Paul Larbey

How did MS3 Networks Limited bring free market competition to the peculiar telecoms island of Hull? Check out my latest industry interview with CEO Guy Miller to find out: https://lnkd.in/eX4hiE3D Big thanks Guy for a fascinating and unique insight into the very peculiar telecoms island of Hull, and how MS3 Networks has successfully built a full fibre Alt-Net there to compete with the incumbent, KCOM, significantly boosting free market competition.   MS3 has built to just over 200k premises, of which about 130k are in Hull and about 80k are in Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Immingham, and Mexborough. Guy tells me that Hull is more profitable than the Openreach areas, because although building in Hull is twice as expensive, MS3 enjoys three times the market penetration. With 15,000 customers on the network currently, MS3’s overall market penetration is about 7%, but that rises to 29% for areas that have been built for between 2 and 3 years.   Unlike many Alt-Nets, MS3 is wholesale only, and has around 50-60 partners, which guy says is probably too many. His “utopia” is to move towards a smaller number of bigger Layer 2 partners, with the current Layer 3 partners connecting via the Layer 2 partners. The impact of Ofcom’s/The One Touch Switching Company’s new consumer broadband switching regime was interesting to hear about, as MS3 used to take orders on behalf of its partners, but this is not allowed under One Touch Switch.   MS3 has just last week managed to get some access to KCOM’s ducts and poles, after a long struggle. This will allow MS3 to get to some of the more outlying areas of the Hull licensed area, and deliver on its ambition to cover all 210k premises.   Guy comments on MS3’s original ambition of a half-million premises network build, telling me that they didn’t anticipate there being 100 other builders when the ambition was set. He admits that building another 300k premises at this point would not be a good idea, and so acquisition would be the only sensible route to reach the original ambition.   Guy goes on to talk about the financial strength of MS3, in a market with its fair share of financial worry currently. MS3 is debt free, which is very unusual in the Alt-Net world, and Guy claims that MS3 will not only be EBITDA positive very shortly, but that it will be the first Alt-Net to be cash positive.   Finally, Guy talks about the spot of bother he’s had with telegraph poles in Hedon. #fullfibre #altnet #gigabit #hull #freemarketcompetition Zen Internet

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Very interesting debate held between Openreach, NexFibre, and CityFibre earlier at #Connectedbritain Interesting topics from market conditions, landscape of investment, and the consolidation of the Alt-Net market…. Although they didn’t agree on all points, what was evident is the future of network deployment is very positive, with lots still to do and the need to do it faster. #openreach #nexfibre #cityfibre

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5G is halfway through its lifecycle as a one-generation solution, but why is its growth so difficult in the UK? Operators have never really understood the business model of 5G and have tried to replicate the success of the network pipeline operations of the 3G and 4G era. They wasted lots of time.... https://lnkd.in/edMBBFUm It's time to rethink your application business. https://lnkd.in/ejt54TC3

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With the focus having firmly shifted to penetration and takeup away from scaling build, delivering profitability remains a critical challenge for fibre operators and investors. Our latest whitepaper is out, with insights gleaned from our recent panel discussion

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This is a great potential way to monetise 5G networks for MNOs – network slicing with different charging models depending on capacity used. @Vodafone trailed the approach at this year’s #Glastonbury Festival This sort of deployment of networks would allow much more flexibility for vendors as well as reducing the risk of fraudulent transactions costing business’ money. Also amazing is that according to Vodafone, 200,000 people attended this year’s festival, generating 225 TB of data across its network — a year-on-year increase of 33% - massive numbers! #connectivity #networks #investment #innovation #mnos #2g #3g #4g #5g #business #enterprise #UK #towers #masts #growth #mobile #mobilenetworks #telecoms #telecommunications #technology #slicing https://lnkd.in/eQdisy2f

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Driving penetration is now the number one focus for the Altnets in the UK. The average consumer take-up across altnet networks is currently at 16%, half that of Openreach at 32%, despite the collective footprint of challengers now equalling that of the incumbent. We explore why this is and what needs to change to address it. I'm very happy to talk to anyone with a view on the situation and ways it can be addressed. In Part two (watch this space) we will provide valuble insights and actionable recommendations to drive penetration from some of the very best practice.

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Reminder: we're at the beginning of the #PostDigital era #Digital is old We've had almost 200yrs since the invention of the telegraph in the 1830s, and almost 80yrs since the first digital computer in the 1940s. We've had digital telecom switches since the 1970s, and the WWW since the 1990s. Now we're at the early stages of the Post-Digital world. We’re seeing continued innovation in #quantum computing, communications, sensing and more. While there might be digital computers for input / output, it would be wrong to describe a #Qubit as a true digital concept. There are various initiatives around analog AI, which may tie into a broader concept called #neuromorphic computing. The brain's neurons are not digital, but use a variable range of electric impulses in analog form. There's increasing interest in a whole range of fundamental compute hardware elements that aren't simple on/off logic gates. Spintronics brings in the spin of an electron as well as its charge. There's a whole host of optical computing avenues as well. Trying to read up on DNA-based #computing makes my head ache, but I'm guessing it probably invoves 4 bases G T A C or something complicated with protein-folding. OK, I'll admit that the central point of this post is that I really dislike the common use of the word "digital", and especially performative nonsense phrases like "#digitalmarketing" or "#digitaltransformation". Having a "chief digital officer" is always a good guide to spotting a company in trouble. It's like having a chief electricity officer. One will be glad to see the digital noise dwindle to zero. (See what I did there?)

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At Telecom Infrastructure Partners (TIP) we are building the largest and most prolific global mobile and digital site lease and infrastructure aggregator in history. The reality is that, outside the United States and the UK, mobile and digital site lease aggregation really hasn’t been tried at scale. Only some “low hanging fruit” has been picked by “boiler room” sales types sending term sheets en masse. This is why only hundreds of investments have been made — even in jurisdictions with literally tens of thousands of sites. The UK is the world’s only jurisdiction with professionally licensed mobile site lease advisors: chartered surveyors. This is because, unlike in the rest of the world, renewing and renegotiating site leases is a bit of a cottage industry, historically based on the UK Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. In the UK many leases are renewed based on “Open Market Valuation” rather than mere inflation increases. Often advisors to property owners are in fact paid by the tenants (operators and tower companies) to renegotiate. At TIP we don’t hire salespeople and we don’t do sales training. A sale is when I give you a vacuum cleaner and you pay me. We are, first and foremost, world-wide investment advisors, just like the chartered surveyors in the UK. The fact is that an individual lease is a bad investment. Mobile site lease tenants are the only commercial lease tenants in the world who determine lease rates. In no other area of commercial leasing would the tenant have the gumption to try to set the rates. Mobile site leases can be terminated at will by the tenant, and tenants that stay often try to negotiate the rent down. Some investment! No wonder that no banker in the world will lend against an individual site lease! Luckily, portfolios of sites are GOOD investments (portfolio theory). Bankers WILL in fact lend against thousands of of sites in a single portfolio. Which means that lease aggregators can create significant value in the mobile telecommunications ecosystem. We can contribute literally billions of Dollars/Euros/Pounds to mobile network buildouts. We invite investment professionals, operators and infrastructure companies to work with us to create value in powerful ways not seen before. Because we are all stronger together! Find us at www.telecom-ip.com. #peoplefirstculture #youbeyou #professionalservices #continuouslearning #continuousdevelopment #thinkglobalactlocal #globalgrowth #exponentialgrowth #telecominfrastructure #telecoms #infrastructureinvestment

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Question for the day. Is a wholesale market for 5G network slices a good opportunity for differentiating an IoT MVNO? I'm digging into the intersection of 5G Stand Alone and IoT at the moment. Predominantly what monetisation opportunities there are for MNOs in 5G overall and particularly SA, and specific to IoT. So digging into things like RedCap (again!), Network Exposure Function, APIs, QoS, SLAs, cellular V2X, and a bunch of other things. Alongside dedicated slices for specific organisations (or e.g. emergency services) and functions (e.g. latency), there's also likely to be a wholesale market. So, perhaps, MNOs selling an optimised IoT-oriented slice for MVNOs. Which would create something of a two-tier IoT MVNO market. Can you provide high grade connectivity or is your offering just based on regular wholesale (or, indeed, someone else's wholesale)? Would anyone care? Maybe if it's marketed well enough. Having something that is a recognised term for a higher QoS/reliability/capability should presumably be appealing to customers. I can't help but note, though, that most enterprise customers have been conspicuously incapable of discerning the difference between a cheap and cheerful sponsored-roaming-based offering where disconnection or similar headaches aren't far away, and a robust offering based on local carrier agreements. So maybe they don't really care. Or maybe no-one ever quite came up with the right term for 'this is something you'd rely on' vs 'this is something you wouldn't'. When does it matter? Not for a long time since MVNOs operate overwhelmingly on n-1 generation and we have 10+ years of LTE still to go. But in a 5G world, maybe it does matter eventually.

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The UK has a new government and a new Secretary of State for Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle. At the time of writing the department's junior ministers - and specifically whoever is responsible for #telecoms and so-called "digital infrastructure" - had not yet been named, but I'll update this post when it happens . I wrote a quick thread on X yesterday about some thoughts and recommendations for the new people coming into office. These are repeated here, with a couple of edits and additions. Some recommendations for telecoms & innovation: - Don’t get hung up on specific network technologies like #5G or fibre #FTTP. There’s a wide range of alternatives & having a mix is good (for instance #satellite connectivity and #WiFi) - Be wary of numerical targets that are easy but not meaningful. You'll be given headline stats on gigabit "homes passed" or "mobile coverage" which need to be rethought. - #AI is important & shiny, but don’t ignore equally-important tech domains like connectivity & semiconductors - Don’t just listen to big companies or their lobby groups. Diversity of size & specialism is key in tech/telecom - Infra-sharing will be everywhere - wholesale networks for mobile & fibre, spectrum-sharing, datacentres etc - Ignore calls to try to tax Internet traffic, regulate interconnect or emulate the worst elements of the EU’s DMA or its white paper. Understand the criticisms - Liaise closely with colleagues involved with planning, electricity / transport infra to optimise network deployment & synergies - Be wary of large consulting companies churning out huge forecasts or parroting boilerplate views. NB the tyranny of consensus - Radio #spectrum is more important than you think. Consider if the VF/3 merger allows “national infra spectrum” as a remedy - Plenty of techs are important but overhyped. Satellite, 5G, #edgecompute, #GenAI etc. Seek out the underhyped ones - Push for collabs with US, Japan, EU, S Korea - but also don’t be scared of UK-specific approaches to regulation & policy - Avoid the word “digital”. It’s cringe - UK fibre deployment is fast-growing but a messy patchwork. Expect consolidation, encourage “open access” models - DSIT telecoms & broadband teams are good. So are many at Ofcom. Lots of tech expertise - If anyone says the word “nationalisation”, kick them out - The EU pushes agendas driven by old-school big telcos & against US tech companies. Take a different path for UK. Avoid temptation to be an asteroid that protects dinosaurs & kills mammals - Work with likeminded countries on key topics like cybersec & future #6G - Don’t be too risk-averse. Be wary of anyone citing the so-called “precautionary principle”. It’s often just Luddism & lack of weighing risks/benefits - Study the phenomena of path-dependency & tech lock-in. Keep options open & consider how to switch paths - Don't re-merge DSIT & DCMS - Reach out to independent analysts and experts 😉 Congrats & enjoy the role!

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Another example, this time in the UK, of MNOs looking to innovative approaches to help improve mobile coverage.   Virgin Media O2 are working with STARLINK to help with the backhaul requirements of deploying masts in areas that cannot be reached by fibre – a great method for improving signal at a more affordable cost.   This is a great example of satellite and mobile acting in concert to mutual benefit, as I have said before it is not likely that satellite communications will replace mobile networks, this is the most likely outcome – a win-win for all.   #connectivity #networks #investment #innovation #mnos #satellites #2g #3g #4g #5g #business #enterprise #scotland #UK #growth #mobile #mobilenetworks #telecoms #telecommunications #sharedruralnetwork #rural #ruralcoverage #srn   https://lnkd.in/eJ_rK7-v

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Good news! Broadband providers can achieve high scores for customer satisfaction metrics like NPS *without* resorting to price competition. Our latest report on fixed broadband customer satisfaction reveals that operators can maintain high Net Promoter Scores (NPS) without resorting to price cuts. This is particularly significant as fibre roll-outs continue to level the playing field in terms of speed and reliability. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 🔹𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲: Operators are finding innovative ways to differentiate their services. For instance, Orange in France and Deutsche Telekom in Germany have achieved high NPS by focusing on service quality and bundling additional services, despite having lower price satisfaction scores. 🔹𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: Challenger operators like DIGI in Spain and Quebecor Media in Canada have also excelled by offering competitive prices, leading to higher customer satisfaction. 🔹𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: High satisfaction with service elements such as customer service and reliability can significantly boost NPS, even when price satisfaction is low. As the market evolves, it's clear that a strategic focus on enhancing service quality and offering value-added services can help operators achieve high customer satisfaction without compromising on revenue. For a deeper dive into these findings, check out the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ec_XAiTk #Telecoms #CustomerSatisfaction #Broadband #NPS #ServiceQuality #MarketTrends

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A report from Kinetic found that speed (36%) and reliability (35%) are top internet priorities for small businesses – which are responsible for more than 40% of our country’s economic output and two-thirds of new jobs.   Telecom Ramblings shares how our new bundled fiber and voice services specifically tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized business give them an enterprise-grade experience that will scale with them as they grow.   👉Read more here: https://bit.ly/40kRKAs.

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With streaming services for live sport in high demand this Summer following Wimbledon, the Euros and the Olympic Games, it's important to ensure that users can rely on seamless broadband connection even during peak viewing times. In this article for TVBEurope, I explored the importance of QoE performance measurements for tackling latency and more to ensure customers don not suffer because of demands on the home network. Read the full article here:

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Reflections on a major shift in the industry affecting at least a third of rural telecom infrastructure We all know the story of Icarus and Daedalus. Icarus ignored the advice of his father, Daedalus, not to fly too close to the sun. But this never stops us challenging the limits. Sometimes it just takes more than beeswax to keep the plane in the air. Large financial resources are always useful to push a venture forward. But sometimes grit, determination, a sense of common purpose and a good corporate culture is more sustaining. read more here : https://lnkd.in/gyWm6rJu

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Last month, my colleague Kester Mann released an insightful report highlighting the continued relevance and growth potential of the UK's Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) market. This thriving sector, representing a significant portion of the UK's mobile subscriptions, continues to play a crucial role in driving competition, innovation, and affordability. Key takeaways from the report: 🔘 Resilience and Growth: Despite challenges like the cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation, the MVNO market has demonstrated remarkable resilience and is poised for further growth in the coming years. 🔘 Diverse Offerings: MVNOs cater to a wide range of consumer needs, offering specialised plans, flexible contracts, and niche services that traditional mobile network operators (MNOs) often overlook. 🔘 Innovation Hub: MVNOs are at the forefront of innovation, introducing new technologies, business models, and customer experiences that push the boundaries of the mobile industry. 🔘 Market Disruptors: By offering competitive pricing and innovative services, MVNOs are putting pressure on traditional MNOs to improve their offerings and remain competitive. To delve deeper into the insights revealed in this report, I encourage you to explore Kester's latest CCS Insight blog, where he provides a comprehensive analysis of the key findings and their implications. The link is in the comments.

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Our UK tenants, the operators and infrastructure companies, don’t like it when I point out the obvious truth, which is that the distortion of power from property owners to network operators resulting from the ECC 2017 harmed Britain and put it last in 5G, behind the rest of the developed world. There are now many property owners selling to us because they are tired of being mistreated. A UK individual mobile site lease has become a horrible investment and a headache for property owners. Meanwhile network operators are not very good at buying out mobile sites, because property owners have lost all trust. TIP are an obvious solution. We are funded with low-cost infrastructure money and are NOT interested in charging anything other than market rent as defined under the ECC. We are prepared to be tied down throughout our investment period. And STILL our tenants are slow to proceed with us. We are prepared to help CTIL, MBNL, Cellnex and their tenants increase 5G rollout speeds by allowing them to take full financial and operational control over the sites. If tenants don’t want to trust us then they can trust their lawyers: we are prepared to be 100% controlled. And UK property owners like our money. Thousands of them. I personally have been willing to be 100% controlled since 2009, when I founded APWireless. If tenants had taken me seriously back then they could have locked up thousands of mobile sites. I can’t remember how many times I met with CTIL, MBNL, Orange, T-Mobile (now EE), Vodafone and O2 — and none of them acted on my offer (which was made long before it was too late). After 2019 I could not control what my successors did at APWireless. Let’s not make that mistake again. Let’s tie up TIP long term and mutually benefit the UK public. There is plenty of success to be had by ALL parties: property owners get the capital they deserve, MNOs and infrastructure companies get to deliver the 5G solutions they promise while gaining 100% control over their sites, and TIP’s investors get to earn a reasonable return on infrastructure investment. Everyone wins. In the meantime, since somehow pointing out the obvious truth is unpopular with our tenants, I’ll have the Guardian do it for me. Thanks Steve!

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