All Rural Connectivity articles
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Weekly Briefings
Deutsche Telekomwatch Briefing: Group’s Giga grab
Big-ticket service and infra developments from around the DT international footprint, including a bid for leadership on Germany’s planned AI Gigafactory, an organisational rejig on enterprise cloud, and a launch date for the long-anticipated T-Satellite offering in the USA. Read more…
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Technology
A Pragmatist’s Guide to Telco AI: BT and Zayo on getting data right, winning fast, riding the wave
From data foundations, sidestepping common pitfalls, and rapid experimentation, to real-world use cases, scalable growth, and building profit centres. Actionable insights and proven strategies for how AI is being harnessed to transform telecoms, drive operational excellence, unlock new revenue
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Network & Infrastructure
UK gov pares back Shared Rural Network targets in strategic rethink
Building Digital UK scales back plans for further rural 4G coverage expansion after hitting initial Shared Rural Network targets early. Strategy shift comes after discussions with local communities and interest groups, with BDUK aiming to maximise coverage while delivering “best value for public money”.
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Network & Infrastructure
UK’s Freedom Fibre bails out of second Project Gigabit deal
UK altnet becomes latest to cancel rural fibre contract with Building Digital UK, leaving the organisation needing to find another supplier to cover more than 8,500 un-connected premises …
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Network & Infrastructure
Ex-Nominet boss tasked with hitting UK government’s broadband infra goals
The agency leading key UK government-backed digital infra projects has appointed Lesley Cowley as Chair, tasked with overseeing the Shared Rural Network and (recently delayed) Project Gigabit initiatives…
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M&A
MásOrange, Vodafone Spain ‘rethink FibreCo stake sale’
Operator duo reportedly considers adjusting plans to offload a 40% stake in their work-in-progress fibre joint venture, after “most” of the initial non-binding offers that investors have submitted fell below the €7bn minimum valuation they are seeking.
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Network & Infrastructure
FullFibre becomes latest altnet to call off Project Gigabit contracts
UK altnet FullFibre “mutually” agrees with Building Digital UK to terminate two rural fibre contracts, after several other operators have cancelled subsidies under the Project Gigabit scheme in recent months.
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Network & Infrastructure
BT secures slice of Welsh rural broadband funding
Duo to deliver £10m fibre to hard-to-reach premises in Wales under the Swansea Bay City Region’s Digital Infrastructure Programme.
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Network & Infrastructure
Openreach banks £157m subsidy for Scottish fibre build
BT’s wholesale access arm confirms latest Project Gigabit regional contract as it continues to stack up government grants for fibre notspots and chase near-£1bn-scale BDUK jackpot. Builds on controversial £600m, Scottish R100 awards…
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Eventwatch
Openreach and altnet ‘Gladiators’ trade blows on future costs of PIA
Connected North 2025: In robust exchanges at Connected North, Fibrus Chair warns regulator is on the verge of repeating mistakes of the past on PIA pricing, and too easily steered off course on policy.
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Network & Infrastructure
Hrvatski Telekom bags rural fibre funding
Operator gets fresh backing for one-year fibre expansion project in rural parts of the country, contributing to government rollout targets through the national ONP scheme.
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Strategy & Change
Fresh from owner rejig, Onivia banks on open access to fill Spain’s rural fibre gap
Spanish FibreCo Onivia plans to augment pioneering open access model with value-added services for rural communities to bridge digital divide in the countryside.
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Network & Infrastructure
Germany weighs down EU fibre progress, as France shines
Latest research from FTTH Council Europe shows EU’s largest nation remaining among its slowest fibre builders as clock ticks on to reach 2030 goals for universal coverage. You can meet TelcoTitans in Amsterdam next week at the Council’s FTTH Conference 2025…
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Network & Infrastructure
VM O2 takes aim at mobile network ‘pain points’ with £700m spend plan
UK operator expects to spend £700m this year to alleviate network “pain points” for customers and improve mobile service experience.
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Network & Infrastructure
Shared Rural Network expands reach as BDUK cutback rumours swirl
Weekend reports suggest operators are irked by possibility that their coverage investment and network optimisation improvements could see the government scale back financial commitments to rural coverage…
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodacom, Orange target rural 4G in DRC tower tie-up
Pair announce TowerCo joint venture with rural Democratic Republic of Congo communities in mind.
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Network & Infrastructure
Amazon shuttles towards UK Project Kuiper launch in 2025
Kuiper Systems preparing to commercially launch UK satellite broadband services during 2025, following launch of first-generation satellites expected in the coming months. Move comes as demand for UK satellite connectivity ramps up as rural alternative to full-fibre…
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Weekly Briefings
Telefónicawatch Weekly: fresh infra deals unwrapped; new execs take the reins
Group secures agreements to upgrade mobile and IT in Germany, Peru, and Spain. In Brazil, Vivo finalises long-sought-after deal to ease financial and regulatory obligations associated with fixed-line telephony…
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Network & Infrastructure
UK struggles to get space strategy off ground as satellite demand rises
Ofcom data shows satellite connectivity lines doubled in the year, with rural users taking up the offer as an alternative to terrestrial networks.
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Weekly Briefings
Telefónicawatch Weekly: rivals crash Group’s regulatory party; networks to get autonomous upgrade
Group CEO José María Álvarez-Pallete calls for greater deregulation in Europe despite seeing rays of hope shining through, as recent regulatory wins in Colombia and Spain grind to a halt. Meanwhile, Telefónica’s networks set to gain further autonomy starting in 2025. Read more…