Nick Ashby

It's a frustration many of us who travel regularly by train in the UK know all too well: the battle with on-board Wi-Fi. As a long-time advocate for improved commuter connectivity, I find this issue particularly galling, not just for the personal inconvenience it causes, it highlights the vast economic opportunity it represents for the country. An excellent piece in The Sunday Times last month perfectly captures this frustration and, more importantly, lays out the staggering business case for fixing it. The numbers are compelling. Better train Wi-Fi could reportedly generate £376 million in annual productivity gains, with a potential Return on Investment of nearly £50 for every £1 spent. This isn't a marginal gain; it's a massive economic lever waiting to be pulled. The elegant solution has been on the table for years: run high-capacity fibre along the rail corridors. This would not only provide seamless connectivity for passengers but also upgrade critical signalling systems and help boost rural 5G coverage. Yet, despite multiple announcements, the plan continues to stall due to a baffling lack of priority in Whitehall. The article brilliantly concludes by quoting rail pioneer Robert Stephenson, who in 1856 called the telegraph an "indispensable companion" of the railways that did the work of an "additional line of rails" for a fraction of the cost. Some 169 years later, that same logic applies to fibre. It's time to move from re-announcements to real action and finally build the digital infrastructure our railways deserve. #RailConnectivity #DigitalInfrastructure #UKRail #Investment #Productivity #5G #Fibre #UKbusiness #DigitalBritain

117

69 Comments

Excited to be partnering with Ericsson and Nokia to support the delivery of world-class connectivity across the UK. Backed by a £11 billion investment, we’re building the UK’s best network and accelerating 5G Standalone (5G SA) to cover 99.95% of the population by 2034. Four British based site-build partners with extensive experience – Beacon Communication Services Limited, Circet Wireless Limited, M Group Limited and WHP Telecoms Limited – will accompany the technology partners, delivering vital work to enable the build across the UK.  Vodafone and Three customers are already feeling the benefits of the merger. Almost instantly, more than 7 million Three UK and SMARTY customers experienced a boost in 4G speeds (up to 40%) and, just three months in, millions of Vodafone and Three customers are automatically using each other’s network, providing access to roam at no extra cost. By the end of the year, this integration will remove a total of 16,500 sq/km of not-spots in the UK. https://lnkd.in/dbNs5tFC  #VodafoneThree #NationsNetwork #Connectivity #5GSA

897

11 Comments

Envirofone, one of the UK’s most established trade-in brands, has entered a new phase under fresh leadership and a renewed vision for growth. In July 2025, Matt Green and Sam Hargreaves successfully acquired Envirofone from SK TES, alongside their partner Lewis Cox. This latest move marks the start of Envirofone’s fourth corporate life. Envirofone will now operate as a separate entity from The iOutlet, with trade-ins and resale clearly divided. This structure allows for greater transparency, helping customers understand why resale values are often £ 100 higher than trade-in offers. Currently processing about 40,000 devices annually, Envirofone expects this number to rise significantly under the new leadership. The relaunch includes a full website overhaul, with outdated systems being replaced to deliver a modern, cost-effective, and customer-focused platform. Competition remains strong from Mazuma Business, musicMagpie, and Back Market, but Envirofone is confident that its legacy brand recognition will remain a key advantage. Looking ahead, international expansion is planned for 2026, with a potential re-entry into the European market. With over 35 years of combined industry experience, the new management team is aiming to restore Envirofone to its position as one of Europe’s leading trade-in brands. #Envirofone #SecondaryMobileMarket #RefurbishedTech #TradeIn

50

4 Comments

🥱 🔥 Dull but important post warning🔥 🥱 Following Allison Kirkby's remarks at #ConnectedBritain, our note today on the issue of likely business rate increases for network investment is a really important one for the UK #telecoms sector 📈 In an attempt to save the high street and leisure sectors, the government looks set to increase an already 50%+ tax on network investment - quite counter to the Labour manifesto pledge to incentivise it 💰 Business rates alone are already £1-2 on each Openreach and Virgin Media O2 line. Current plans allow for an extra 20% (or £100m+) to be billed, and a strong case from Openreach to pass this on through its regulated, cost-based pricing - ultimately hitting consumers 😵‍💫 Doubling down on a tax which also inhibits investment through creating uncertainty, significant market distortion, and constraining consolidation is difficult to square with the government's investment support in other areas of the sector (Building Digital UK (BDUK) and altnet support by the National Wealth Fund) 😟 CityFibre and many other altnets are likely to face rapidly escalating charges as the business rates valuations catch up with their recent investment. These could easily be even higher than the £1-2 a line faced by the established players currently, putting a very significant dent in their already fragile finances. We very much doubt that business plans allow for this - certainly Ofcom's model altnet financials don't, citing TOTAL operating costs per line of just £3 Enders Analysis subscribers can read our full note here https://lnkd.in/e32aq_uY Labour Digital BT Group James Barford Artemis Loynes Henry Millen

82

10 Comments