4 Fibre and Converged Communication Solutions Plan FTTP Broadband Builds UPDATE

Two new UK Alternative Network (altnet) builders – 4 Fibre (SCCI Group) and Converged Communication Solutions – have today revealed their tentative plans to rollout or expand an existing Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP network across some very different parts of the country.

The plans came to light after both operators made a request for Code Powers from Ofcom (here and here), which is often adopted to help speed-up deployments of new fibre optic infrastructure and cut costs, not least by reducing the number of licenses needed for street works. It can also be used to facilitate access to run their own fibre via Openreach’s existing ducts and telegraph poles (PIA).

First up, we’ll take a look at Southampton-based 4 Fibre Limited (company number 04144664), which is not to be confused with a now defunct company of an identical name (11923253). The business is part of the well-established SCCI Group, which provides TV & media systems, satellite & fibre distribution networks and security systems etc.

Under the new plan, 4 Fibre looks as if it intends to deploy FTTP into large residential buildings (MDU) “throughout the UK,” which is an area that quite a few other operators are already tackling (e.g. Openreach, Virgin Media, Hyperoptic, CommunityFibre etc.). But crucially, they propose to build the network and offer ISPs access to harness it, which makes sense given SCCI’s complementary areas of focus. But otherwise, there’s not a lot to add, yet.

As for Converged Communication Solutions, they’re more focused upon Scotland and until now have tended to work with established operators, such as CityFibre. But Converged, which also operates a limited hybrid access network with Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and FTTP components, now seem to be planning a bigger move to build their own full fibre.

“The expanded network would be used to provide services to businesses and consumers in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK,” although exact details were not forthcoming. But the focus seems to be on offering broadband services of up to 1Gbps in “the most rural of areas that suffer from poor broadband speeds and where other operators have not announced plans to upgrade their networks in the near future.”

Sadly, nothing much is known about their coverage plans, funding or timescales, except that vague titbit of information above. As ever, both operators will be entering an already crowded and aggressively competitive market, which is becoming increasingly difficult for last minute entrants to successfully penetrate.

UPDATE 17th Dec 2021

Since writing this article we’ve been able to speak with SCCI and get a bit more detail on what they’re actually doing.

4Fibre is a physical installation solution that is sold on to the ISPs in order to solve the issues that arise when more than one ISP wires up an MDU (apartment block etc.), which is different from a wholesale solution. The operator creates a very simple network that allows up to four ISPs to connect over a single infrastructure and protects the fabric of the building at the same time.

Each ISP owns a separate part of the network and have their own cabinet and fibre line. Installing the network once not only reduces duplication across the whole supply chain, but also disruption for the landlord and residents. To make the ISPs life even easier they can connect blocks together in clusters, further reducing the amount of PIA required and this makes it very cost-effective for the ISPs to buy into the network.

The approach works best in large MDUs that require internal wiring, listed buildings or sites with challenging installations. There are no ongoing costs and the ISPs take the responsibility of maintaining their part of the network.