Faisal R Mahomed

The numbers keep moving on but the most critical number is not talked about so much. This is the number of people who can get 'decent' broadband and above, which amounts to the UK number of 99.9% right now. I focus on the 'decent' number because it is all those who can get MORE than 10Mbps down and 1Mbps up - or as we called it a decade ago - Full Broadband. It does dip in Wales compared to the UK as a whole of course, but that still provides 99.6% with 'decent' broadband. At the rates described, you can receive a reliable stream of HD (720p or above) video, sufficient for a single home to have both broadband usage AND streaming usage just about at the same time, at rates that a decade ago would have been called full broadband. Why is this number important? Because you need to compare it to the 98.5% DTT coverage at SD quality that the UK DTT network provides. It is now better than that coverage, and if we were to compare equivalents though we would need to compare coverage of the HD services which actually is only 90% of the UK. We are now beyond the point that Streaming is better than broadcast in the UK today. Of course, the percentage of coverage may vary a little as these are different populations, so just because you have HD coverage on DTT does not mean you have HD coverage for broadband. Right now if you are having issues with your broadband, we are now approaching the point where you should be thinking about getting it looked at seriously or maybe, as the gamer peeps say, think about buying a lottery ticket to be that lucky not to have decent broadband.

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VodafoneThree Ofcom has told Keir Starmer and Rache Reeves it is pleased with the results of the VodafoneThree merger. In an open letter to Starmer and Reeves, chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes hailed early consumer benefits and the investment resulting Three merger. Dawes said consumers are already seeing benefits. Network integration has delivered faster 4G speeds for around seven million people across the UK, even at this early stage. Coverage has also improved sharply. Dawes said the merger has removed 16,500 square kilometres of mobile “not-spots”, boosting connectivity in areas that previously suffered from weak or non-existent signal. #business#financial#SME

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A first for the UK, and for Europe! Today Virgin Media O2 switched on direct-to-device satellite mobile data, making the UK the first country in Europe to go live with this technology. It’s a huge step forward for connectivity and a proud moment for everyone who’s worked to bring it to life. For our customers, it means peace of mind in some of the most rural and remote parts of the country, many of which have long been known as not-spots. We’ve extended coverage across an area the size of two-thirds of Wales, keeping people connected when it matters most. So proud of our teams, partners, and the ambition behind this. And even more excited for what it signals about the UK’s digital future!

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“Everything seems brighter, everything is clearer, and the audio is great.” — AV design lead, BT Group As the UK’s leading provider of fixed and mobile communications, BT Group knows the importance of clear, reliable connections. As part of their Better Workplace Programme, they chose Huddly to deliver natural, AI-driven video and audio experiences that connect their teams across locations. Better collaboration with Huddly. #CaseStudy #HybridWork #SmartMeetings #Huddly https://lnkd.in/gwYVR7aF

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This investment and build milestone reinforces Neos Networks’ ability to meet the data‑intensive needs of the market and support the UK government’s AI ambitions, which require best‑in‑class connectivity.

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Bringing strong connectivity to rural places matters to BT Group, and to our customers. And today marks a real step forward for Penmachno, a small Welsh village tucked into the Machno Valley, now fully connected for the first time. It means local businesses can serve customers more easily, visitors can stay connected in the scenic hills and families can reach the services they rely on without having to travel elsewhere. This is the difference reliable mobile coverage makes. It supports daily life, gives local economies room to grow and strengthens the services people depend on. Penmachno shows what happens when we work with communities to bring lasting change. There is more to do across Wales. And this is part of a broader initiative to support the Welsh economy through digital infrastructure, and awareness of #cybersecurity and #AI. BT Business is proud of what we do to support growth and digital transformation in Wales and we look forward to continuing for many years to come. #digital #wales #smallbusiness

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🚀 Why settle for Wi-Fi that only half works when you can have Wi-Fi that’s fully optimised? At Gigabit IQ, our Wi-Fi Optimisation Service has been a hit for years. Each visit helps us: • ✅ Understand real-world customer use cases and challenges • ✅ Educate customers on how to get the most from their home network • ✅ Build confidence for customers to self-serve via the Gigabit IQ App The result? Lower OPEX for us, higher NPS for our customers, and a service experience traditional ISPs can’t match. We’ve now taken things a step further with remote virtual visits—and in the coming months we’ll be launching even more innovative services. Watch this space… 👀 So why don’t other ISPs do this? It’s simple: they don’t have the IQ. They’ve chosen the wrong hardware, the wrong software, and they lack the expertise to deliver a truly managed Wi-Fi service. 💡 That’s what makes Gigabit IQ different: we don’t just deliver broadband speeds—we make sure your Wi-Fi works in every corner of your home. 👉 Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ebp9PaEY #WiFi #Broadband #CustomerExperience #ManagedWiFi #Connectivity #GigabitIQ

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10x spectrum?? I'm not sure exactly how many times I've attended MWC: First time was in Cannes and Tom Jones was playing - pretty sure I've been more than 20 times. Anyway, this time I'm excited to be demonstrating the capabilities of the National Spectrum Facility of JOINER Platform. We're providing support for researchers targeting a 10x gain in usable prime spectrum via spectrum sharing and efficiency technologies. If you're interested come and see us at 7B47.

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The real-life manifestation of this problem are the all too common posts in the LinkedIn feeds of fibre operators, from disappointed customers asking why their promised connection date has been missed... and missed... and missed again. It should surprise no-one that concerns around service interruption are the main barrier in the UK to broadband switching.

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Fair and balanced summary from telcotitans in relation to the on-going need for Ofcom to review PIA pricing models in the latest Telecoms Access Review. Fibrus is a large user of the Openreach PIA products in NI and GB and they work very well operationally for us. However, the current outdated per metre pricing model needs reviewed for rural builds to take into account distance between premises at 20 times greater than urban prems. Ofcom complete a telecoms access review every 5 years so time is of the essence to act now to properly review and update. #fibrus

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“Northern Ireland is the clear leader in UK fibre roll out” Today’s Financial Times does a deep dive into UK Fibre roll out. Featuring a Fibrus customer, it shows the impact Fibrus & Project Stratum have had in NI overall and in a UK context.

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As digital infrastructure becomes ever more essential for life, connectivity must continue work for both our people and the planet we all live on. It’s Net Zero Week here in the UK and we’ve been reflecting on our journey towards a more sustainable future. We're making positive progress towards our goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040. On our journey we’ve cut Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 56% against our 2020 baseline, begun the drive to make our fleet fully electric, and prevented more than four million devices from going to landfill through O2 Recycle. There's still more we need to do and we remain committed to reducing our impact on the planet, by cutting carbon from our products and operations, and by continuing to work with our partners to help reduce our supply chain emissions, too. Read more about our sustainability efforts in our Better Connections plan: http://vmo2.co/RB #NetZeroWeek

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A proud moment for Cellnex UK! Delivering our first VodafoneThree consolidated mast ahead of schedule is more than a technical milestone, it is a step toward a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable future. Reliable connectivity isn’t just about speed; it underpins flexible working, digital inclusion, and wellbeing. As demand for high-speed networks grows, shared infrastructure models like this help reduce environmental impact while enabling people and businesses to thrive, wherever they are. For those of us focused on Workplace, Wellbeing, and EDI, this matters because: Hybrid work depends on strong, resilient networks. Digital equity ensures everyone can access opportunities. Sustainable design supports our commitment to responsible business. Collaboration like this shows how technology and infrastructure can empower people and communities. #CellnexConnects #inclusion #Wellbeing

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Sky is setting a new standard in UK broadband. Thanks to our partnership with CityFibre, which officially launches today, we’re reaching even more homes with connectivity that meets the needs of modern life 🏠 We’re excited to introduce our Full Fibre 2.5 Gigafast+ and 5 Gigafast+ packages, as well as our Gigafast+ hub. As our most advanced hub yet, it’s built with WiFi 7 technology, developed in partnership with Comcast 🛜 This is about more than fast speeds. It’s about powering possibilities, from remote work to entertainment and gaming, and we’re proud to be accelerating full fibre roll-out to future-proof UK homes. 𝘍𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 5𝘎𝘣/𝘴 𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘬𝘺 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘍𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘦 5 𝘎𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵+. 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 𝘜𝘒 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘖𝘧𝘤𝘰𝘮. 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺. 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘢𝘵: https://lnkd.in/gXeh_bHZ

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The analogue switch-off isn’t optional. The UK’s analogue landline network is being withdrawn as part of a national transition to digital services. This change is driven by several key factors that organisations need to understand before making decisions: 1️⃣ Ageing infrastructure that is increasingly difficult to maintain 2️⃣ Reduced manufacturer and supplier support for analogue systems 3️⃣ Improved reliability offered by modern digital networks 4️⃣ The need to support future services beyond voice alone This is not a supplier-led decision - it is a nationwide programme. Understanding what relies on analogue lines is essential before change, helping reduce risk and avoid disruption. 🦆 Start the conversation before the switch-off starts. #digitaltransition #analogueoff #telecomchange #infrastructuremodernisation #telecomclarity

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Thank you Xavier Leclercq, and thank you for being in the room! Exactly the kind of conversation this industry needs: honest, practical, and with enough friction to be useful. Broadpeak ’s work on reducing the footprint of content delivery at scale is a great example of the practical action you’re describing. I love that we’re approaching the same problem from different angles. Let’s continue exploring the overlap!🌱 A big “Thank You” to the SCTE ® (the Society for Broadband Professionals) for a fabulous event & to all co-panelists, moderators & attendees. #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #SCTE #Telecom

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Have telecoms reached the end of their efficiency growth curve? A telecom consultant asks the question and explains why it is relevant.

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Yesterday we held Women in Telecoms Group 3rd Anniversary!! It has been a busy 3 years for the group and we are immensely proud of what we have achieved as a collective but also what we have each achieved as individuals. Nicola Kemp did a fab job showcasing this in the video uploaded, so a big shout out to you! Part of our celebration we were joined by Irina Iovita, who presented to the group the findings from 2025 Lovelace Report; Unlocking £2-3.5 Billion The Value of keeping Women in Tech. I would like to say, that I wouldn't be shocked by their findings but I was, that figure is HUGE!! Change has to happen for the following reasons from the report they ran, these are the figures: 📈 7% of women leave the industry compared the +11.5% of men 📈 80% of women have recently switched roles or are interesterd in exiting their tech role 📈 60% earn less then £100k compared to the male average of £150k 📈 25% see limited direction and opportunity in their career pathway 📈 Surprisingly, as this has been the narrative in the past, only 3% cited caring commitments the reason for leaving. The takeaway from this, more needs to be done to attract, retain and progress women in the tech industry. Especially given it is estimated that 98-120,000 more tech professionals are needed to meet the UK's AI and Digital demands. We then had Ruth Sloss to give our group a interactive coaching session on; Seeing the Value in Ourselves. We may not be able to impact the above immediately within the industry but we can impact it for ourselves. I found this session fun but extremely useful for future tips, that I will definitely use. ☀️ We can develop our EQ ☀️ Low self confidence should not hold back your career ☀️ Remember your posture ☀️ Breathe ☀️ Be conscious of the words you use, "Just" and "Sorry" ☀️ What if Imposter was actually a critical friend? ☀️ Listen , Evidence and Learning It really was a fantastic afternoon, spent with the best women! You all inspire me everyday with everything you achive and do in your careers and personal life, We love celebrating this, which we did with our "Shout Outs" so keep them coming! Shout Out to Maisie Taylor Allie Pennington Obiageli (Obii) O. for your new roles Nicola Kemp Jen Kierce for your hard work on the podcasts and Fiona Kearns for your contimued support and hard work on our Career dev group to create the mentoring group. Here's to year 4 which we foresee to be bigger and busier than the last so remember to get involve! Natalie Strange and I want you all to be part of this and join us in our conitnued support and impacting for change! Remember, Our voices together are louder and stronger! #womenintelecoms #ccuk

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