Reflecting on my experience at Connected Britain last week, it was a pleasure to reconnect with familiar faces and establish new connections. With over 7,000 attendees across two days, the event has solidified its position as a critical platform for the telecommunications industry.
Since our inception 19 months ago, nexfibre has made significant strides in expanding the UK’s fibre network. Reaching 1 million homes in such a short time is a testament to the efforts of our team. In 2024, we are on track to build more fibre infrastructure than any other operator, except Openreach. Our focus remains on sustaining this momentum as we work toward our goal of reaching 5 million premises by 2026.
While we are well-funded, with the support of our investors, InfraVia Capital Partners, Liberty Global, and Telefónica, investment remains a critical challenge for the industry. Below is a summary of the key themes discussed at Connected Britain:
Significant progress, yet much more to accomplish
As highlighted during the keynote panel on Wednesday, the UK’s fibre market has made considerable advancements in recent years. However, there is still significant work ahead. According to Ofcom’s latest data, the UK has reached 60% fibre coverage. Continued investment is essential to complete this transformation, and fostering sustainable, nationwide competition is key to maintaining momentum—not just for the current generation of technology, but for future advancements as well.
A continuous cycle of upgrades and innovation
As a provider offering exclusively XGS-PON technology, nexfibre is committed to delivering a future-proof network capable of meeting the demands of emerging technologies and evolving consumer needs. While we remain focused on staying ahead of the curve, other networks will need to upgrade portions of their infrastructure to remain competitive—an often costly and time-consuming undertaking.
Stability attracts investment
Regulatory stability is crucial for attracting the necessary investment to complete the fibre rollout. Investors are more inclined to commit resources when they are confident that the regulatory environment is fair, predictable, and supportive of competition. A stable regulatory framework is essential to expanding and upgrading fibre networks across the country.
Addressing urban ‘not-spots’
An important issue within the fibre market is network density, particularly in relation to urban “not-spots”— areas that remain underserved despite their proximity to well-connected regions. At nexfibre, we are committed to addressing these gaps by concentrating our efforts on areas that have historically been underserved.
Additionally, when we deploy our network in a postcode area, we typically cover 70-75% of the locality, ensuring that more homes and businesses gain access to high-speed fibre broadband. This emphasis on density is vital for constructing a resilient network that reaches all corners of the UK, rather than focusing solely on the easiest or most profitable areas.
Overcoming barriers to infrastructure deployment
Challenges such as wayleaves and rights of access to multi-dwelling units (MDUs) were extensively discussed at Connected Britain, with a shared understanding that the UK Government has a has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform property law in England and Wales. By simplifying the wayleave processes, operators could reduce the time and resources required for deployment, significantly accelerating efforts to eliminate “not-spots” and combat digital poverty.
The private sector’s role in bridging the digital divide
Ensuring that the benefits of digital technology are accessible to everyone, regardless of location or economic circumstances, is a responsibility that must be shared. Given the constraints on public funding, I strongly believe that the private sector must play a central role in addressing digital exclusion.
At nexfibre, we are actively promoting digital inclusion through our partnership with UK Youth, which we were pleased to announce this week. We understand the transformative impact connectivity can have on communities, and by providing high-speed fibre connections to youth centres across the country, we are enabling UK Youth to continue their invaluable work in equipping young people with the skills they need to succeed in today’s digital economy.
Connectivity contributes to better outcomes for all
The work we do extends beyond simply connecting homes. It is about supporting communities and contributing to the growth of the broader economy. We remain dedicated to collaborating with regulators, industry partners, and policymakers to build a fibre market that is future-ready—one that ensures everyone in the UK can fully engage in the digital world.