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The CEO of Hull-based alternative UK network operator MS3, Guy Miller, has today announced his intention to “step away” from the company at Christmas after an “incredible four years“. The provider’s full fibre (FTTP) broadband network currently covers 234,000 premises (212k RFS) in the North of England and has connected 20,000 customers.
The provider, which offers access to its network at wholesale for retail ISPs to harness, has become known for helping to weaken KCOM’s grip on the broadband market in Hull (East Yorkshire). But in recent times they’ve also had to slow their network build in order to focus more on commercialisation of their existing network, due to wider market pressures (here).
Guy’s full statement doesn’t explain why he’s leaving, although that’s not uncommon when bosses depart.
Guy Miller said:
“A couple of weeks ago I announced internally that I will be stepping away from MS3 at Christmas. It’s been an incredible four years, but the time is right now for this amazing local business to be run by an incredible local team.
In that time we’ve secured over £100m in investment, taken the business to over 20,000 customers and 200,000 RFS, signed 40+ wholesale partners including recently Zen Internet and PXC, we’ve won Fibre Provider of the Year twice in a row and set the record for most award wins; we’re maintaining an amazing 4.8 stars on Trust Pilot, we’re debt-free, about to have our first EBITDA+ year and are fully funded to cashflow positive.
Not only that but we have done this all in the one part of the country that everybody said was impossible to compete in. The monopoly is on its way to being over.
We’ve built one of the most sustainable, efficient and dynamic altnets in the UK and with a ruthless focus now on commercialisation, it is the right time to put the business in Tony Jopling’s extremely capable hands. As someone who has spent his adult life passionately working in telecoms in Hull, there is no-one better to ensure MS3 reaches its full potential.
Every day our team work to improve the financial position of their neighbours, of their friends and of their families who for years in the area have been overcharged and had no choices when it came to broadband. It’s fitting that the business is now again run by an amazing leadership team made up of local people who understand what their communities really need.
I will leave at the end of the year with a little part of me left behind in Hull.”