COMMUNICA | Issue Four
John Henry Group’s Head Of Alternative networks, David Greenwood, speaks to BBC journalist
Waseem Mirza in Cambridgeshire after an alternative network provider brings fibre to the village.
even providing its own labour
support during the rollout and
construction of the new network.
Farmer dug trenches and villagers
laid their own fibre cables - the
example of such a feat has
even sparked major PR interest
from national newspapers and
publications which have near-
romanticised the ideology of
ebodiment of community spirit
- uptake from sales coming from
the media and PR exposure.
The spawning organisations
like B4RN, as well as other
entrepreneurial business models
for smaller new networks
subs equently proved to other
organisations that it was possible
to start a telecoms network and
deliver a Fibre-To-The-Premises
next generation, futureproof
network to meet the needs of the
consumer.
And thus, the ‘Alt-Net’ sector of
the telecoms market has begun to
carve out its path.
The spawning of organisations
like B4RN, as well as other
start-up entrepreneurial business
models were a litmus test to prove
it’s possible to start and grow your
own network.
Once an Alt-Net itself, CityFibre
has already grown to become
major players in the telecoms
market within the past three years
in terms of fibre footprint.
Alt-Nets run in all shapes and
sizes and operate with many
different business models outside
of the major UK operators.
Usually, their business models
work by highlighting gaps where
pure fibre networks could return
investment outside of BDUK
schemes, or by bettering existing
copper/hybrid networks with pure
fibre solutions to the premesis or
building.
There has been a distinct
evolution in provision in the
broadband market in the
past decade - with Alt-Nets
increasingly taking a larger share
of homeowner and business
custom.
John Henry Group has
established a special division to
work with Alt-Nets to assist in the
delivery of new network, which
has now grown to contribute 8%
to group turnover.
Alt-Nets are using a combination
of thought leadership, solid
commercial planning and
innovative and exotic technologies
from abroad to make their
business models successful.
Aside from this, Alt-Nets also
rely heavily on the relationship
with their contractual or service
partners to ensure commercial
efficacy is achieved, as with any
start-up, ensuring commercials
are met is vital is the company is
to make it through the first year of
trading.
Alt-Nets seeking construction
advice should email: enquiries@
johnhenrygroup.co.uk.
| 13