite link allows for ubiquitous connectivity in an emergency, so the users location can be shared even if network coverage is unavailable.  

The Emergency SOS is described as combining “custom components deeply integrated with software to allow antennas to connect directly to a satellite, enabling messaging with emergency services when outside of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.”  

It’s not all plain sailing, as Apple admit satellites have low bandwidth, which combined with their movement means it could take minutes for messages to get through. To try and mitigate this Apple has developed UI to assist users in strengthening their signal to the satellite. Then a few vital questions to assess the nature of the emergency allow Apple-trained specialist to get the appropriate assistance for the user.  

The real exciting element is the breakthrough technology that allows for users to manually share their location over satellite with the Find My app without any cellular or Wi-Fi connection. This will certainly be a boost to user confidence in those who frequent remote locations be it for leisure or work.  

There is one more condition on the Emergency SOS via satellite to keep in mind, however. The service will not be available to all customers, with the US and Canada set to have first access from November. The service is free for two years, but it looks like users will have to start paying for the privilege of the Emergency SOS via satellite feature.  

So, the question remains how much will satellite connectivity evolve and will we see it more in mainstream products? Either way, it is a positive development for those looking to see this side of the communications ecosystem realise its potential.  

 If you want to get the real scoop on the world of global telecommunications, Total Telecom Congress 2022 runs this November 1st & 2nd at the Business Design Centre in London.  

The post Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite for iPhone 14 launch first appeared on Total Telecom.

Broadband ISP Truespeed, which is building a new gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across rural parts of South West England, has today issued a progress update and confirmed that their infrastructure now covers 50,000 premises (with 11,500 live customers). The operator, which last year confirmed that they held an “ambitious target to reach 500,000 properties within […]

CityFibre has announced that they’ve finally started the £21m rollout of their new gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP network across the large port town of Hartlepool in County Durham, which was originally due to get underway in “early 2022” (here), but that seems to have been delayed a bit – until now. The operator has […]

Alternative network ISP Lightning Fibre, which initially aimed to cover 100,000 premises across parts of East Sussex with their gigabit-capable full fibre (FTTP) broadband infrastructure, has today announced a multi-million pound expansion of their network into West Sussex and Kent in England. The operator, which is being backed by private equity firm Foresight (here), first […]

European satellite operator Eutelsat, which is also the parent of UK ISP Konnect (We Konnect), are celebrating this morning after confirming the successful launch of their next gen ‘Very High Throughput Satellite’ (VHTS) into Geostationary Transfer Orbit by Arianespace using an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana. The new satellite, which was built by Thales […]