UK ISP Gigaclear Establishes Advisory Group to Guide Rural FTTP Rollout

Fibre optic broadband ISP Gigaclear has appointed a new advisory group, which alongside other “key players in the UK’s communications industry” also includes the former CEO of BTOpenreach (Steve Robertson), to help “develop and improve their business model further so that more communities can benefit from high broadband speeds.”

On top of that Gigaclear has also appointed a new non-Executive Director, Eddie Minshull, whom joins from his former position as the CEO of MLL Telecom and as the EVP of Worldwide Field Operations at Juniper Networks. Minshull will also play a part in the new advisory group.

Finally the advisory group also includes Richard Feasey, a consultant, lecturer and writer on telecoms issues with 25 years’ experience in policy director roles. This includes 12 years at Vodafone as group policy director where he coordinated global public policy and regulatory affairs.

Steve Robertson, CEO of Truphone and Ex-Openreach Boss, said:

“Gigaclear’s success to date demonstrates that the organisation has a proven working business model. The company’s ultrafast fibre to the premises broadband is giving rural communities a reliable, predictable and future proofed communications solution. The Gigaclear model allows entire rural communities including homes, home-workers, businesses and business parks to take control of their own broadband destiny instead of having to wait for solutions that may never materialise.

Our role as advisors isn’t just to support Gigaclear as it develops as a company, it’s about helping to develop and improve their business model further so that more communities can benefit from high broadband speeds.

We’re seeing growing demand for Gigaclear networks as more communities take broadband matters into their own hands,” adds Matthew Hare, Chief Executive, Gigaclear “As a business, it’s important that we build on this success, delivering future proofed ultrafast broadband to underserved rural communities. Our powerful team of advisers will help us drive the business forward and deliver our ambitious expansion plans.”

Gigaclear had been progressing quite well, although they’ve recently suffered a few setbacks due to BT and the publicly funded Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) scheme appearing to muscle in upon some of their areas (here), which they had hoped to upgrade with a new “ultrafast” 1000Mbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network.

But having the former CEO of BTOpenreach to bat your corner certainly might work in their favour, with Gigaclear hoping to benefit from both his “influence and experience“.