F&W Networks provides High Wycombe library with full-fibre connection
UNITED KINGDOM 16:25

F&W Networks provides High Wycombe library with full-fibre connection

F&W Networks, UK full-fibre infrastructure provider, has upgraded Hazlemere Library, in the Buckinghamshire market town of High Wycombe, with a new full-fibre connection. The library previously suffered from connectivity issues which impacted negatively on staff operations, services for the public and access to digital resources. The contract supports a wider strategy by the company to expand beyond providing household connectivity into working with public sector customers such as schools, councils and libr

UK fibre altnets reach 19.7 million premises at end-2025
UNITED KINGDOM 16:10

UK fibre altnets reach 19.7 million premises at end-2025

The fibre network coverage of UK altnets reached 19.7 million premises by end-2025, up 20 percent year-on-year, according to the latest annual report from the Independent Networks Cooperative Association (INCA). The report was prepared for INCA by Point Topic and Assembly Research. The number of altnet fibre premises in Ofcom's Area 3 increased by 20 percent to 4.4 million, with altnets now having delivered full-fibre connectivity to 46 percent of UK premises in harder-to-reach rural areas.

UK-wide gigabit connectivity could deliver GBP 8.6 bln economic boost - FarrPoint
UNITED KINGDOM 15:59

UK-wide gigabit connectivity could deliver GBP 8.6 bln economic boost - FarrPoint

New research from Edinburgh-based consultancy FarrPoint shows that the UK economy could get a boost of over GBP 8.6 billion if gigabit-capable broadband connectivity was made available to all premises currently without access. The report shows that widespread gigabit connectivity availability across the UK could support more than 13,000 businesses, and help to create/support over 156,000 jobs. The largest single benefit would be a GBP 4.8 billion increase in land values, reflecting the impact of digital inf

Belgian Total Communications market 2025-Q4
BELGIUM 15:55

Belgian Total Communications market 2025-Q4

Telecompaper's latest report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Belgian telecom market for Q3 2025. It offers valuable insights into subscriber numbers, market revenues, and key trends across fixed and mobile services. The report examines the performance of major players like Proximus, Telenet, and Orange, as well as the impact of new entrants like Digi and MVNOs.

PSO expands fibre coverage by 37,000 households in February
POLAND 15:36

PSO expands fibre coverage by 37,000 households in February

Polish wholesale operator Polski Swiatlowod Otwarty (PSO) announced that it covered around 6,900 new households with its fibre network at 64 locations in February. Most of the new homes passed were in Wroclaw (783), Krakow (774) and Garwolin (591). The operator also upgraded almost 30,000 addresses on its hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) network to the FTTH standard, and more than 145 additional households in five sites were covered with fibre using public subsidies. So, the total coverage of its fibre-optic netw

IonQ sets up new UK Quantum Innovation Centre in Cambridge
UNITED KINGDOM 15:01

IonQ sets up new UK Quantum Innovation Centre in Cambridge

US-based quantum company IonQ has partnered with the University of Cambridge to set up the IoQ Quantum Innovation Centre for commercialisation of quantum technology. The partnership expands IoQ's presence in the UK, bringing its quantum networking capabilities and new 256-qubit system to Cambridge.

Ireland ends Q4 with 1.05 million FTTP subscriber lines - ComReg
IRELAND 14:40

Ireland ends Q4 with 1.05 million FTTP subscriber lines - ComReg

The number of FTTP subscriber lines in Ireland reached 1.05 million at end-Q4 2025, to account for 59 percent of all fixed broadband subscriber lines, according to the latest quarterly market report from regulator ComReg. Total fixed broadband subscriber lines reached 1.76 million, up 4 percent from the year-earlier quarter. FTTP broadband is available 84 percent of all premises in Ireland; with gigabit broadband available to 90 percent of premises.

Community Fibre discounts 2.5 Gbps plan to GBP 27 per month
UNITED KINGDOM 14:30

Community Fibre discounts 2.5 Gbps plan to GBP 27 per month

Community Fibre, London-based fibre broadband provider, has launched a flash sale offering 2.5 Gbps broadband for GBP 27 per month (down from GBP 39), with a 2-year contract. The offer is available to new customers, with Community Fibre claiming they could save GBP 643 on their broadband compared to Virgin Media's 2 Gbps download/200 Mbps upload plan. 

Agcom confirms FiberCop's status as wholesale-only operator
ITALY 13:38

Agcom confirms FiberCop's status as wholesale-only operator

Italy's communications regulator Agcom has officially confirmed the identification of FiberCop as a "wholesale-only" operator in its latest fixed network access market analysis, following a preliminary report issued last year. The approved text, which incorporates the favourable opinions of Italy's competition authority AGCM and the observations of the European Commission, eases the previously-applied regulatory obligations on pricing and access, said the watchdog.

Orange Spain debuts automated fibre system that cuts setup time by 80%
SPAIN 12:30

Orange Spain debuts automated fibre system that cuts setup time by 80%

Orange Spain (MasOrange) has introduced what it describes as Europe's first system capable of remotely setting up and activating fibre-optic data transmission services using Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technology. The new system, designed for large companies and public administrations, enables automatic detection and configuration of WDM equipment once connected to the network, significantly reducing the need for manual intervention.

Openreach fibre cables help detect water leaks in UK trial
UNITED KINGDOM 12:22

Openreach fibre cables help detect water leaks in UK trial

Openreach has helped prevent the loss of around 2 megalitres of water in a trial with UK start-up Lightsonic and Affinity Water. The trial is testing a fibre-optic leak-detection system, which turns Openreach broadband cables into virtual sensors. The Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) system has detected more than 100 water leaks in three months, saving 2 million litres of water a day. It uses existing fibre cables and machine learning technology to 'listen' for leaks in nearby water pipes, with problems p

NordUnet policy officer chairs Pan-Arctic Cable System this year
EUROPE 11:56

NordUnet policy officer chairs Pan-Arctic Cable System this year

The Nordic countries' research and education network, NordUnet, said its strategy and policy officer Ieva Muraskiene has been elected chair of the Pan-Arctic Cable System (PACS) for the coming year. PACS is formed by Cinia, Tusass, the Dutch Subsea Cable Coalition, GlobalConnect, Tampnet and NordUnet. Realising PACS would boost global internet connectivity and develop alternative routes across the Arctic to cut reliance on existing infrastructure corridors.

ITALY 07:55

Sky Italia cuts Now WiFi cost to under EUR 20/mth

Sky Italia has launched a series of offers for its 'Now Wifi' fixed broadband service, reports Mondo Mobile Web. Users can access a plan at a price of EUR 22.90 a month for the first 12 months instead of EUR 29.90 online, with selected Now customers offered a subscription at a price of EUR 19.90 a month for 12 months, with the usual activation fee of EUR 49 waived under the promo valid until 29 March.

UNITED STATES 07:50

Google sells FTTH business to Stonepeak in merger with Astound

Google is withdrawing from the broadband market in the US with the sale of its FTTH operator GFiber (formerly Google Fiber) to private equity firm Stonepeak. GFiber will be merged with Astound Broadband to create a larger player on the growing FTTH market. The merged group will be majority owned by Stonepeak, with Alphabet retaining a "significant minority" stake. 

GLOBAL 05:50

Optical interconnects set to expand in AI data centres - TrendForce

Optical interconnect technologies are expected to play an increasing role in AI infrastructure as data centre clusters grow larger and demand higher bandwidth, according to research from TrendForce. Next-generation AI computing architectures, including those being developed by Nvidia, are placing greater emphasis on high-density chip-to-chip connectivity and faster data transmission. These requirements are influencing both intra-rack interconnects and large-scale links between racks in AI data centres.

BELGIUM 11 MAR

Glasdraad on track for 140,000 homes passed

The Dutch FTTH operator Glasdraad is on its way to reaching 140,000 homes passed with its network, following successful demand aggregation campaigns in 2025. The roll-out is progressing in several areas in Zeeland, reaching around 20,000 new addresses compared to the end of 2024, according to the annual report of its shareholder Tinc. 

UNITED KINGDOM 11 MAR

London Fibre Group seeks code powers for new wholesale network

UK regulator Ofcom is consulting on plans to apply electronic communications code powers to London Fibre Group. The consultation closes on 13 April 2026. London Fibre Group is seeking code powers to support the design, deployment and operation of passive communications infrastructure, including dark fibre and shared duct infrastructure. This will be made available to other communications providers to expand their networks across the UK.

UNITED KINGDOM 11 MAR

EE makes Dazn app available to TV customers

BT Group subsidiary EE is expanding its sports entertainment offering with the launch of Dazn for EE TV Box and EE TV Box Edge customers. The Dazn app can be accessed through the Apps rail and Apps section on their device - with Dazn Standard and Dazn Ultimate subscriptions (billed directly by Dazn) costing GBP 14.99 and GBP 24.99 per month respectively. 

NETHERLANDS 11 MAR

GlasDraad plans expansion in Zeeland

Dutch operator Glasdraad announced plans to expand its fibre-optic network to the municipality Tholen, in Zeeland province. This would see FTTH services come to the areas Sint Philipsland, Stavenisse, Oud-Vossemeer and Scherpenisse, as well as rural farms and businesses in the area. At least 40 percent of the targeted addresses need to sign up for services for the project to go ahead, Glasdraad said. 

UNITED KINGDOM 11 MAR

AFPN launches Multi-Gig FTTP services through CityFibre

AllPoints Fibre Networks (AFPN), UK full-fibre network wholesaler, has announced availability on Multi-Gig FTTP services on its aquila platform through a partnership with CityFibre. This gives channel partners access to a new tier of 1.7 Gbps and 2.3 Gbps FTTP speeds for customers.

GLOBAL 11 MAR

Viavi launches AI-enhanced DAS test head for fibre cables

Viavi Solutions is launching an AI-enabled fibre test head for distributed acoustic sensing (FTH-DAS) as part of its Nitro fibre sensing platform. Viavi's FTH-DAS interrogator unit enables true-phase fault identification and predictions powered by an embedded AI and machine learning engine, tailored to multi-event detection and real-time classification across multiple fibres directly from the device.

GLOBAL 11 MAR

Ciena to present Vesta 200 optical engine at OFC 2026

Ciena will attend the Optical Fiber Communication 2026 conference in Los Angeles, taking the opportunity to showcase its 6.4 Tbps Vesta 200 pluggable driven by co-packaged optics. Ciena will discuss benefits to the industry arising from its 1600ZR/ZR+ and hyper-rail photonic product line-ups.

GLOBAL 11 MAR

Huawei eKit adds 2.5 Gbps PON bundle targeting small and medium-sized enterprises

Huawei's ICT enablement suite for small and medium-sized enterprises, Huawei eKit, is adding a bundle of small-scale fibre-to-the-office (FTTO) products to its offering. It pairs Huawei's F1001 GS-PON optical gateway for symmetrical 2.5 Gbps bandwidth with a multi-mode optical access point, the AP F610D, merging Wi-Fi internet access, telephone and IPTV services into a single fibre connection. Also included is Huawei's StreamerKit F700C platform for accelerated live streaming and AI-powered access point han

GERMANY 11 MAR

M-Net discounts internet connection to EUR 10 for six months

Bavarian fibre-optic network service provider M-Net is offering internet connections in Munich, Augsburg, Erlangen, Kempten and in the districts of Dachau, Ebersberg, Erding, Fuerstenfeldbruck, Freising and Starnberg at a discounted price of EUR 9.90 for the first six months of contract. The discount applies to its Internet 250, Internet 500 and Internet 1000 plans. 

Just In

16:25

F&W Networks provides High Wycombe library with full-fibre connection

16:19

Lifecell reaches 29% of voice traffic over LTE network

16:19

UK govt announces new schemes to help females enter tech industry

16:17

Tower company Pilar targets expansion in media sector

Commentary

11 FEB 12:29

Odido shareholders face tricky exit after abandoned IPO

2 FEB 13:49

KPN results show little bother from the competition

2 JAN 13:21

Open Dutch Fiber's new management team takes up turnaround challenge

15 DEC 2025 13:56

Video market set for slower growth ahead

Background

6 MAR 16:00

The week in telecom: MWC brings 5G advances, AI and satellite integration, plus first robot phone

1 MAR 13:21

The week in telecoms: Paramount tops bidding for WBD, Samsung S26 kicks off MWC showcase

23 FEB 00:28

The week in telecoms: Liberty Global tackles cable vs fibre question, Orange promises dividends and MEA market goes wholesale

16 FEB 00:17

The week in telecoms: Cisco rides AI investment wave and European telcos invest in South America