News

As well as news from INCA itself we are keen to include relevant news items from INCA members. Please send relevant items of news, ideally including a photo where relevant, to news@inca.coop. We'll publish news from members that we feel is of interest.

High Court ruling against full-fibre advertising standards disappointing

INCA calls for Government and Ofcom support to reduce fibre advertising confusion to ensure customers are fully informed

The High Court ruling against CityFibre in the challenge to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over fibre advertising is a disappointment to operators building full fibre networks, the Independent Network Co-operative Association (INCA) has said.

The ruling, delivered on Monday, dismissed CityFibre’s request for a Judicial Review of ASA’s decision that fixed line hybrid fibre connections containing copper, which are therefore slower, can be advertised as fibre broadband.

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First LFFN Wave 3 Winner Announced

Plymouth is the first of the Local Full Fibre Networks Challenge Fund Wave 3 projects announced and joins the successful Wave 1 and Wave 2 bidders, listed here.

As ISPReview reports the Plymouth project starts by connecting public sector buildings, with plans for this to become an anchor tenancy for a wider FTTP build-out in the city.

Other Wave 3 project announcements are expected shortly.

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Be Proactive on Business Rates

As INCA members will know, the Chancellor announced in his 2016 Autumn Statement that there was to be a moratorium on business rates on new fibre built and lit from April 1st 2017 for 5 years - til 2022. In Scotland this is in the process of being extended for 10 years.

In England and Wales this resulted in two pieces of legislation:

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Rural 5G Spectrum: Experiences & Futures

Our Rural 5G event in Lincoln on March 26, chaired by Daniel Heery (pictured above), brought together about 30 network operators, government officials and policymakers from around the country to discuss how 5G could be delivered more effectively in rural areas across the UK. The lessons coming out of the 5G Testbeds 5GRIT and 5G Rural First grounded the audience in the current practical experience and challenges of deploying systems. They also pointed tantalisingly at the applications for rural areas promised by a 5G rural future.

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Rural Gigabit Connectivity procurement

Alongside our series of events looking at the Rural Gigabit Future there are clear business opportunities for INCA members:

If you’re able to offer fibre intrastructure point-to-point for the public sector within the LFFN programe, you should be aware of the latest opportunity published by the Crown Commercial Service in co-ordination with DCMS.

The DCMS Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme has £200m to invest in fibre infrastructure for the public sector via a new Dynamic Purchasing System. It covers fibre infrastructure of all kinds: managed network services, connectivity, lit or dark fibre, ducts and streetworks. The procurement is to start in Q3 2019 and is currently in market engagement so there is still time for you to get involved as a supplier if you're quick.

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INCA Welcomes UK's Appearance on European Fibre League Table

INCA welcomes UK’s first ever appearance into European fibre broadband rankings, crediting altnets for their “significant contribution”

2019 FTTH/B Panorama recognition elevates UK broadband infrastructure to international status

INCA today praised alternative network operators for their significant contribution to the UK’s broadband infrastructure following the country’s inclusion in the FTTH Council Europe’s annual FTTH/B Panorama for the first time.

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Rural Gigabit Future Events Programme

INCA has been working with partners across local & national government and the private sector to put together a programme of six workshop events around the country to develop thinking around projects designed to bring full fibre connectivity to the hardest to reach locations.

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The Golden Touch: INCA launches 2019 Awards Programme

INCA Golds will recognise the best technical and commercial innovations, rural and urban impact and best community and public sector projects at annual ceremony

INCA today opened our call for entries into this year’s INCA Golds, the annual awards which shine a spotlight on the UK’s leading independent network providers and highlight the most innovative digital infrastructure developments.

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TrueSpeed, WightFibre and Hyperoptic receive first three accreditations in INCA’s Gold Standard Quality Mark Scheme

INCA today announced that TrueSpeed, WightFibre and Hyperoptic have become the first companies to gain Gold Standard Quality Mark accreditation in recognition of superior network quality.

Launched last November, INCA’s Gold Standard Quality Mark scheme highlights best practices in performance, design and operations across full fibre, hybrid fibre, wireless and wholesale networks, providing an agreed set of definitions, covering technology, performance and customer service.

TrueSpeed, WightFibre and Hyperoptic have now become the first companies to fulfil the stringent requirements set out by the INCA initiative with all three network operators receiving accreditation in the full fibre category.

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2019 Promises to be a Bright Year for the Altnets

The alternative network providers enter 2019 with great ambitions. The latest stats from Point Topic show that the altnets now reach well over 1m premises with full fibre connections and up to 2m mainly rural premises are in reach of a wireless broadband network. The key companies in the sector are all predicting significant growth over the next two years supported by more than £3bn of investment announced in 2018.

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News

INCA calls for Government and Ofcom support to reduce fibre advertising confusion to ensure customers are fully informed

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