From faster networks to new materials and major projects, fibre is shaping the future of connectivity.
Here, we explore the stories that made the biggest impact this year:
Vodafone Spain, MasOrange to form Europe’s largest fibre network company
This year, Vodafone Spain and MasOrange signed a binding agreement to launch a new fibre network company in Spain.
Having signed a non-binding agreement to work together last July, the pair have committed to creating a joint fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network in what could become the largest FibreCo in Europe.
According to a statement, the proposed FibreCo would cover 12.2 million sites across the country, providing FTTH services to over 4.5 million Vodafone Spain and MasOrange customers.
CityFibre rebuffs sale speculation, says growth plans on track
In June, CityFibre firmly rebuffed reports suggesting a potential sale, insisting it remains in a strong financial position with a funding announcement imminent to support its continued expansion and sector consolidation efforts.
At the time a CityFibre spokesperson told Capacity: “Any speculation about a potential sale is unfounded. CityFibre is in a strong position and we expect to announce details of our financing shortly, supporting our role in consolidating the sector and accelerating CityFibre’s next phase of growth.’
Nokia unveils new fibre-based LAN offering to boost business connectivity
In May, Nokia launched a new Local Area Network (LAN) solution, claiming to reduce ownership costs for businesses looking to modernise their connectivity by up to 50%.
At the time, the firm claimed its new fibre-based service requires up to 70% less cabling and 40% less power compared to traditional copper-based LAN networks, and boasts a lifespan of more than half a century.
Inside Zayo’s Crown Castle deal: DigitalBridge’s fibre head on why it’s critical for AI growth
Earlier this year, it was announced Zayo was reportedly leading the pack to acquire Crown Castle’s assets, including its fibre and small cell businesses, in a deal potentially valued at more than $8 billion.
However, months later, the long-running saga over who would acquire Crown Castle’s fibre assets recently came to a head after Zayo Group secured a $4.5 billion acquisition.
The deal is yet another strategic bet that aligns with the long-term vision of supporting the expanding AI and digital infrastructure ecosystem for Zayo’s parent DigitalBridge, according to Jonathan Friesel, senior managing director and head of fibre at DigitalBridge.
Insider Access: The move to open fibre networks
At ITW 2024, a panel discussion, titled The Move to Open Fibre Networks industry experts discussed the benefits, challenges, and future of this model across different regions.
Unlock the exclusive report here >>>
T-Mobile completes Lumos acquisition to power $950m US fibre
In April, T-Mobile completed its acquisition of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) provider Lumos, forming a joint venture set to bring full-fibre broadband to homes across the US.
The deal, announced last April, sees T-Mobile inject $950 million into the joint venture, with a further $500 million planned between 2027 and 2028 to support further expansion.
VodafoneThree teams with Community Fibre to become London’s largest full fibre broadband provider
In June, VodafoneThree unveiled a major strategic wholesale agreement with Community Fibre in a move that will significantly expand its broadband footprint across the capital.
The new partnership gives VodafoneThree, operating under the Vodafone brand for fixed services, access to Community Fibre’s extensive network, enabling it to offer full fibre broadband to up to 1.3 million London homes.
AT&T to acquire Lumen’s consumer fibre business in $5.75bn deal
In May, Lumen Technologies agreed to sell its Mass Markets fibre-to-the-home business to AT&T in a deal worth $5.75 billion.
How AWS built a ‘designed to fail’ network spanning 9 million kilometres of fibre
“By proactively designing for multiple unpredictable failures, we help customers maintain business continuity even during network disruptions,” AWS director of global connectivity infrastructure development (GCID), David Selby, wrote in a blog post.
As a result, this philosophy helps shape how the company plans, builds and protects the global infrastructure which keeps the internet running.
Metro Connect USA 2026
Welcome to Metro Connect USA, the largest event for digital infrastructure leaders in the United States. You are invited to join over 3,500 attendees from every sector of the US digital infrastructure market. From fiber optics to data centers, the event serves as a pivotal gathering for forging partnerships, securing funding, gaining insights into industry advancements, and getting deals done.
