Latest news with #Connexin
BBC News
31-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Hull telecoms firm KCOM offers broadband infrastructure to rivals
Telecoms firm KCOM has announced a "long-overdue" deal allowing other companies to share its underground full-fibre network in a move that could increase consumer choice in Hull and parts of East Yorkshire. From Friday, a Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product will allow other providers to apply to use KCOM's infrastructure to roll out their own fibre managing director Jan Collins said Hull now had a "thriving broadband sector" and that the deal would lead to broadband being delivered "efficiently and without undue disruption to residents".MPs had previously raised residents' concerns over competitors putting up new poles to carry broadband fibre to homes and businesses, and other street disruption. KCOM said the deal marked "a long-term solution" to "develop a practical and effective way" to share its infrastructure "on fair and reasonable terms".However, Connexin CEO Furqan Alamgir said the region had long been "dominated by a broadband monopoly" and that his firm had invested in a new full-fibre network "because the option to use KCOM's existing infrastructure simply did not exist in practice, despite what was often claimed".Guy Miller, chief executive of MS3 Networks, described the KCOM deal as a "long-overdue development"."MS3 is reviewing whether the commercial variations to the national PIA product provided by Openreach are too significant to overcome, or whether this product will be sufficient to avoid future infrastructure overbuild, something we all hope is the case," he added. Last January, a meeting held by MPs called for broadband companies in East Yorkshire including KCOM, MS3 and Connexin to work together after residents were upset about poles put up near their can install poles without having to apply to councils for planning permission, following a change to the law in April 2022. Emma Hardy, MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, said the deal was "a positive step forward for our city"."This could help to reduce the need for duplicate poles and street disruption while opening the door to greater competition and choice for consumers," she David Davis, MP for Goole and Pocklington, added: "All MPs across the area have worked together to apply pressure, resulting in today's announcement of a collaborative, sensible approach to infrastructure sharing." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Broadband boss not expecting more masts after deal
The boss of a broadband company says he is not expecting more telegraph poles to be installed in East Yorkshire. Furqan Alamgir, chief executive of Connexin, spoke to the BBC after his business was acquired by CityFibre - one of the UK's largest network providers. He said: "We don't expect there to be more poles. CityFibre have traditionally been trench diggers but it will come down to what their build plans are in the future." Connexin has previously been urged by campaigners and MPs to share infrastructure with KCOM, which owns the majority of the area's underground network. Mr Alamgir said talks with KCOM about sharing its network infrastructure were "ongoing" and the acquisition by CityFibre would not stop it from "progressing". He said: "I'd hate to have poles outside my own house and it's silly how this has played out. "We've paused our builds over the last few months. We've been working with KCOM and had a lot of support from local politicians. "We'll be working to firm up agreements and we absolutely want to share infrastructure to build our network." However, residents in Beverley, East Yorkshire, who saw poles installed near the homes, said they are "worried" by the CityFibre-Connexin deal. Paul Brayford, from the Beverley and Molescroft Against Broadband Poles campaign group, said: "We're worried the streets where Connexin couldn't install poles will get them and the streets that did will now see fibre optic cables strung across. "It's really frustrating, we don't want clutter and it could get worse." Mr Alamgir said the agreement between Connexin and CityFibre would give households and businesses a wider range of options for internet services. He said: "Hull and East Yorkshire should have the same offering as any other place in the UK and we've always wanted to bring more choice to the area. "CityFibre have plans to reach 8m homes over the next couple of years and we'll be able to offer more services on the back of their investment. "It should bring more competition, improve speeds and driver better products. It's a really exciting deal." Under the deal, CityFibre will also take on the Connexin contract for Project Gigabit, a government scheme to roll out high-speed broadband to over 34,000 premises in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Call to speed up broadband infrastructure sharing Broadband firm pauses pole installations KCOM announces plan to end telegraph pole row MPs meet broadband CEOs about telephone poles Connexin CityFibre
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Connexin boss 'doesn't expect' more telegraph poles after CityFibre deal
The boss of a broadband company says he "doesn't expect" more telegraph poles to be installed in East Alamgir, chief executive of Connexin, spoke to the BBC after his business was acquired by CityFibre - one of the UK's largest network said: "We don't expect there to be more poles. CityFibre have traditionally been trench diggers but it will come down to what their build plans are in the future."Connexin has previously been urged by campaigners and MPs to share infrastructure with KCOM, which owns the majority of the area's underground network. Mr Alamgir said talks with KCOM about sharing its network infrastructure were "ongoing" and the acquisition by CityFibre would not stop it from "progressing".He said: "I'd hate to have poles outside my own house and it's silly how this has played out."We've paused our builds over the last few months. We've been working with KCOM and had a lot of support from local politicians. "We'll be working to firm up agreements and we absolutely want to share infrastructure to build our network."However, residents in Beverley, East Yorkshire, who saw poles installed near the homes, said they are "worried" by the CityFibre-Connexin Brayford, from the Beverley and Molescroft Against Broadband Poles campaign group, said: "We're worried the streets where Connexin couldn't install poles will get them and the streets that did will now see fibre optic cables strung across."It's really frustrating, we don't want clutter and it could get worse." 'More choice' Mr Alamgir said the agreement between Connexin and CityFibre would give households and businesses a wider range of options for internet said: "Hull and East Yorkshire should have the same offering as any other place in the UK and we've always wanted to bring more choice to the area."CityFibre have plans to reach 8m homes over the next couple of years and we'll be able to offer more services on the back of their investment."It should bring more competition, improve speeds and driver better products. It's a really exciting deal."Under the deal, CityFibre will also take on the Connexin contract for Project Gigabit, a government scheme to roll out high-speed broadband to over 34,000 premises in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Call to speed up broadband infrastructure sharing
Broadband operators are being urged to speed up infrastructure sharing amid a backlash over the number of telegraph poles being put up. It comes as residents in parts of Hull and East Yorkshire campaign about the poles being put up near their homes. Emma Hardy, the MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, has met telecoms minister Chris Bryant to discuss the issue. Bryant said "unnecessary telegraph poles" were not considerate to "anyone's way of life". Hardy, who met Bryant on Tuesday, told the BBC it had been "a really positive meeting", and there was agreement to encourage companies to start sharing infrastructure. Trials are taking place between KCOM and Connexin and between KCOM and MS3 involving shared telecommunications infrastructure. But Hardy said that while some progress was being made, it was "not as fast as I would like to see to stop more poles going up in the community". She added: "This is something that everyone in the area has been calling for from day one." Bryant said Hardy had "highlighted the urgent need for consideration and community discussion when it comes to building new infrastructure", and added: "I continue to urge telecoms companies to do everything they can to share pre-existing infrastructure before building new poles." A spokesperson for KCOM said: "Good progress has been made with MS3 and Connexin and preparations are well under way to launch a long-term solution in the coming months." Guy Miller, chief executive of MS3, said he welcomed the intervention from MPs "to keep pressure on all parties to deliver this". Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, said the firms were working together as part of an initial trial. "While we can't force companies to use these existing ducts and poles, we expect to see this development continue and we'll maintain our engagement with the firms involved to encourage further progress," a spokesperson said. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Entire street against plans for broadband poles Broadband companies must share infrastructure - MP Telecom watchdog declines broadband poles review Judge reviews village broadband pole decision Ofcom
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Broadband firms urged to speed up their infrastructure sharing
Broadband operators are being urged to speed up infrastructure sharing amid a backlash over the number of telegraph poles being put comes as residents in parts of Hull and East Yorkshire campaign about the poles being put up near their homes. Emma Hardy, the MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, has met telecoms minister Chris Bryant to discuss the said "unnecessary telegraph poles" were not considerate to "anyone's way of life". 'Urgent need' Hardy, who met Bryant on Tuesday, told the BBC it had been "a really positive meeting", and there was agreement to encourage companies to start sharing are taking place between KCOM and Connexin and between KCOM and MS3 involving shared telecommunications Hardy said that while some progress was being made, it was "not as fast as I would like to see to stop more poles going up in the community".She added: "This is something that everyone in the area has been calling for from day one."Bryant said Hardy had "highlighted the urgent need for consideration and community discussion when it comes to building new infrastructure", and added: "I continue to urge telecoms companies to do everything they can to share pre-existing infrastructure before building new poles." A spokesperson for KCOM said: "Good progress has been made with MS3 and Connexin and preparations are well under way to launch a long-term solution in the coming months."Guy Miller, chief executive of MS3, said he welcomed the intervention from MPs "to keep pressure on all parties to deliver this".Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, said the firms were working together as part of an initial trial. "While we can't force companies to use these existing ducts and poles, we expect to see this development continue and we'll maintain our engagement with the firms involved to encourage further progress," a spokesperson to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
