Fibre Provider Weekly Update #9

Fibre Provider enables the spectrum of organisations driving the UK’s fibre rollout to keep up to date with the latest commercial, regulatory and planning news alongside insight and analysis from sector experts. As part of this mission, our weekly newsletter compiles the top news that broke during the week and brings it straight to your inbox.

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In this week's news...

Netomnia expands plans to cover two million premises

Netomnia is updating its build plans to target two million premises passed, CEO Jeremy Chelot tells FibreProvider.net

Driven by its ISP sister company YouFibre , Netomnia is also hoping to achieve 33% take up across the network.

This follows news that the altnet, along with ISP sister company YouFibre, has completed an additional fundraise of ￡147.5m in its accordion facility welcoming three new lenders: Barclays, Alpha Bank and Nord/LB.

To date, Netomnia has passed 850,000 premises and is continuing to build at pace at around 500,000 premises per year.

Chelot said: “Our priorities are to continue to deliver the rollout plan and to raise additional capital, so we can build our network to as many homes and businesses as possible.

“There is an opportunity for Netomnia to become the second-largest altnet in the UK in 2024 and we are primed to seize that opportunity.”

Barclay Communications and 英国电信集团 collaborate to connect 50,000 businesses

Barclay Communications and BT Wholesale are collaborating on a ￡6m initiative to connect 50,000 premises to FTTP.

The ‘Free Ultra-Fast Fibre’ initiative means businesses in Northern Ireland who have access to FTTP technology (around 91% of establishments), can convert to it at no extra cost.

This comes following research from Barclay’s showing that only 20% of eligible businesses are aware of and utilising FTTP.

The pair hopes to connect 50,000 businesses by the end of 2024.

John Roulston , Barclay Communications' Sales Director, said: "Our goal is to simplify the process for our customers, as we understand that complexity often deters them.”

Britt Megahey , Founder of Barclay Communications, added: “We aim to empower businesses, bridge the digital divide and drive economic growth in the region.”

Building Digital UK (BDUK) signs off alncom build north of Alnwick

alncom will kick off a new fibre build during the summer to cover 1,454 premises north of its HQ in Alnwick.

The route will include Denwick, Rennington, Rock, Christon Bank, Embleton, Craster, Dunstan and Howick, plus all areas in between.??

The project, signed off by BDUK, will be part-funded by Alncom and part-funded by Government voucher.

Stephen Pinchen , MD of Alncom said: “This is a ‘demand lead’ project. The timing is dictated by levels of interest and if there is enough, we can begin the build before the end of March 2024.”

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HBNL brings fibre to Stirling villages

More than 3,400 homes and businesses in the Eastern Villages of Stirling can now access fibre services following an eight-month programme led by Lothian Broadband Networks

Fibre infrastrcture has now been installed in Cowie, Fallin and Plean as part of the Eastern Villages Full Fibre network project, with the final phase completed this week, linking Throsk and Bandeath Business Park.

Stirling Council contributing ￡100,000 of the ￡5m cost through its Rural Broadband Infrastructure Programme. Other funding support came from the Scottish Government, Scottish National Investment Bank and Building Digital UK.

Gavin Rodgers , CEO of Lothian Broadband Networks said: “This is another milestone in our ambition to bridge the digital divide across Scotland.

“Stirling Council have been brilliant partners in this project and integral to its success.”

CityFibre lays 250k of fibre infrastructure in Rugby

CityFibre?has now laid over a 250km?of?full fibre?internet beneath?the streets of?Rugby, enough to stretch double the length of the Oxford Canal. ??? ??

Builds across sections of the town have also been completed, including the Admirals, Cawston ward, Newbold, Hillmorton and Rugby Central, with Caldecott Park, Brownsover and Newton to follow shortly.

Bashir Ahmed MBE ,?CityFibre’s?Partnership Manager for?Rugby,?said: “This represents excellent progress in our rollout and an opportunity for more people to enjoy the benefits of full fibre connectivity.

“This will future-proof the town’s digital foundations for decades to come.”

In Rugby, customers can already connect to the new network through Vodafone, TalkTalk, IDNet, Giganet and Zen.

Thanks for reading, and we hope to see you back here next Friday for the latest news update. Be sure to subscribe at the top of this newsletter to get your copy.