Fibre Provider's weekly news round-up

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...

INCA launches Infrastructure Sharing Group

INCA - Independent Networks Co-operative Association has formed a Special Interest Group to encourage infrastructure sharing between altnets and third parties.

The creation of the Infrastructure Sharing Group is a reaction to builds being cancelled across the UK where Openreach’s PIA is not available or useable, according to Chairman and MS3 Networks Limited CEO Guy Miller .

He said: “To ensure the sector can continue building quality networks without issue, this group has been formed to tackle one of the sector’s growing issues.?

“The creation of the group has been well received by members, who agree that sharing infrastructure should be prioritised when deploying networks, especially in areas where Openreach PIA is not available or at capacity.”

Aims of the group include options for altnet infrastructure sharing at scale, speeding up deployment, improving the ability for altnets to generate incremental revenue, and testing and implementation plans to reduce noise around pole deployments to improve conditions for local communities.?

G.Network Communications resumes build across four boroughs

G.Network has resumed its fibre rollouts in Camden, Hackney, Islington, and Kensington and Chelsea.??

The altnet states that this latest phase is underpinned by a new hybrid build model, ultilising its wholly owned duct network alongside infrastructure owned by other third parties.???

Following reports that the altnet was struggling towards the end of 2023, it reaffirmed with the appointment of Steve Andrews as Non-Executive Director in December that it was adopting a new operating model.?

CEO Kevin Murphy said: “Recommencing the build in these four boroughs shows our commitment to growth.

“Having trialled the new methods, we are confident we can efficiently broaden our coverage, with minimal disruption to London.”

TalkTalk provides demerger and refinancing update

TalkTalk Group states it has made “significant progress” since its H1 2024 update towards demerging its network wholesale platform business and its residential broadband customer business, with these trading independently as PlatformX Communications and TalkTalk Consumer respectively from March 1st.

The two businesses have agreed with a long-term exclusive wholesale agreement for TalkTalk Consumer to access PlatformX.

The existing TalkTalk Holdings board will remain in place until the refinancing is complete. Sir Charles Dunstone will continue as Chair and Tristia Harrison DBE as CEO until that time.

It also reports progress on plans to refinance the Group’s RCF facilities and senior secured notes with maturities in November 2024 and February 2025 respectively.

The Group has entered into an exclusivity agreement with a global financial institution for investment of new equity into Platform X.

TalkTalk is working with the same financial institution to raise new debt facilities on Platform from third party lenders.

A debt raise process on the TalkTalk Consumer business is also ongoing.

The Group hopes for total proceeds from the equity investment and third-party debt facilities to refinance the Group’s existing debt facilities in full.

Two judges announced for UK Fibre Awards

Lisa Hewitt?and?Camille Mendler?will draw from their range of experiences to judge entries from pioneering Fibre providers and Altnets showcasing the very best technologies, projects, people, organisations, sustainability, culture and community initiatives.

For details on how to enter your top teams, contact Jonathan Holmes for entry forms or for sponsorship enquiries/details on how to attend the event, contact Heather Miles.

F&W Networks set to hit 410,000 homes passed

F&W Networks is about to pass over 410,000 homes and premises with its full fibre network.

During 2023 it added close to 200,000 premises, building on a fourfold increase in 2022. Its RFS status with retail arm Hey!Broadband Ltd. continues to develop with services live in more than 30 locations.

These areas include Horsham, High Wycombe, Crawley, Southall, Ealing, and the Oxfordshire region, with upcoming focus in East Grinstead, Redhill and Cranleigh.

CEO José Luis San Martín said: “We’re working to rapidly convert passed properties to RFS with our renewed focus on customer take-up and we’ll continue to work with all our partners to ensure more businesses and homes understand and enjoy the benefits of full fibre connectivity.”

GoFibre has launched its ￡50,000 GoFurther Fund for local charities and organisations across Aberdeenshire and Angus for the first time.

The altnet will provide grants up to ￡3,000 for recipients that meet the relevant criteria, including supporting the creation of work experience opportunities, developing skills and the local economy, promoting good health and wellbeing or actively tackling climate change.

As part of the debut round of funding, five organisations from East Lothian, Fife, and the Borders received support after being selected from over 60 applicants.

Neil Conaghan , CEO at GoFibre said: “It is with great pride that we announce that the second phase of our GoFurther Fund is open to eligible organisations based in Aberdeenshire and Angus.

“Having built relationships with locals and businesses in these communities as far back as 2022, we know that there is a host of vital community work taking place in these areas.”

GoFibre is in the process of addressing around 20,000 residents and businesses across towns in Aberdeenshire and Angus, with the network now live in the areas of Stonehaven, Newtonhill, Portlethen, Laurencekirk, Montrose and Kirriemuir and construction underway in Forfar.

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.