UK communications regulator, Ofcom has proposed to make BT and KCOM the UK’s broadband universal service providers, following submissions of interest from eight companies. Ofcom is also consulting on the obligations that should apply to them in delivering the universal service.
Altice Europe subsidiary Altice France has entered into an exclusivity agreement with three investment funds to sell a minority equity stake of 49.99 per cent in its French fibre optic business, SFR FTTH, for a total cash consideration of €1.8 billion based on a €3.6 billion equity value.
Openreach is extending its G.fast broadband footprint to a further 81 locations across the UK.
TalkTalk has established a new company called FibreNation, under an independent chair, with the aim to roll-out full fibre infrastructure to around three million UK homes and businesses.
Dutch developer of dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) optical components, Effect Photonics has now completed its second round of financing to accelerate the ramp of its tunable small form-factor pluggable production line and aid development of future technologies.
New Zealand operator, Chorus has reached 500,000 ultra-fast broadband connections on its network. As part of the announcement the company also revealed that it plans to reduce the wholesale price of its premium fibre product.
European Parliament has voted in favour of establishing a European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) and a body of European regulators for electronic communications.
Cosemi Technologies has acquired South Korea-based optical connectivity provider for long-reach optical interconnect applications, Optella.
US optoelectronic component manufacturer II-VI has announced that it will acquire optical communications firm Finisar for $3.2 billion
UK communications regulator, Ofcom has revealed new proposals, alongside a consultation on its Business Connectivity Market Review (BCMR), to revisit allowing companies laying high-speed fibre cables – used by large businesses, mobile operators and broadband providers – unrestricted access to Openreach’s ducts and poles.
Cabling infrastructure will be vital in the deployment of 5G networks, meaning that the wireless will still depend on wires, says Jean-Jacques Sage
Jeremy Wastie takes a look at the challenges associated with procurement, and explains why connectivity in the UK does not have to be a postcode lottery
Power over Ethernet (PoE) could help service providers adapt to the opportunity provided by IoT in order to remain competitive, argues Ankit Agarwal
Network core flexibility will become just as important as capacity for future networks, and coherent solutions could be key to accommodating changing traffic flows, argues Eugene Park
Scott Modha takes a look at how the right technique goes a long way, and network operators could benefit from simplified microduct network deployments
