Fibre Optic ISP Hyperoptic UK Recruits Former BT Vision and PlusNet TV Head

Urban focused ISP Hyperoptic, which supplies ultrafast 1000Mbps (Megabits) capable fibre optic broadband (FTTB) services to thousands of homes around London (England), has recruited BTVision’s (IPTV) former Head of Propositions, Darren Shenkin, to potentially help develop its own TV products.

Shenkin, whom has also acted as Head of TV at BT’s sibling Sheffield-based ISP Plusnet (though they don’t actually offer a TV product), will take on the role of Director of Products and Propositions at Hyperoptic where he will be tasked with enhancing and developing the providers portfolio of products to “complement its existing broadband and phone service“.

Darren Shenkin, Hyperoptics Director of Products and Propositions, said:

“Joining Hyperoptic is a phenomenal opportunity for me to make a stamp on the next big UK ISP. I am really impressed by the company and its core 1 Gig product. Having a 1 Gig platform means that there is scope to develop some really ground-breaking propositions – watch this space!”

Dana Tobak, Managing Director of Hyperoptic, added:

“We are thrilled to have Darren join our team. Our propositions are the next area of growth and differentiation for Hyperoptic. His experience and insight into this sector will be invaluable to help us shake up the broadband sector with some disruptive and different approaches. Content is changing and without a reliable and hyperfast underlying broadband, consumers will lose out. With Hyperoptic’s hyperfast broadband, and our new propositions, our customers will truly be getting the best of both worlds.”

Hyperoptic has long touted its ambition to launch some form of online television (IPTV) product into urban areas, which would be a good fit for its high capacity fibre optic broadband platform. But so far the provider has preferred to concentrate on its internet access and phone solutions.

At the time of writing nothing, beyond the above, has been confirmed, although the ISP does appear to be giving a strong indication that it could now work to develop a TV solution. We wouldn’t be surprised if the YouView platform, which is also used by BT and TalkTalk for their TV services, was involved but it’s too early to say.

Darren will also be responsible for driving customer awareness of Hyperoptic’s products.