Cox to form a new standalone firm after UPN acquisition

Cox Communications plans to acquire the remaining interest in enterprise fibre provider UPN (Unite Private Networks).

The transaction is set to close by June 30th and aims to bring UPN and Segra, another business services company in which Cox has invested, together to form a new standalone company.

The move comes as part of Cox's ongoing focus on expanding its business services portfolio. In recent years, Cox has made strategic investments in companies like Segra and...

15 May 2023 | Broadband

UKTIN launches plan to boost telecoms ecosystem

The UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN) has launched a plan to boost research, development and innovation within the UK telecoms industry.

The aim of the inclusive industry forum is to help organisations accelerate R&D investment, collaboration and commercialisation of emerging technologies.

Nick Johnson, Head of UKTIN, said:

“The launch of our services is a pivotal moment for the UK telecoms sector.  Fragmentation across the ecosystem has...

27 April 2023 | 5G

85% of telcos had projects delayed by supply chain issues

Research by TXO reveals that 85 percent of operators have experienced project timeline disruptions due to supply chain issues.

The research highlights sourcing new equipment from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as a major problem.

Over a third of operators (34%) have been delayed by six months or more. All operators surveyed reported supply chain issues affecting their business.

Over three-quarters (78%) of operators had to wait over three months while...

26 April 2023 | 5G

Telefónica will phase out copper in Spain by 2024

Telefónica has reaffirmed its commitment to transform its fixed infrastructure by completely switching to Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) and closing all its copper exchanges by 2024.

The copper switch-off will coincide with the company’s centenary. The move is in line with Telefónica’s strategy to increase the performance and speed of service while reducing energy consumption and its carbon footprint.

José María Álvarez-Pallete, Chairman of Telefónica,...

20 April 2023 | Broadband

IDC: Wi-Fi product shipments will grow to 4.1B in 2024

A report by IDC suggests that Wi-Fi products will see a surge in demand in 2024 following a lacklustre two years.

Pandemic-driven market changes caused an 8.6 percent growth in Wi-Fi-enabled product shipments in 2021, but this growth didn't last long.

In 2022, the decline in smartphone and PC shipments affected overall shipments for Wi-Fi-enabled products, causing them to fall for the first time in Wi-Fi's decades-long history. IDC’s data showed that Wi-Fi product...

14 April 2023 | Broadband

Uswitch: Ofcom’s missed ‘One Touch Switch’ deadline costs Brits £1.85B

Uswitch claims that Ofcom’s failure to enforce its ‘One Touch Switch’ deadline will cost 11 million broadband customers in the UK a total of £1.85 billion per year in overpayments.

The research was released on the same day that Ofcom's One Touch Switch, a new broadband standard designed to make switching providers easier, was due to come into effect. Earlier this month, Telecoms reported that the deadline was likely to be missed.

Ernest Doku, Telecoms Expert at...

3 April 2023 | Broadband

BT is reportedly looking for a new CEO

According to reports, BT Group CEO Philip Jansen may be leaving his position.

BT Group includes Openreach, EE, and Plusnet. Sources for the Mail on Sunday claim that BT Group has begun searching for a replacement for Jansen, who has held the position since 2018.

During his tenure, Jansen has focused on expanding the rollout of Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) across the UK, reduced the company's focus on the pay-TV market, and undertook a significant rebranding across...

27 March 2023 | 5G

Ofcom’s easy broadband switching process set for delay

A deadline for broadband providers to implement Ofcom’s new easy switching process is likely to be missed.

The ‘One Touch Switch’ process intends to make it easier for customers to switch their broadband provider.

Research from Uswitch found that over a third (36%) of broadband customers have never switched their provider. Many households could be missing out on savings which could help ease cost-of-living pressures.

“As broadband customers across the...

24 March 2023 | Broadband

Amazon unveils terminals for its Starlink rival

Amazon has unveiled its first Project Kuiper terminals as it prepares to go head-to-head with SpaceX’s Starlink.

Project Kuiper is Amazon’s plan to build a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit to provide high-speed internet anywhere in the world.

“Our goal with Project Kuiper is not just to connect unserved and underserved communities, but also to delight them with the quality, reliability, and value of their service,” said Rajeev Badyal,...

15 March 2023 | Broadband

Full fibre rollout set to give Newcastle £440 productivity boost

A report commissioned by CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, has identified that Newcastle stands to be a huge beneficiary from the rollout of future-proof full fibre infrastructure which is now well underway across the city.

The study by the consultancy Hatch, (Economic Impact of Full Fibre Infrastructure from CityFibre’s Network), estimates that, over a fifteen-year period, the positive impacts of CityFibre’s £62m investment in Newcastle will...

8 March 2023 | Broadband