Alternative UK Broadband ISP WarwickNet Acquired by CableCom

In a surprise announcement WarwickNet, which has made its name by building alternative fibre optic based broadband networks (FTTC, FTTP and Leased Lines etc.) to UK business parks, industrial estates and multi-tenancy buildings, has been gobbled up by Somerset-based ISP CableCom.

WarwickNet is one of only a handful of ISPs across the United Kingdom to be deploying Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) commercially, which allows them to build their own infrastructure faster and more efficiently by using Openreach’s (BT) existing cable ducts and telegraph poles. As a result they tend to roll-out a mix of FTTC, FTTP and Leased Line style solutions to the areas they connect.

The Coventry-based provider, which employs around 21 staff and has grown from serving just 36 business clients over 8 live sites in 2011 to 1,000 customers at 100+ live sites in 2016, only recently reported a strong turnover of £3.4 million in the last financial year.

No doubt this growth is partly why CableCom were attracted the WarwickNet. CableCom itself is based in Somerset and serves more than 350,000 customers across Europe and the United Kingdom, usually by providing Internet / utility services to the student accommodation and residential markets.

Mark Burchfield, Managing Director of CableCom, said:

“This is a significant step for CableCom and really supports the added value elements that our services provide. At CableCom we focus on niche communications markets where we can leverage our network and resources to accelerate growth. Entering into this new market ensures opportunity for the CableCom group to accelerate WarwickNet’s business growth plans, giving the provider a wider support network to enhance its existing service offering.

This acquisition means more people than ever will benefit from the services both CableCom and WarwickNet have to offer, building on the services available to both client bases.”

Ben King, CEO of WarwickNet, said:

“CableCom’s acquisition of WarwickNet sees two very complimentary companies coming together to roll out innovative broadband solutions to an ever growing market. We are continually developing, extending and building to ensure our customers get the highest possible quality of service and we cannot wait to continue to develop our offering with CableCom.”

Apparently CableCom are keen to expand into the business connectivity sector and to boost their roll-out across the United Kingdom, which is something that WarwickNet’s team are certainly able to help with. On the flip side such acquisitions always raise a few concerns from existing customers, not least with regards to what it means for their services, prices and contracts.