Point Topic says new money entering fibre broadband market

A host of new telecoms firms are aiming to build fibre optic broadband networks in the UK, according to Point Topic.

The organisation's regular survey of alternative super-fast infrastructure projects reveals a "second wave" of players have entered the market, including CityFibre, Gigaclear and Call Flow Solutions.

Hull-based incumbent KC has also begun upgrading parts of its network to offer fibre optic broadband services, while the likes of Network Rail, Balfour Beatty and Thales are getting involved through the Broadband Delivery UK framework.

These projects sit alongside the well-known fibre optic broadband deployments that are being conducted by BT and Virgin Media.

Annelise Berendt, senior analyst at Point Topic, commented: "What's encouraging on the private side is to see the way smaller firms are bringing new money into the business."

Despite the prevalence of fibre broadband network projects, Timico chief executive officer Trefor Davies recently claimed the UK is unlikely to meet its target of having the best super-fast broadband network in Europe by 2015.