Full Fibre Builder Connexin Acquires UK ISP Pure Broadband
Network builder and ISP Connexin, which is investing £80m to roll-out Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband infrastructure across parts of Hull and East Yorkshire (here and here), has today announced yet another acquisition as they gobble up Hull-based UK ISP Pure Broadband for an undisclosed sum.
At present Pure Broadband tends to deliver its internet connectivity services to homes and businesses covered by the full fibre networks of KCOM, CityFibre, OFNL and MS3. Connexin’s acquisition of Pure will add over 15,000 customers to their existing base and increase its workforce to nearly 150 people – making the operator one of the largest alternative network providers (AltNets) in the North of England.
Current Pure Broadband customers “will see no change to their service or billing“, but will be able to “elevate their broadband experience to the next level through the acquisition.” Connexin recently demonstrated speeds of over 2Gbps – the fastest home broadband speeds in Hull.. for now (there are several rival FTTP builds going on and all are technically multi-Gigabit capable networks).
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Furqan Alamgir, Co-founder and CEO of Connexin, said:
“This acquisition brings together two of the best technology companies in the region and I’m very proud to be welcoming Pure Broadband to the Connexin Group.
I would like to thank the shareholders at Pure Broadband for trusting us to take the business forward, along with Tony and the Pure team for joining us on our mission to create the best digital experience for the people of Hull and surrounding areas. The acquisitions of Wisper and Pure Broadband, along with the roll-out of our own 10Gbps capable full-fibre network, demonstrates our commitment to the region and investment into the local economy.”
Tony Jopling, Managing Director at Pure Broadband, said:
“At Pure Broadband, we’ve been operating in Hull since 2009 to bring the people of the region a greater choice in broadband, as well as helping to create a better online experience for all citizens. We have a fantastic, passionate team at Pure Broadband, and this merger will present more opportunities for both our people and our customers.
Seeing Connexin develop over the years, it’s become clear that we have a shared ethos. Not only do the people of Hull and East Riding deserve to have a greater choice of broadband services, but also a quality that is next level to enhance the customer experience for all. As we unite with Connexin, I’m confident that the move will make our ambition become a reality.”
The transaction was supported by corporate law firm Orrick, and finance and tax due diligence specialist RSM. The news comes hot on the heels of Connexin’s recent move to gobble up local fixed wireless ISP Wisper Broadband (here), which serves some of the same areas as the operator plans to build across.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Nice to see all this investment in Hull. I think these guys are the ones for the job, must be a reason all them local companies are all coming together… wishing well for them
The folks over at Pure Broadband are great, by far the best experience I’ve had with any ISP.
I was one of the first to get their offering in Sheffield via the Cityfibre network and after a pretty delayed installation that took a week the team at Pure Broadband where great throughout and the service provided since has been rock solid.
Here is to hoping that this is also good news for those of us outside Hull.
A lot of people happy about this BUT…
A big selling point Connexin have been making is that KCOM have a monopoly & they are challenging this. But by gobbling up providers in Hull, surely they are just creating a new colossus and Hull will be left with a duopoly?
The build in Hull at present is ridiculous. On some streets you have Connexin, MS3 & Grain all building where KCOM have completed FTTP already
Difference is that KCOM have created a monopoly by making infrastructure sharing and PIA practically impossible by having no set process or productised solution for duct or pole access. Easy to figure out, all you’ve got to do is go on their website for prices… nothing like BT
Connexin have said publicly they will openly share infrastructure with other providers, bringing more choice into the city
Will be good to see how it pans out for them
wonder if this will affect Pure’s deal with MS3 to provide fibre over there network… was going to switch to them as there getting close to my area.
Hi Jonathan
MS3 have signed wholesale deals with a multitude of providers so we will be able to still offer you your choice of provider other than KCom
Connexin are a absolute awful company who do not listen to residents who do not want their ugly poles down streets with underground ducting. They ignored all our pleas not to erect them and just said they had a right to do so . They will not get custom by the way they treat people they use the excuse kcom won’t let them have access this is untrue they just want to rent out poles to recoup their money
Yawn.
Do some research and you’ll see why they’ve done what they’ve done. Or should I say, why they’ve been forced to do it the way they have done.
If you don’t want cheaper fibre, stick to overpaying with KCOM 🙂
@James – i’d also be wary of the ‘reason’ Connexin have given for their pole vs. UG deployment strategy.
I can categorically state that it is false to suggest it is KCOM’s fault that they have to erect poles, and they’re being disingenuous with customers from the outset to suggest that it is.
What a joke this company is. Not listened to us the public. Ugly looking tele grath poles every 80/90 mts. It is a total and upper joke. When we have under floor infer structure. But they do not want too pay for it. And would love yo know how much hull city council have had in a back hander….
How would they like a pole stuck outside of their house on their drive or garden and seeing it out of your window. Hull is being ruined with all these extra poles so it’s rot that they care about hull and want to invest more like ruin everyone’s life
How would they like poles stuck in their garden or drive so all you see is a great big ugly monstosety. They claim there investing in hull but they are ruining hull with all these extra poles, and ruining lives
How are they ruining lives?
Terrible company creating a monopoly while claiming that they are stopping the monopoly it’s just another company with no regard for its potential customers or the distress it is causing a lot of Hull residents. Won’t even listen to reason or meet their public just do not care arogent, rude and obnoxious avoid at all cost
Did you not read Thunderbolt45’s reply above?
This is a problem with Alt networks, they can be sold off at any time, Zzoomm who is doing fibre here is owned by Matthew Hare, he started up Gigaclear and then flogged that, what is stopping him from doing that with ZZoomm at some point? It may be sold to Talk Talk, that would be awful.
It is sometimes best to stay with the devil you know.