James Hattam

Safer SIMs an important strategic area for BT/EE 🚸 We expect EE's new Safer SIMs for U18s to prove very popular (with parents at least). So too their in-store appointments for help in setting up any phone (old or new) for appropriate child protections (available from mid August). 👨‍👩‍👧 Family plans are incredibly important to BT Group/EE in addressing the lower end of the market, together with their convergence plans. The company seems to be shying away from reintroducing a sub-brand at the value end of the market - a different approach to their reinvigoration of the Plusnet brand on broadband 📈 They probably feel that what they're doing is working just fine for now. They just had a really strong quarter on mobile contract net adds, counter to the network operator trends over the past few quarters, and well ahead of the MNO competition. We suspect that these new U18 plans will be a bolster in the coming quarters, and is a smart move in a strategically important space for them Thanks to Claire Gillies and Jonny Bunt for an engaging session on an issue that's arguably top of most parents' agendas. Enders Analysis James Barford Artemis Loynes #telecoms #ukmobile

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Is the UK government's Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) plan going to have delivered on its objectives? It's currently being evaluated, and according to the evaluation framework: "By improving access to gigabit capable broadband, the LFFN programme is designed to deliver significant benefits ... For households, take-up of an enhanced connection should lead to improved access to online services, including essential services such as healthcare, government portals, and digital education. Faster broadband also facilitates the increased use of the internet for education, work, or leisure, supporting activities such as remote working, online learning, and entertainment." We'll see what the evaluation report says, but we can get some insight from Ofcom's Technology Tracker, which asks people about their use of services like those above, and which ISPs they use. If full fibre was important for these services, we might expect usage to be higher in altnet households, which will by definition be using full fibre. However, this isn't what the data shows. As you can see in the chart, usage of these various services is the same in the altnet and the other households. Indeed, it is higher in the other households for a number of services, though this is likely statistical noise. [A couple of notes of caution. The Technology Tracker only asks respondents about Hyperoptic, Gigaclear and Community Fibre, so these are the 'select ISPs'. And there will be full fibre connections (both from other altnets and from BT, Sky etc) in the other ISPs. Thus this isn't a clean, FTTH vs FTTC comparison, just a proxy]. None of this should be a surprise to anyone. Much of the industry has long acknowledged (at least in private) that the vast majority of consumer needs are met very well with FTTC. Indeed, filing your tax return, say, is possible with dial-up. Whether the government will recognise this is another question.

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🚀 Why now is a defining moment to invest in Gigabit IQ 👉 Already 85% funded on private live on Seedrs (Republic Europe) 👉 Going public live next week 👉 Limited allocation | EIS eligible 🔗 https://lnkd.in/evwrFMv3 The UK broadband market is at a once-in-a-generation inflection point — and Gigabit IQ is positioned right at the centre of it. We’re not just building fast broadband. We’re building what we believe is the UK’s safest and most intelligent broadband provider, designed for the regulatory, social, and technological realities shaping the next decade. Here’s why this moment matters: • Full Fibre adoption is accelerating nationwide, driving mass migration away from legacy connections • The PSTN switch-off is forcing millions of homes and businesses to upgrade • Online Safety regulation is no longer optional — Ofcom and the Online Safety Act are redefining ISP responsibility • The Cybersecurity Bill is raising the bar on how networks are actively managed and protected These changes don’t favour legacy ISPs built on volume and call centres. They favour providers built around managed Wi-Fi, proactive security, and family protection — exactly where Gigabit IQ is already operating. Our model combines: ✔️ Full Fibre performance ✔️ Network-level online safety ✔️ Managed Wi-Fi and cybersecurity ✔️ Community-led growth and trust If you’re looking to invest at the intersection of infrastructure, safety, and long-term regulation-driven demand, this is the moment. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/evwrFMv3 #InvestInGigabitIQ #Crowdfunding #EIS #BroadbandInvestment #FullFibre #OnlineSafety #CyberSecurity #FutureOfBroadband

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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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Some good news for UK MNOs! Ofcom has reduced the amount the MNOs have to pay annually for spectrum license fees by £60 million – the previous total of £325 million per year has been reduced to around £265m per year. By lowering the annual cost it helps the MNOs to become more profitable when deploying the frequency bands in general and gives more of a reason for the MNOs to re-farm lower frequency bands in particular for other uses as there is less cost to do so, therefore more incentive to be innovative with how they use the spectrum today vs in the past. #connectivity #networks #investment #innovation #mnos #2g #3g #4g #5g #business #enterprise #UK #towers #masts #inbuilding #property #realestate #growth #mobile #mobilenetworks #telecoms #telecommunications #technology #wifi #spectrum https://lnkd.in/eR2Qc6pg

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When your biggest competitor is evolving, the real risk isn’t losing pace; it’s staying on a path nobody’s walking anymore. Drawing on my ILM training and years of observing the telecommunications sector, I’ve noticed many organisations clinging to legacy strategies long after their relevance has faded. The shift happens when leaders apply quantum reframing, enabling them to see yesterday’s strategies as obsolete, rather than preserving them as sacred relics. Novartis’s 2025 global leadership report reveals that one in three executives believes strategy discussions are lagging behind actual market shifts, a gap that agile, presence-based recalibration can help bridge. What one strategic assumption could you reframe this week to lead with presence, not lagging precision? #ExecutiveLeadership #StrategicThinking #QuantumCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #ILMLearning Inspired by “Leadership in the Future of Healthcare” — Novartis Global Leadership Report, 2025 (paraphrased).

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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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When complexity scales, measurement becomes strategy. On 22nd January in London, I’ll be speaking at the SCTE ® (the Society for Broadband Professionals) event about Testing and Measurement and why it has become one of the quiet foundations of modern service delivery rather than a technical afterthought. Today’s offerings are no longer built around a single channel or platform, but around vast portfolios of content and services sourced from multiple providers, using different formats, standards, and delivery models. At Bridge Technologies, we focus on expanding capacity and flexibility: monitoring more services in parallel and supporting as many formats, protocols, and workflows as possible. Finally, I’ll talk about QoE in a budget-conscious world and why monitoring should be designed in from the start rather than bolted on later in order to become a strategic tool that supports quality, competitiveness and trust in markets where viewers are less forgiving than ever. Looking forward to the conversations in London and to exchanging perspectives with others facing the same challenges from different angles. Here's the registration link: https://lnkd.in/eKutaZqk Bridge Technologies #SCTE #testing #measurement #monitoring #networks #media #broadcastmedia #london #speaker #register

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We have been selected as the primary vendor for UK service provider VodafoneThree's next-gen mobile network, in an almost GBP £1 billion partnership.   This eight-year agreement will see a range of Ericsson radio, antennas and core hardware and software as VodafoneThree undertakes one of Europe’s largest network consolidation initiatives.   I am especially proud of the new Ericsson 5G RAN products that will be introduced onto the VodafoneThree network. These include compact and energy-efficient radios; smart multi-band antennas and AI-and energy-optimized basebands.   Ericsson connectivity will exclusively cover the four UK capitals: London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, as well as other major population centers. The deployment of Ericsson 5G Standalone technology will enable high-performing, programmable networks that support differentiated connectivity for enterprise and industry.   We look forward to powering the future of UK connectivity. https://lnkd.in/dy_b9m2P

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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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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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The UK’s fibre rollout is accelerating thanks to alternative network providers, but challenges remain. With multiple fibre providers competing in the same areas, customer switching hurdles, and rising costs, the race for better connectivity isn’t straightforward. Altnets are adapting by forming partnerships, investing in new technologies like SDN and AI, and expanding beyond broadband to offer smart business solutions. This dynamic is shaping how businesses access faster, more reliable internet in the years ahead. For SMEs, understanding this evolving landscape is key to securing the right connectivity for growth and resilience. More on this: https://heyor.ca/pHdFH1 #FibreBroadband #BusinessConnectivity #SMETelecoms #TechInnovation

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As BEAD funding rolls out, the pressure to scale qualified teams is higher than ever. In Part 2 of our broadband workforce blog series, we explore how leaders can: ✔️ Recruit faster ✔️ Train smarter ✔️ Stay ahead of deployment demands Read more: https://lnkd.in/eCqfwdes  #BroadbandExpansion #BEADUpdate #TelecomWorkforce #TalentAcquisition #InfrastructureJobs #WorkforceDevelopment #BroadbandFunding #TechDeployment #HNMSystems #FutureOfWork

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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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⚠️ 48,000 UK homes still can’t get a decent broadband connection in 2025. Body: That’s not just a statistic, it’s a reminder that while we talk about gigabit speeds and AI-driven networks, some communities are still being left behind. ✅ Independent ISPs could be the key to solving this. They’re nimble, community-focused, and genuinely motivated to connect people, not just balance spreadsheets. 💥 If the locations of these 48,000 homes were made easier to find, altnets and wireless providers could collaborate, plan micro-builds, and finally close the gap. There’s no shortage of technology or talent, just a lack of transparent data. 💡 What if the next broadband breakthrough isn’t a new network… but a new level of openness? #Telecoms #Broadband #DigitalDivide #UKConnectivity #Altnets #RuralBroadband #ProjectGigabit #EthicalAI #LetsTalk

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One of the UK’s largest alternative full fibre broadband operators, Netomnia (inc. retail ISPs Brsk and YouFibre), has deployed a Smartoptics ROADM-based core network across the UK that should deliver scalable IP over DWDM at 100G and 400G wavelengths and is even classed as being “800G-ready by design” (800Gbps if you prefer). Just for some context.  Netomnia’s 10Gbps speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network currently covers 2.4 million UK premises (RFS) and has connected 310,000 customers. But they’re also aiming to expand their network to reach 3 million premises by the end of 2025 and then 5 million by the end of 2027 (inc. 1 million customers by 2028). Read more: https://lnkd.in/eizHqaAu UKFCF: https://www.ukfcf.org.uk/ #UKFCF #FullFibre #FibreConnectivity #GigabitBroadband #DigitalConnectivity #FibreBroadband #UltrafastBrandband #ProjectGigabit #UKConnectivity #DigitalInclusion #ConnectCommunities

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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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Yes, BT is decommissioning the BT One Phone service, with expected closure around March 2026. This is part of a broader UK-wide shift, where BT is retiring traditional analogue landlines (PSTN) in favor of digital (VoIP) services by the end of January 2027. Users will need to switch to alternative business telephony solutions. Key details regarding the BT One Phone shutdown: Target Date: Multiple sources indicate a final shutdown in March 2026. What is it? BT One Phone is a specialised, mobile-first business cloud service which is now being phased out. What to do: Businesses currently using this service should start planning their migration to alternative services (such as VoIP or other digital business systems) to avoid service disruption. If you are a current customer, it is recommended to review your contract and look at alternative options, 👉 Let’s connect and start the conversation today. Please contact.... Sharon - sshearsby@telatechnology.com Call DDI - 01675 450135

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