Matthew Howett, founder and chief executive of telecoms research group Assembly said this “could well be the first domino to fall in terms of an altnet being bought by one of the big players.”
“The UK broadband market is set to enter an era of scaled connectivity challengers, after first a period of dominance from the incumbent followed by a proliferation of altnets,” he added.
TMT analyst at Assembly Research James Robinson told City A.M. that whilst the UK have harboured world-leading ambitions for regulating Big Tech, this is yet to materialise.
“With the DMU so far only operating in shadow form, we are playing catch up to the EU, which has seen the DMA and DSA both enter into force,” he said.
In a report published today, communications industry analyst Assembly showed that connectivity will play a huge part in the UK’s transition to carbon neutrality.
“The UK is rightly seen as having world leading ambition when it comes to addressing the climate crisis and achieving net zero,” Assembly’s principal analyst and founder Matthew Howett said. “The telecoms industry should be seen as a precious ally of the government given what connectivity can do for all verticals, but transport in particular.
“The pandemic has given us a glimpse of what is possible if we rely more on connectivity, it must now be central to our Covid-19 recovery and path to net zero.”
“Satellite has long been touted as a solution to bringing broadband to the hardest to reach parts of the country, but has often failed to live up to expectations given costs and problems with latency,” said Matthew Howett, principal analyst at Assembly Research, who added that the lower orbit of Oneweb and Starlink’s satellites “should go some way to reducing problems of latency”.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see partnerships emerge with others such as Starlink given BT and others will be looking for innovative ways to reach those remaining premises as part of their wider upgrade of the nation’s infrastructure.”
Matthew Howett, principal analyst at Assembly Research, said: “We’ve already seen something of a shift in that direction given the restrictions that they’ve faced by being unable to license the Android operating system from Google in the US.”
Howett added that global politics have had a “profound” impact on Huawei’s success, but the company seemingly remains resilient and observant of new business pathways despite the US’s “sustained attacks”.
The current political climate has “forced” Huawei to develop their own operating system, Harmony OS, which will be developed further throughout this year, Howett added.
Matthew Howett, principal analyst at Assembly Research, said: “The original target for 2025 was always an ambitious one, but crucially one that industry felt it could deliver with the right enabling regulatory environment.”
“While progress was made with that, a number of barriers still remain. To depart from the original target with four years still left to run suggests perhaps that mountains can’t be moved after all, and the remaining barriers are permanent ones.”
Imagination Technologies this week confirmed the appointment of telecoms veteran Simon Beresford-Wylie as its next chief executive, marking a new chapter for the British chipmaker.
Matthew Howett, principal analyst at Assembly Research, described Beresford-Wylie as a “well-liked” figure who was a “safe pair of hands”.
Delays to the government’s plan to roll out superfast broadband across the country could see the UK lose almost £30bn in economic benefits, according to research published today.
Telecoms analysts warned a 12-month delay to the 2025 target would mean the UK misses out on a £9.7bn boost to the economy, while a two-year setback would cost £28.7bn.
“Access to reliable, future-proof digital infrastructure for all isn’t a luxury, but now accepted as a necessity whether it’s used for work, education or play,” said Matthew Howett, principal analyst and founder of Assembly Research.
“Increasing investment in key digital infrastructure will provide the bounce-back and economic recovery the UK will desperately need in the months and years ahead.”
At telecoms giant Telstra’s October AGM, chairman John Mullen claimed all Australians would have access to high-speed internet at a “fraction of the cost” if the government had not proceeded with the project.
Matthew Howett, principal analyst at Assembly Research, agrees: “Only one other country in the world has gone down this route, and for a good reason. It’s hard, expensive and fraught with difficulty. Australia’s NBN is years late, massively over budget and offering speeds and technology a fraction of the original political aim.”
Matthew Howett, principal analyst at Assembly Research, said: “Only one other country in the world has gone down this route, and for a good reason. It’s hard, expensive and fraught with difficulty. Australia’s NBN is years late, massively over budget and offering speeds and technology a fraction of the original political aim.”
