Comms Dealer • 2nd November 2023

Matrix IT ramps up

Incoming Matrix IT MD Matt Faulkner has activated a solid business plan first conceived when he joined the Fareham-based MSP as CTO in 2021. Here, he sets out his growth vision.

Faulkner’s strong pedigree as an IT leader is a perfect match for Matrix IT which provides a broad scope of tailored support services ranging from ad-hoc offerings through to permanent on-site IT support. The company delivers design and implementation services and engages with a variety of customers across different sec

Fibre Provider • 1st November 2023

Helm steers ambitious FullFibre

Oliver Helm leads a bigger, more ambitious FullFibre following the altnet’s merger with fellow Basalt-backed Digital Infrastructure.

Helm’s short-term priority is to combine the two networks, with a joint footprint of 270,000 live premises, and create a single wholesale platform available for ISPs to sell on from Q4 this year. “Combining networks brings huge competitive advantages for us,” said Helm. “The greater footprint scale means we’ll have significantly better routes to market for our par

Fibre Provider • 20th October 2023

New Spring Fibre CEO talks strategy

Having completed his first month as CEO at Spring Fibre, Gareth Greppellini caught up with Fibre Provider to discuss what the future holds for the fledgling altnet.

Greppellini joined the wholesale FTTP provider with significant experience in the sector, holding leadership roles at Virgin Media Business before serving as Director of Business Optimisation, Change and Transformation at VMO2.

In this interview, he shares how his appointment marks the start of a new phase of growth for the company

Fibre Provider • 9th October 2023

toob switches focus to growing customer base

Nick Parbutt struck upon the idea behind toob while on holiday during the summer of 2017. At the time, he was serving as the Strategy and Wholesale Director at Vodafone and had noted that Openreach was reluctant to invest in full fibre.

In 2017, Vodafone was in discussion with CityFibre regarding partnership, and the rest of Europe was deploying fibre networks at pace, leaving the UK far behind. “I had a decision to make; I could encourage fibre build in the UK from my current role or take the

Fibre Provider • 4th October 2023

Postcard from Connected Britain 2023

Connected Britain 2023 saw stakeholders from across the connectivity landscape discuss the evolution of the UK fibre market, with one message echoing around the ExCel – the gold rush is over. Sessions across the 11th and 12th of September explored the realities of a new phase for the UK fibre rollout, one typified by new investment attitudes and a flurry of consolidation.

To date, the sector has been driven by 100-plus altnets which have secured substantial funding based on their ability to bui

Fibre Provider • 21st September 2023

Fibre providers as a force for community regeneration

Ogi’s brand has become synonymous with the community work it does in the areas it is building its network. As an endorsement of this, the altnet’s Cefnogi scheme won Best Community Support Project at the UK Fibre Awards 2023.

To understand the role altnets can in levelling up communities, aside from the provision of fibre, we talked to Head of Brand and Engagement Sarah Vining. She discusses the role of community support through an ethical and competitive lens, and gives examples of what Ogi is

Comms Dealer • 18th September 2023

Two titans unite!

At the heart of Voiceflex and Telavox’s flourishing partnership lies a mutual commitment to simplify operations in a fiercely competitive market. Telavox’s innovative approach to streamlining business communications aligns perfectly with Voiceflex’s two decades of heritage as pioneers, ensuring these benefits are passed on to resellers.

At the heart of Voiceflex and Telavox’s flourishing partnership lies a mutual commitment to simplify operations in a fiercely competitive market. Telavox’s inno

Fibre Provider • 13th September 2023

Assessing the fibre sector’s recruitment priorities

Altnet’s recruitment priorities have shifted from network builders to revenue generators, driven by pressures from investors demanding ROI.

Will Godmon, Head of Fibre North at Hamilton Barnes noted: “The sales sector across all altnet’s is growing rapidly due to the shift away from total homes passed (THP) and move towards total homes connected (THC). Companies need to drive revenue to continue building their network and obtain further investment to realise their growth plans.”

Specifically, r

Fibre Provider • 7th September 2023

Altnet agility driving better outcomes for end users

When MS3 was formed in 2012 its raison d’être was to provide competition to incumbent KCOM within Hull’s connectivity market.

This case study provides a microcosm for the wider dynamics between Openreach and altnets across the UK and gives CEO Guy Miller a unique perspective on the benefits of connectivity competition.

Here, Miller discusses how altnets have leveraged their agility and dynamism to drive benefits for end users. He also discusses how 100+ operators can (or cannot) co-exist whils

Fibre Provider • 14th October 2022

Giganet CEO fits final piece in the puzzle

Giganet’s transition from a voice-only comms provider to a Fern Trading-backed ISP reaching over nine million premises is testament to its capacity for business transformation and commitment to building a full fibre future - and of course its ambition.

“It is an exciting time at Gignet,” said Finnegan. “But the final piece of the puzzle is building our own full fibre network.”

Finnegan joined Giganet in May 2021 under the new ownership of Fern Trading, armed with £250m and tasked with putting

Fibre Provider • 11th August 2022

Altnet innovators will win the fibre race

The UK’s fibre rollout is driving innovation, but the reverse is also true and innovative fibre providers will gain the edge in a saturated market.

Altnets are perfectly placed to capitalise on innovations, due to their relatively small size and short existence, which allows for agility in designing and delivering best practice.

“The race to build Gigabit Britain has seen the biggest change to the UK telecom infrastructure for decades,” noted Jerry Mills, Chairman of Mills, the digital infrast

Fibre Provider • 1st August 2022

Overbuild threatens UK fibre investment goldrush

According to Ofcom estimates, Altnet fibre deployment exceeded the Openreach build machine for the first time this January, but ‘overbuild’ without customer uptake could threaten further fibre expansion.

The news demonstrates the ferocity of competition in the investment-backed land-grab currently playing out between fibre providers across the UK landscape.

“In the heat of the moment, we’re seeing something of a ‘broadband gold rush,” said Digital Infrastructure CEO, Charlie Ruddy.

The altnet

3rd June 2022

The Kinetic Foundation: Running a charity through lockdown – PA Diploma News

Coronavirus has had an effect on every sector of society with both sport and education being hit hard.

So, for a charity that combines football with providing educational opportunities to disaffected young people, these are trying times.

The Kinetic Foundation was set up in 2011 as a social inclusion project in Croydon, with the aim of exploring how football could have a positive impact on the surrounding society.

“It came at a time where, in 2011, there was the London riots that impacted Cro

Hackney Citizen • 22nd April 2020

All My Heroes Are Dead, R.A. The Rugged Man, album review: ‘Hip-hop’s best kept secret’

R.A. The Rugged Man, aka R.A. Thornburn, is hip-hop’s best kept secret, and that is a hill I am willing to die on.

Despite starting out rapping in the early 90s, his controversy-soaked career has only borne three studio albums.

The most recent of this trilogy is All My Heroes Are Dead, which fans of the New York artist have waited seven years for.

The long wait may explain the album’s swollen tracklist, which at first looks daunting, but Thornburn needs every second to explore a plethora of i

Hackney Citizen • 7th April 2020

It Is What It Is, Thundercat, album review: ‘Highly nostalgic yet totally fresh’

Thundercat’s solo album releases have never truly been the pinnacle of his creative output.

Largely, it has been his central role in projects by artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Janelle Monáe as well as his intricately assembled live performances that have brought him into the spotlight.

Whilst some use Thundercat’s (aka Stephen Bruner) many creative projects as an excuse for why his own albums have felt under-baked, no such justifications are needed for It Is What It Is.

In this project, a