Tag Archives: INCA

Broadband, News

Homes and businesses turning to independent providers for broadband connectivity, new report reveals

More than 5.5 million homes and businesses in the UK can now connect to an independent fibre broadband network, according to new figures published today. For the first time, the total number of live connections provided by the ‘alt nets’ is above 1m.

Compiled for the Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA) by Point Topic using data provided by independent network operators across the country, this year’s ‘Metrics for the UK independent network sector’ report shows that the sector has again doubled in size over the previous year.

The independent sector continues to pull in significant sums of private funding with investment and expenditure commitments predicted to reach £17.7bn by the end of 2025. When combined with the £12bn announced by BT Group, the £5bn announced by government, and £2bn planned by VM02, investment levels will exceed the previous estimates of £30bn for bringing next generation networks to every property in the UK.

INCA’s Chief Executive, Malcolm Corbett said: “This continued high level of investment, coupled with commitments from others in the private sector like BT and Virgin Media, and the money being put in by government, shows that the UK is on track, for the first time in its history, to have proper broadband infrastructure competition. Independent network operators are a key piece of this connectivity jigsaw which will offer consumers real choice and drive innovation in the broadband services they consume.”

The report also details operators’ concerns, which include;

  • planning and streetworks delays
  • the threat of overbuild from taxpayer-funded, Project Gigabit procurements
  • delivery times for services from Openreach or other operators (e.g., EAD circuits, PIA)
  • getting wayleaves
  • the impact of BDUK’s pause on community-led ISPs Gigabit Vouchers; and
  • access to skills and labour.

“This report shows the increasing maturity of the independent broadband sector”, commented INCA Chairman, Alex Blowers. “It is now transitioning from fundraising and planning mode to delivery and execution stage and is undeniably a key partner in the delivery of a 21st century digital UK. It is now crucial that the government and Ofcom ensure momentum is maintained, by evolving the underlying policy and regulatory framework in support of the infrastructure competition that has now arrived in the UK,” Mr Blowers continued.

The full report can be viewed at- https://www.inca.coop/2022-altnet-metrics.

For more information about their work or of INCA in general, please visit: https://www.inca.coop/.

News, Telecoms News

Altnet representative body sees strong membership growth after several years of record investment

The Independent Networks Cooperative Association has welcomed new members from across the sector.

London, UK, 8 March 2022: After a year in which altnets received record levels of investment and showed how important they are going to be in the delivery of Gigabit Britain and bridging the digital divide in 2021, more and more companies are joining the sector’s representative body, the Independent Networks Cooperative Association (INCA).

So far 19 new members have joined since the end of 2021 from various areas of the sector and from all over the world. They include powerful industry stakeholders alongside new market entrants, major suppliers and local authorities. The list of new members includes Nokia, Lightspeed, KCOM, MS3 Networks, Wurzel, J Bayliss Consulting, Siklu, Frontier Networks, Precision Optical Transceivers and others.

Malcolm Corbett, CEO at INCA said, “We’re thrilled to welcome these new INCA members to join us at the forefront of the industry. As we continue to grow year on year, our collective strength makes us ideally positioned to represent the interests of our sector and to press both government and Ofcom to respond to the fundamental transformation that the telecoms industry is going through, and the essential role that the altnets are playing in the delivery of Gigabit Britain.”

INCA believes that government and regulators need to work more closely together and with the industry to ensure a competitive playing field where the independent sector can continue to thrive.

Tim Shaw, Managing Director of KCOM Wholesale & Networks, said: “We’re excited to have joined INCA and lend our voice to the association. Together we can highlight the amazing things happening in the independent sector. The data speaks for itself, and investment figures showcase the industry confidence and support that the altnets have achieved. We’re proud to be involved and trust INCA to represent the interests of the altnets.”

The rate at which INCA is welcoming important stakeholders reflects the group’s growing influence and coincides with the effort to build upon the impressive findings of last year’s Point Topic report.

The nearly £12bn estimated to be invested before the end of 2025 in that report is expected to be closer to £15bn, given recent investment pledges, ahead of 2022’s Point Topic survey which is currently being compiled.

For more information about their work or of INCA in general, please visit: https://www.inca.coop/.

News, Telecoms

Two new board members for independent broadband organisation

Appointments recognise increasing importance of alt-nets to UK broadband sector

London, UK, 21 February – INCA, the trade association for next generation broadband services, has made two new appointments to its board. Rosalind Singleton, CEO of Spring Fibre and Tim Stranack, Founder and Director of Community Fibre were confirmed in their new roles at the organisation’s recent Annual General Meeting.

The appointments come at a time when the contribution of alt-nets to the development of Gigabit Britain and to the UK economy has never been more important, especially with the government renewing commitments for the provision of access to 5G broadband for the “large majority” of households in last week’s Levelling Up white paper and with the setting of a new target for nationwide 1Gbps broadband to be achieved by 2030.

INCA Chairman Alex Blowers said, “We are delighted to welcome Ros and Tim to the INCA board. Both come with substantial experience in the sector and will play a vital role in what we are sure will be a crucial next 12-24 months in the future of the UK’s fixed telecoms sector”.

In addition to her role at Spring Fibre, Rosalind Singleton is also Chair of the UK5G Advisory Board, a member of the UK Government’s Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council and on Ofcom’s Spectrum Advisory Board. She is also a non-executive director of Alphawave PLC. She has over 30 years of experience in the technology sector and is an active angel investor and mentor for tech businesses with female founders.

Tim Stranack started his career in telecommunications in the 1990’s designing call centre systems first for Europ Assistance and then the Direct Line Group. It was while working for Westminster City Council that he realised the only way to achieve their digital inclusion ambitions was to have better broadband services. This led him to co-found Community Fibre Ltd which has since grown to become London’s largest fibre-only network. Tim has been Chair of INCA’s policy and regulatory special interest group in 2021.

For more information about their work or of INCA in general, please visit: https://www.inca.coop/.