Zayo, euNetworks, CityFibre, Virgin Form IIG

Four of the UK’s most aggressive alternative fiber builders have formed an alliance aimed at better influencing the regulatory environment in the country.  Zayo, euNetworks, CityFibre, and Virgin have created the Infrastructure Investors Group, or IIG, in advance of Ofcom’s announcements due later this week.

The four have a common interest in pro-competition and pro-investment policies.  In the regulatory world today, too often we hear only about two sides: the incumbents’ demands for a hands-off approach that allows them to guarantee return on investment, and the consumer/content side demanding net neutrality and infinite competition.

IIG and other competitive providers have to balance the two.  They are the challengers, and therefore need a level competitive playing field.  But they are investing significant capex, and need regulators to not crowd them while they do it.

It’s a frustration that I have encountered elsewhere as well among competitive telecoms with the persistent us-versus-them net neutrality debates.  The middle road is the obvious compromise, but getting either side to admit it can be quite a chore.

 

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Categories: Government Regulations · Metro fiber