Fibre Provider's Weekly Update

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. 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...

Rigg named B4RN CEO as Lee steps down

B4RN - Broadband for the Rural North Ltd has named Tom Rigg as its new CEO with Michael Lee stepping down after three and a half years at the helm. ?

Rigg has been involved with B4RN since it was first founded in 2012, and as COO since 2018 he has worked closely alongside Michael since his appointment.

Lee will continue to support B4RN in a new role as Chief Strategy Officer, and he will also maintain his position on the Board of Directors.

Under Lee’s leadership, B4RN has expanded its network to communities in Lancashire, Cumbria, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Norfolk, and Northumberland.

Now Rigg will oversee plans for further expansion, including an extensive programme of build across large areas of Northumberland and County Durham.

Rigg added: “My dedication to this role comes from an inherent desire to bring connectivity and associated support into deeply rural regions, witnessing the transformation difference digital inclusion can make to individuals, families, and communities.

“Our significant delivery plans in The north east see us take our sustainable service deeper into the rural countryside, connecting some of the most remote parts of the country who need it most.”

UK Fibre Networks rebrands as Fastr

York-based operator UK Fibre Networks Ltd has rebranded Fastr Broadband as it continues to roll out its network to 8,000 homes and businesses in its native city centre.

The Norse word Fastr was chosen to reflect ultrafast speeds whilst drawing upon the city’s Viking roots and reflecting its status as a York independent business.

The network is currently available in: Blake Street, Bootham, Church Street, Claremont Terrace, Colliergate, Coney Street, Coppergate, Gillygate, Goodramgate, High Petergate, Low Petergate, Lord Mayor’s Walk, Marygate, Stonegate, Swinegate and Parliament Street.

The company will shortly announce new build areas inside the city walls.

Pete Evans, Director, Fastr Broadband, said:?“We work closely with Digital York, Streetwork’s and Highways teams and so it’s with their approval that we can build considerately at their approval that we can build considerately at night, tidying up old cables up as we go and reusing existing boxes to connect the network.”

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Trenches restructures as fibre landscape evolves

Trenches Law has restructured its operations by merging its Wayleaves and Law divisions into one entity.

The company states that this move will allow it to double down on its strengths and sharpen its focus as the industry’s needs evolve.

Its statement reads: “The push for widespread broadband access is not without its hurdles, with the financial gridlock stalling infrastructure investment being one of the biggest challenges.

“Plus, with several trusted industry sources left out of crucial decision-making, the environment is only becoming more difficult to navigate.

“In light of these challenges, Trenches Law has made a strategic decision to restructure our business operations, streamlining the delivery of our?wayleave services?with our legal operations.”

Trenches’ Wayleave division received its code powers in December 2023 with plans to take a more active role in assisting the deployment of fibre distribution networks within MDUs and MBUs.

Lightning Fibre owners seek code powers to expand network

Lightning Fibre ’s owners LF HOLDCO 2 have applied for Code Powers to facilitate the continued operation and extension of the altnet’s network.

LF HOLDCO 2 acquired the assets and business in February shortly before the altnet went into administration.

Its application reads: “The applicant intends to provide retail full fibre broadband services to residential and business customers, wholesale broadband access services to other ISPs and wholesale services to other providers.

“The Applicant intends to use Openreach’s PIA service to deploy its network in BT’s ducts as much as possible. However, it anticipates that the network will require new infrastructure where there is insufficient existing infrastructure.”

Lightning Fibre’s network currently serves several thousand customers in various parts of East Sussex and Tenderden in Kent.

UK records 7.2% growth in fibre subscription

The UK ranked in the top 10 markets by FTTH/B growth rates for Q1 2024 recording a 7.2% increase in subscribers according to Point Topic Ltd .

This placed the UK eighth on the ranking, and second in Europe compared to Belgium at 14.2% growth. Ireland followed the UK with 6.7% growth.

The report attributes this to ‘multiple altnets attempting to increase fibre adoption rates’ and ‘BT promoting migration to its EE brand, including for full fibre.’

This is a slight decline from Q3 2024 where the UK’s subscriber growth was at 10.1% following higher connection rates being reported by altnets and the cessation of dual copper legacy lines by Openreach.

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.