Interview

At this year’s Connected Britain, we had the pleasure of speaking to Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach, to discuss the enormous acceleration of the UK broadband market in recent years and the current chatter around market consolidation 

“Some level of consolidation is inevitable,” explained Selley. “I see well over 100 altnets out there and that possibly is not what we are going to see in five years’ time. Some of the bigger altnets sound like they are interested in being consolidators. Some level of consolidation is likely and healthy, so I look forward to the developments in that space – but it’s highly unlikely to involve Openreach!” 

In the interview, Selley went on to describe the current state of the UK broadband market as “super healthy”, touching on the importance of Equinox 2 pricing offer and the growing focus on public education to promote the take-up of fibre services.    

“Let’s celebrate achievements of the industry over the last few years,” concluded Selley. “How far we have come in the last few years is incredible.”  

 You can watch the full Connected Britain interview from the link below: 

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Openreach were a Gold Sponsor at this year’s Connected Connected Britain. To hear more about the UK’s broadband market, join us at Connected North in April next year – book your tickets now!

Also in the news:
FCC continues to wrestle with net neutrality
TalkTalk CEO steps down as de-merger continues
Broadway Partners, Cadence Networks, and SWS Broadband folded into Voneus

News

The ship is set to replace a vessel that has been in service since 1983 

Orange Marine, the subsidiary of French telco group Orange that specialises in submarine cable operations, is launching a new ship dedicated to the maintenance and repair of critical subsea cables.  

The ship, named the ‘Sophie Germain’, is 100 metres in length and includes a 450 kW ROV (remotely operated vehicle) that is used to cut, inspect, and bury the fibre optic cable that is stored on board. 

Orange claim that their new “state-of-the-art” ship will bring a “new era of sustainability in the subsea cable and broader network industry”, using less fuel than previous models I and emitting 20% less carbon dioxide and82% less nitrogen oxide. 

“It is with great pride that we inaugurate today the Sophie Germain, a new generation cable ship,” said Christel Heydemann, CEO of Orange, in a press release. 

“Through this launch, the Orange group reaffirms its central role in the laying and maintenance of submarine cables, a little-known industry and yet an essential base for the development of connectivity around the world. At the cutting-edge of technology and thanks to a reduced environmental footprint, the Sophie Germain contributes to the Group’s sustainable innovation approach to respond to the major challenges of our time.” 

Orange is a major player in the subsea cable industry, with its ships having installed 257,000 km of submarine fibre optic cables and made over 800 repairs, as of the end of 2023. 

The launch of new cable ships in the subsea industry is a rarity. There are only around 60 cable ships in the world designed for the deployment and maintenance of subsea cables. 

There were only five new vessels launched since 2004, and 19 of the ships currently in use are over 30 years old. New ships can often cost over $100 million to develop, with many operators choosing to repurpose older vessels to save costs. 

Before the deployment of the ‘Sophie Germain’, Orange Marine’s last new ship was the Pierre de Fermat in 2014.

Want to keep up to date with the latest developments in the world of telecoms? Subscriber to receive Total Telecom’s daily newsletter here  

Also in the news:
Vodafone’s Andrea Dona: The UK has fallen behind on 5G, but not lost the race
Zegona in talks to buy Vodafone Spain
Connected Britain 2023: the award winners  

News

The auction saw all available spectrum in the 900 MHz, 2.1 GHz, and 2.6 GHz bands purchased by the nation’s operators

The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) has announced the results of its latest spectrum auction, with all three of the country’s major operators not only participating, but purchasing all available spectrum.

The auction has been in the works for a long time, with PTS explaining that the allocations should help bolster the nation’s wireless services for years to come, particularly 5G.

“The assignment aims at an efficient and secure use of frequencies that contributes to the continued digitalisation of Sweden,” said PTS in a statement.

“PTS shall assign national block licenses in the 900 MHz, 2.1 GHz, and 2.6 GHz bands. The licenses shall be assigned well in advance before the current licenses expire. The purpose of the assignment is to enable continued digitalization and technology development, to contribute to the mobility objective of the Government´s broadband strategy by deploying new masts along roads and railways and in other areas.”

The auction itself was concluded in a single day last week, raising a total of SEK 4.23 billion ($380 million) for the Swedish government.

More specifically, Telia purchased 2×15 MHz in the 900 MHz band, 2×20 MHz in the 2.1 GHz band, and 2×30 MHz in the 2.6 GHz band, paying SEK 1.55 billion ($140 million).

Hi3G (owned by CK Hutchison) 2×10 MHz in the 900 MHz band, 2×20 MHz in the 2.1 GHz band, and 2×10 MHz (FDD) plus 1×10 MHz (TDD) in the 2.6 GHz band. In total, the company paid SEK 1.21 billion ($110 million).

Finally, Net4Mobility (the joint venture between Tele2 and Telenor Sweden) took home 2×10 MHz in the 900 MHz band, 2×20 MHz in the 2.1 GHz band, and 2×30 MHz in the 2.6 GHz band, spending SEK 1.47 billion ($130 million).

The 900 MHz licences will be valid from the start of 2026 until the end of December 2048, while the 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz licences will begin at the same time and run a little longer, to the end of December 2050.

Want to keep up to date with the latest developments in the world of telecoms? Subscriber to receive Total Telecom’s daily newsletter here 

Also in the news:
Vodafone’s Andrea Dona: The UK has fallen behind on 5G, but not lost the race
Zegona in talks to buy Vodafone Spain
Connected Britain 2023: the award winners 

Viewpoint Article

by Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer, Vodafone UK

Although the UK got off to a fast start in the 5G era, we have lost our way a bit. However, the race is far from over and there is still plenty to be hopeful for.

While the “race to 5G” is not as simple as winners and losers, there will be those who win more than others. Developing the right environment for business to thrive not only increases the economic potential of those businesses that already exist, but it attracts international investment to create new jobs and new opportunities.

This increased economic prosperity will also have a hugely positive impact on our society and on us as citizens. Generally speaking, the better performing a countries economy, the better its public services function and the happier its people are.

In a world which is increasingly becoming dominated by technology, having the right digital infrastructure is critical to achieve this objective.

That means 5G, and to be more specific, 5G Standalone, deployed at scale across the length and breadth of the UK.

Sitting in the chasing peloton

Vodafone launched 5G Non-standalone services in 2019, becoming one of the first companies in the world to do so. As a result, the UK took a leadership position in the 5G race.

But much has changed in the last four years. The UK has incrementally moved forward, but not at the same pace as other nations. Looking at the statistics from Open Signal, the UK currently sits in 21^st for median 5G download speeds compared to other European nations, and 20^th for 5G coverage.

During the summer, we announced the launch of the UK’s first 5G Standalone network. While this is another promising step forward, we must be realistic. Until 5G Standalone, the technologically superior and fully upgraded 5G network, is installed at scale, we will not fully realise the full economic benefits of this new digital era.

Currently, the UK is an “also ran” in the 5G race. There will be benefits from the work we are doing, but let’s not settle for mediocrity.

What is the 5G opportunity?

The 5G opportunity is relatively simple when you condense it down to the simplest message – improving what we have today.

We have all experienced the benefits of digital technologies, from online banking through to simply being connected to our loved ones. And even during the toughest of times, the COVID-19 pandemic, technology enabled business and society to function in ways it would have never been able to in previous generations.

5G will build on that foundation and go far beyond it.

For starters, better digital infrastructure means greater efficiencies. Through real-time access to data and embedding AI, we can improve on what we have today. That could mean less energy intensive factory operations, or an NHS that monitors patients remotely in real-time so we can treat symptoms not diseases.

And then we have the ideas that are impossible today. 5G will bring to life ideas that would normally be at home in Sci-Fi movies. Driverless vehicles, robots to deliver packages, hologram video calls or learning through augmented reality.

5G Standalone could be worth £150 billion to the UK by 2030. This is new revenue growth for existing businesses that embrace the new digital era and the creation of new companies and jobs.

Realising the full potential of 5G

At Vodafone, we believe there are still many miles left in the race and significant opportunity to drive both economic and societal benefit. We just have to create the right environment.

Firstly, the proposed merger between Vodafone UK and Three UK would create a more competitive marketplace. Both Vodafone UK and Three UK are subscale operators, meaning we do not have enough customers to drive return-on-investment for the money we are spending on network deployment. This is unsustainable.

By merging Vodafone UK and Three UK together into a single entity, you create an organisation that can compete with BT/EE and VMO2. Both of these companies have greater scale, and as it stands, we believe the UK is effectively a two-player marketplace. We do not believe this is the best way to deliver value for consumers, businesses or the UK as a whole.

Secondly, we have to create the right policy environment for digital to succeed. The UK Government reformed the broadband market and now fibre installation is growing across the UK. The same should be done for the mobile market.

With reforms to spectrum policy, introducing public sector 5G procurement incentives, addressing the challenging with planning permission for new infrastructure and introducing an investment-first approach to regulation, we can get the UK back on track.

Building momentum in the final furlongs

The UK Government and Ofcom have already begun shifting the dial in the right direction with the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy and the Net Neutrality Consultation, but we need to move faster, and we need to create the right environment to succeed. This means creating three, scaled telecoms players that can effectively compete against each other.

5G is a race for economic opportunity and societal benefit across the UK. We’ve fallen off the pace, but we can quickly gather momentum with the right strategic approach.

Andrea (pictured, centre) spoke about this topic at length on the opening keynote panel of Connected Britain 2023, which took place ealier this week. Use the hashtag #ConnectedBritain to catch up with all the action online! 

News 

This morning, Zegona disclosed the discussion with Vodafone to the London Stock Exchange 

British investment telecom company Zegona has confirmed today that it is in talks with Vodafone regarding the potential acquisition of its Spanish business.  

“(Zegona) confirms that it is in discussions with Vodafone Group in connection with the potential acquisition, and with banks in relation to its financing,” the company said.

The deal is subject to agreements on funding and due diligence. 

“Therefore, there is no certainty that the potential acquisition will proceed, nor as to the final terms of any such potential acquisition,” the firm continued.

Spanish newspaper Expansion reported that Zegona was interested in Vodafone’s Spanish business, which has been the subject of takeover interest for some time. 

The value of the potential deal has not been disclosed by either company. Although, according to Expansion, Zegona is searching for financing to buy a maximum 50% stake in the company, which could value the whole company at over €5 billion. 

Zegona’ strategy, as detailed on their website, is to invest in businesses in the European TMT [technology, media and telecom] sector with the objective to improve their performance to deliver attractive shareholder returns with a ‘Buy-Fix-Sell’ Strategy’. 

The nature of the Spanish telecoms market is highly competitive, which Vodafone has is known to lament. Competition is fierce with Movistar, Orange, and MásMóvil in an ongoing price war.  

Because of this, Vodafone had long hoped that market consolidation would provide a solution to these issues, with rumours of a potential merger with MásMóvil finally withdrawn after the latter merged with Orange last year. 

In last quarter’s earnings call, Vodafone CEO Margarita Della Valle said that “structural change” was very much necessary in the Spanish market, in the context of market conditions. She said the company was “considering a range of options” but it was too early to comment. 

Want to keep up to date with all of the latest international telecoms news? Sign up for Total Telecom’s daily newsletter 

Also in the news: 
Connected Britain 2023: the award winners
VMO2 conducts Connected Farm trial in Barnsley
Project Gigabit contracts awarded by CityFibre 

News

The Connected Britain Awards took place last night at the Connected Britain Afterparty. Hundreds joined us for an evening of networking, live music and the highly anticipated winner announcements.  

We had a record breaking number of entries this year, reflecting Britain’s ever-growing and rapidly evolving digital economy. 

Our shortlist this year represented a fantastic array of diverse organisations and individuals, with the traditional big players being joined by many organisations of varying sizes from all corners of Britain. This is a clear reflection of how the whole digital economy is now working towards the same goal of improving lives through connectivity. 

From the latest technological innovations to the most impactful community initiatives, the Connected Britain Awards strives to highlight excellence in every corner of the UK.  

A big thanks to all our award presenters, our generous sponsors and the excellent panel of judges, who spent the last number of months analysing entries for each of the 15 categories. 

Onto the 16 awards… 

The Full Fibre ISP Innovation Award 

Winner: Brsk Ltd 

Featuring a massive increase in homes passed (919%) over the year in question and an excellent customer satisfaction record, Brsk is well on the way to becoming a fibre powerhouse in the north of the UK. “Good customer feedback, great use of locally based community liaison officers, and quality engagement with other local stakeholders.” 

The finalists were: 

Gigabit Networks 

Giganet 

Hey! Broadband 

Hyperoptic 

TalkTalk Wholesale Services 

The Barrier Removal Award 

Winner: Intelligens Consulting with Renfrewshire Council 

Intelligens Consulting’s work supporting Renfrewshire Council’s fibre journey has been transformational, turning a previously underserved area into the third most fibre-enabled local authority in Scotland. 

The judges praised the entry’s clarity, saying it clearly outlined the scale of the challenge at hand, the methodology used to meet that challenge, and the exceptional results delivered. 

The finalists were: 

CityFibre 

Kent County Council – Kent Wayleave Toolkit 

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) 

Lothian Broadband Networks (LBN) 

Trenches Law 

The Industrial Innovation Award 

The winner: Vodafone – 5G SA Slicing  

Vodafone’s entry demonstrated the success of 5G network slicing on one of the biggest stages of all, supporting the broadcast industry to deliver live footage of the coronation of King Charles III. 

“This is a perfect example of what 5G slicing is intended to do,” said one of the judges, noting the broadcast industry’s unique set of requirements, especially for covering a major event such as the coronation.“ 

The finalists were: 

Dexgreen Ltd – Virtual Buddy Training App 

Neutral Wireless – Private 5G Network Deployed for King Charles III’s Coronation 

Prodapt OpenFibreXchange 

Zeti Limited 

The Wireless Innovation Award 

Winner: Quickline Communications 

Quickline Communications delivered fascinating project using fixed wireless access over a bespoke cloud-based 5G standalone network using shared spectrum. Overall, a great use-case cited for rural broadband coverage. 

“Proper innovation with extensive real-world applicability,” commented one of the judges, with another calling it “a true commitment to the use of high bandwidth FWA to serve the most challenging rural areas”. 

The finalists were: 

EdgeQ 

Freshwave and the City of London Corporation 

Jangala 

Neutral Wireless – Private 5G Network Deployed for King Charles III’s Coronation 

Scottish Water, Blackspot Networks and Atos 

Broadband Provider of the Year 

Winner: Brsk Ltd 

With impressive growth, customer-centric initiatives, and an excellent Trustpilot rating, Brsk demonstrated impressive results since its launch in 2020. 

“The focus on customers appears to permeate the entire organisation,” concluded one of the judges, while another noted that “ambitious deployment plans and innovative approaches, including same-day installation, sets Brsk apart”. 

The finalists were: 

Fibrus 

Giganet 

Lightning Fibre 

Truespeed 

Wessex Internet 

Wildanet  

Enterprise Solution of the Year 

Winner: Vitruvi Software 

Virtuvi’s GIS-based build management software offers altnets a way to automate a traditionally highly manual process, ultimately allowing them to deploy fibre at recording-breaking speeds. 

The solution was praised as “a highly impressive tool” by the WCA judges, who also commented on the excellent customer feedback supporting the entry. 

The finalists were: 

Eseye Infinity IoT Platform 

IFS Planning & Scheduling Optimization (PSO) 

Jetty 

Qualcomm Technologies, Wi-Fi 7 Networking Pro Series platforms 

VETRO 

Project Rollout Award 

Winner: Liverpool City Region Combined 

Authority (LCRCA) and LCR Connect 

An excellent example of public–private collaboration in action to deliver major community benefits. This project shows a local authority that truly appreciates the importance of delivering high quality connectivity infrastructure to deliver economic growth. 

“A good partnership model and phased deployment that is delivering some impressive results” 

The finalists were: 

CityFibre 

County Broadband Ltd 

Lothian Broadband Networks (LBN) 

Openreach 

Truespeed 

The Access Innovation Award 

Winner: Norfolk County Council 

With a holistic approach to expanding broadband penetration in Norfolk through numerous initiatives, Norfolk County Council has more than doubled the county’s superfast coverage to 96%. 

“This entry demonstrates an excellent appreciation for numerous technologies and doesn’t shy away from the challenges of delivering broadband to some of the UK’s hardest-to-reach areas,” said the judges. 

The finalists were: 

Avanti Communications 

DexGreen Ltd 

Lothian Broadband Networks (LBN) 

Scottish Water and Atos using Starlink 

The Smart Places Award 

Winner: Connected for Success: 

Welcome to Sunderland, City of Smart 

Featuring a layered approach using a range of technologies for different industry verticals, this entry sought to drive ‘cross-fertilisation’ of ideas between sectors. 

“With a focus on infrastructure, skills, digital inclusion, and applications – Sunderland showed it has everything needed for a Smart City to really develop” 

The finalists were: 

FarrPoint Western Isles IoT Project 

Living Map Ltd 

NYnet Ltd / North Yorkshire Council 

Virgin Media O2 Business and partners. Greater Manchester Local Full Fibre Network programme 

The Community Improvement Award 

Winners: Get Online London 

Greater Manchester Combined Authority – 

Get Online Greater Manchester: for care leavers 

For the first time ever in the history of the Connected Britain Awards, the judges were unable to separate two excellent projects, both of which supported some of the most vulnerable people in society. 

“Both of these projects feature the coordination of fragmented resources to help make a real and lasting difference to peoples’ lives. Digital inclusion at its best” 

The finalists were: 

Coventry City Council #CovConnects

FullFibre – Fibre Heroes’ Community Investment Fund 

Ogi, ‘Cefnogi’ Community Fund 

Sunderland City Council’s local connectivity shapes communities fit for the future 

Three Discovery 

Wildanet 

B2B Service Provider of the Year 

Winner: Vodafone Business UK 

With its comprehensive range of products and services backed by numerous success stories, Vodafone Business’s dedication to meeting their business customers evolving needs was evident throughout this entry. 

“V-Hub, the business.connected programme, and free training courses for SMEs demonstrate the company’s commitment to going above and beyond when it comes to customer support.” 

The finalists were: 

Gigabit Networks 

Giganet 

ITS Technology Group 

Pangea 

Truespeed 

Digital Skills Award 

Winner: Dorset Council – Embedded digital champions 

Dorset Council’s Digital Champions initiative showcases a proactive and impactful initiative to tackle the digital divide head on, providing digital skills to empower those that need it most. 

“Digital Champions are a proven means of delivering digital skills at scale – perhaps the only proven means of delivery at scale,” said one of the judges. “Dorset Council’s approach of encouraging and supporting a wide range of individuals to become Digital Champions should be seen as best practice for the future.” 

The finalists were: 

Innovation Nottinghamshire – 5G Careers Programme 

Kent County Council (Digital Kent) 

Lloyds Banking Group and We Are Digital 

Vodafone Business & Enterprise Nation – business.connected 

The Sustainability Award 

Winner: Wildanet 

 Wildanet’s B23 strategy saw them greatly improve their sustainability credentials, leading the charge in their local communities. 

“Here’s a company that’s tackling the issue of sustainability in numerous forms and bringing local businesses along with them. Very impressive” 

The finalists were: 

FarrPoint Western Isles IoT Project 

iLOQ Oy – iLOQ 5 Series Battery Free Locking Solution 

KCOM 

Openreach 

Zayo: Zeus 

The Rising Star Award 

Winner: Dorset Council – Embedded digital champions 

James’ journey from soldier to cable specialist exemplifies the enormous potential a telecoms career can offer anyone with passion, drive, and the will to learn. What’s more, with Cable Giants, James is helping others take that same journey, building a highly successful company in the process. 

“Hard work, skills and a positive attitude are clearly paying dividends” 

The finalists were: 

Chris Founds, CJ Founds Associates 

Franck, Courbon, Ethicronics 

Haseeb Ahmed, NETS International Ltd 

Liam Ceaplen, Jetty 

Phil Bairsto, Freedom Fibre 

The Startup Award

Winner: Artifeel

The winner was selected by the judges on day one of Connected Britain, with all shortlisted entries having their chance to take to the stage and present their business case.

The shortlist was:
AssetHUB
Emu Analytics
Groundhawk io
Inteliports
Jetty
Lumilinks
SecHard
Stacuity
Weaver Labs

Want to keep up to date with all of the latest international telecoms news? Sign up for Total Telecom’s daily newsletter 

Also in the news:
EE announces 3G switch off timeline
VMO2 conducts Connected Farm trial in Barnsley
Project Gigabit contracts awarded by CityFibre

Press Release 

Critical infrastructure firms can align geospatial designs across planning, design, and construction teams to dramatically improve deployment efficiency

MONTCLAIR, N.J., Sept. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Sitetracker, the global deployment operations management software provider serving nearly 300 companies, today launched new capabilities to its already market-leading solution designed to help network operators, engineering, and construction companies accelerate the rollout of fiber broadband by layering construction plans with geographic information systems (GIS) data.

The new solution, Sitetracker GIS Link, connects geospatial data from web GIS systems such as Esri’s ArcGIS within Sitetracker’s deployment operations suite. GIS Link will also support new functionality within Sitetracker that will provide network operators enhanced visibility into deployments by rolling up key metrics such as homes passed by market and servicing area. These new capabilities will allow GIS data to be shared more efficiently, driving improved collaboration between internal and external parties, and enabling broadband to reach rural and underserved communities faster.

“We’re excited to be among the first to roll out Sitetracker GIS Link! With fiber work continuing to ramp up, GIS-enabled workflows are vital to improving collaboration while reducing inefficiency,” said Rob Reynolds, Chief Information Officer and Chief Administrative Officer at Congruex. “Aligning geospatial data with projects is a logical evolution that enables Sitetracker to remain a key and core system in our overall architecture.”

Sitetracker GIS Link will also benefit telecom tower operators, solar developers, EV companies, and other infrastructure companies by enabling multiple map layers, so companies can reduce swivel-chair analysis of wireless site candidates or solar developments and instead use proprietary site data within their deployment operations management functionality.

“Globally, broadband deployment is at an all-time high driven by large-scale investments from both public and private sectors, and providers simply cannot work quickly enough to meet this surging demand,” said Charlie Kennamer, Sitetracker’s Vice President of Telecom, Americas. “We can only meet aggressive build-out targets by shedding outdated processes and adapting modern, efficiency-oriented technology and solutions.”

With fully integrated geospatial data, GIS Link makes it easy to align planning, engineering, and construction work. The solution offers a unified, real-time workflow between stakeholders allowing them to keep network plans aligned with construction progress and enabling more efficient handoffs. For project managers, engineers, and construction managers still relying on paper copies and ad hoc collaboration tools, the software simplifies the ability to receive GIS-based work plans, organize and schedule work, accurately capture production progress, and quickly report – all without manual processes or duplicate data entry. With these capabilities, Sitetracker GIS Link helps accelerate broadband and other types of deployments to meet the lofty goals set out by programs such as Internet for All in the United States, Project Gigabit in the United Kingdom, and the European Union’s Digital Decade.

According to the World Broadband Association, fiber connectivity is tied to economic growth and participation among citizens in education, business, and civic opportunities. Yet, the cost of deployment, regulations, and resource constraints are hindering broadband deployment, particularly in rural areas and developing countries. Efficiency gains are key to more critical infrastructure development.

“We are excited about the efficiency gains that the Esri Sitetracker partnership will provide the industry to better bridge the world’s digital divide,” said Randall René, director of telecommunications industry solutions at Esri.

Even before the launch of GIS Link, Sitetracker helped companies shorten their construction timeframes from project launch to close-out by 31% on average, allowing them to more easily manage projects, assets, and sites as well as processes for capital planning, permitting, ongoing maintenance and more, all in a single platform.

To learn more about Sitetracker’s deployment operations management solution for fiber network operators, contractors, and other critical infrastructure stakeholders, please visit the Sitetracker website.

About Sitetracker

Sitetracker powers the rapid deployment of tomorrow’s infrastructure. The global leader in deployment operations management software, Sitetracker helps innovative companies like Cox, Telefonica, EVgo, Nextera, Comcast, ChargePoint, Ziply, Southern Company, Iberdrola, Vodafone, Vantage Towers, VerticalBridge, and Congruex plan, deploy, and manage millions of programs, projects, sites, and assets across nearly 300 customers globally. By giving telecommunications, EV charging, renewables, utility, and real estate teams a cloud-based solution that works easily and effectively, Sitetracker accelerates the transition to a fully connected and sustainable future. Deploy what’s next. For more information, please request a demo.

Sitetracker are silver sponsors at this week’s Connected Britain – catch them on stand 114!

Also in the news:
SK Telecom and Netflix settle network usage dispute through new partnership
Connected Britain 2023: Which tracks are right for me?
KKR to acquire $800m stake in Singtel’s data centre business

Connected Britain 2023 is set to be our biggest event to date, featuring over 5,000 attendees, 350 speakers, and 1,500 organisations from every aspect of the UK telecoms sector and beyond. 

Connected Britain is the UK’s leading digital economy event, featuring 12 tracks full of specialised sessions spanning everything from fixed line and mobile broadband to local connectivity initiatives and regulatory discussions.  

Let’s take a closer look at some at what the tracks below. Don’t forget, last minute tickets are still available – register here today! 

Connected Keynotes:
The Connected Britain keynotes will address key questions such as: What does the future of the UK’s connectivity landscape look like? Where do the commercial opportunities of enhanced and ubiquitous connectivity lie? What is the industry doing to ensure that inclusive and meaningful growth is delivered in every corner of the UK? Explore the Keynote panel speakers here. 

Digital Britain:
Here we explore how the future of work is changing in an increasingly digital world. New skills are needed, new mindsets, and new partnerships. What is being done in the UK to fill the ‘skills gap’? What is needed both from government and the private sector to ensure that the UK remains a technology and business leader on the international stage? 

Connected Communities:
A truly ‘Connected Britain’ is one where every individual and every business has access to the best connectivity. Connected Communities will explore strategies for connecting rural and hard-to-reach communities while also focussing on connectivity for social housing, care homes, schools, and other critical services. 

Connected Infrastructure:
Digital connectivity is the cornerstone of the UK’s ambitions when it comes to intelligent transport systems, smart utility networks, EV charging, and more. The potential is huge, so how can the UK capitalise on these exciting opportunities? 

Gigabit Britain:
Here we will take a strategic look at the investment and regulatory context for the deployment of next-generation communications infrastructure in the UK. Gigabit Britain will also explore the commercial strategy and business models for the rollout of both fibre and 5G networks. 

Project Rollout:
This track will focus on the realities of building fibre and 5G networks. Key themes will include the technologies enabling network rollout, engineering strategies, supply chain issues, and the role of public–private partnerships. 

Connected Society:
Keeping people connected has never been more important. Tackling the digital divide, promoting digital inclusion, developing the provision of digital public services, and providing support for those who need it most is crucial to delivering a more connected and inclusive Britain. 

Smart Britain:
Smart Britain will focus on the delivery of smart places and how this will impact the regeneration and economic development of the UK’s cities, towns, and rural communities. It will also explore how digital infrastructure is driving a greener, more sustainable future. 

Connected Industries:
From manufacturing to logistics, from healthcare to the creative industries, next-generation communications infrastructure is creating new opportunities and enabling exciting new use cases. Connected Industries will bring together CSPs, technology providers, enterprises, and the public sector to explore how cross-sector partnerships and connectivity are driving innovation. 

Connected Enterprise:
From SMEs through to large-scale enterprises, the demands of private and public sector enterprise customers are constantly evolving. Connected Enterprise will explore the evolution of the UK’s enterprise communications market, the technologies that are re-shaping B2B communications as well new products and services. 

Local Authority Showcase:
Local authorities are the driving force behind the innovative technology projects and trials which are underway across the UK to solve key challenges, covering everything from mobility to housing, from healthcare to town planning. The Showcase Stage is a platform for digital champions from across the UK’s public sector to share their successes as well as their challenges and to learn from their peers. 

Startup Britain:
The Startup Britain stage will offer a celebration of innovation. Startups will have the chance to pitch their idea to potential investors, partners, and customers. Investors, accelerators, scale-ups and SMEs will share their insights into the keys for business growth and success. 

Connected Britain 2023 promises to be bigger and better than ever before. 

Taking place on the 20–21 of September, it’s not too late to grab your tickets.  

Visit the Connected Britain website to reserve your place now  

Also in the news:
UK government announces £88 million investment in connectivity R&D
Connected Britain 2023: the keynote panel agenda
Intelsat reaches teleport network deal with Italy’s Telespazio

Insight 

Tell us about your start up. Who do you sell to?  What do you offer?  

Completely unique to the UK, Jetty is a white-label customer management platform built specifically for fibre retailers. It uses the latest technologies to manage the full journey of a residential fibre customer efficiently, compliantly and at scale.  

Jetty provides all this functionality out-of-the-box to Altnets and Communication Service Providers, enabling a rapid route to market and the reassurance that their customers will be managed efficiently and compliantly.  

The Jetty platform is totally end-to-end, bringing together a number of products to support the customer experience, including Sales / Order / Provisioning, Customer Service, Customer Communications, Billing & Payments, Contact Centre Technology, Hardware Logistics and Digital Applications. 

This full service offering allows our clients to focus on scaling their business either organically, or through acquisition by leaning on Jetty’s expertise of consolidating customer bases.  

 What is your USP?  

Jetty is the only white-label SaaS platform in the UK that automates the full journey of a residential fibre customer – efficiently, compliantly and at scale.  

Jetty is run by a team who, individually, have all previously worked in customer telcos. As a result, the client and its customers are put at the heart of every single decision. Being built around the principles of case management, Jetty automates the customer journey and creates frictionless digital experiences for customers. Consequently, customer service agents only handle the most complex cases. 

What is your relationship with the telecom sector? 

Jetty has worked hand-in-glove with its clients to enhance the experience of its customers and customer service agents, as well as delivering a transformation programme to unlock millions of pounds of value to the group. 

We are now offering this platform to other fibre retailers to transform the experiences of their customers too. 

How have you got to your current stage of development? (role of accelerators, partners etc)  

Jetty launched in 2022 following a management buy-out led by OVO’s previous Director of Telecoms, Alex Hollingdale.  

As well as Alex, the Jetty board includes Vinny Casey (CFO at OVO) and Steven Ackroyd (VP at OVO & Vertical Aeropace).  

Why did you establish the business?  

For the last few years we have seen over 100 UK Altnets secure funding to build a fibre network and start acquiring customers. We knew that once they started reaching some degree of scale, the manual processes and systems that had got them to launch, would not be fit for purpose. We know how hard and expensive it is to build an efficient and compliant BSS. We believe a more efficient model is for Jetty to license our platform to them as part of a managed service. This would in turn mean the Altnets could focus on the things that add the most value to them; a) building fibre networks and b) putting customers on those networks 

Who inspired you? Do you have a mentor?  

I have been fortunate to work for 2 incredible entrepreneurs in my career, both of whom have founded not just one, but two £1bn+ unicorns. 

Firstly Sir Charles Dunstone (Carphone Warehouse, TalkTalk), who taught me the importance of putting the customer and those that speak with customers at the heart of every decision you make.  

Secondly, Stephen Fitzpartick (OVO, Vertical Aerospace), who continually challenges the status quo and is driven to help solve our greatest global challenge of achieving net zero. 

What does the future hold for your business?  

Since Jetty is a cloud-based application and multi-tenant by design, technologically its scalability is limitless. Over time we anticipate Jetty expanding to offer its clients a multi-product offering (Fibre, Mobile, TV, Energy) completely on their brand. In addition we are already seeing opportunities to expand into Europe, Africa, Australia and North America. 

Fundamentally we will be successful only if our clients are successful. Our belief is that by enabling them to grow by using our technology and our deep industry knowledge, Jetty will be the platform of choice for retailers globally.  

Make sure to catch Jetty exhibiting at this year’s Connected Britain on stand S5

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