TelecomTV

Netomnia Acquisition to Fuel Further Fibre M&A Deals – Nexfibre

NexFiber, the wholesale fiber arm backed by Infravia, Liberty Global and Telefónica, announced a £2 billion acquisition of Netomnia, a fast‑growing alt‑net with over three million homes passed. The deal is designed to lift NexFiber’s footprint from 2.6 million premises to nearly eight million by the end of 2027, creating the third‑largest challenger to BT Openreach in the United Kingdom. The transaction promises three core benefits: a £3.5 billion injection of new FTTH capital, an expanded network that will eventually combine with Virgin Media O2’s upgrade plans to cover 20 million premises, and immediate full‑fiber upgrades for millions of VMO2 customers still on HFC. NexFiber’s XGS‑PON‑only architecture differentiates it from BT’s GPON rollout, offering higher capacity and future‑proofing. Rajie Data highlighted the strategic fit, noting “a shot in the arm for UK fiber investment” and emphasizing that overlap between NexFiber and Netomnia is under 200,000 premises, simplifying integration. He expects regulatory clearance from the CMA by late summer, followed by a phased network merge. If successful, the combined platform will intensify competition, drive down prices, and improve service quality for consumers. It also signals the start of a broader consolidation wave among financially strained alt‑net operators, potentially reshaping the UK broadband landscape for years to come.