Giganet, launched just over a year ago to shake up the broadband market, claims to cover 9 million homes
Giganet has acquired Cuckoo, which has twice been voted the UK’s best broadband provider for customer service by MoneySavingExpert. The two say they will prioritise service and customer experience as the roll-out of full fibre accelerates. Both providers have criticised other suppliers for so-called loyalty taxes, whereby existing customers pay more than new ones, and mid-contract price hikes. They promise not to increase charges during a contract, with prices frozen until 2023.
Cuckoo will become the main consumer brand for Giganet’s residential customers, while Giganet will continue as the brand for enterprise customers, a sector the firm is keen to expand.
Gigabit itself became part of Fern Trading in May 2021, and while previously Giganet had relied on the networks of BT’s access arm, Openreach, and CityFibre offer services, Fern Trading pumped £250 million into the business for it to build out its own fibre infrastructure as well. Gigabit started in the southern and south-western counties of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and West Sussex, with particular focus on local and rural communities, with an initial goal of passing 300,000 homes and businesses.
Fern Trading is in turn owned by Octopus Investments, which at the time of the Gigabit acquisition had invested in fibre networks in the UK via Jurassic Fibre in Devon, Swish Fibre (in which Fern Trading also invested £250 million and which operates in the south of England) and Vorboss, which offers fibre to big firms and business premises in London.
Alexander Fitzgerald, CEO, Cuckoo stated, “Cuckoo’s expertise lies in building brilliant customer experiences…Giganet are experts in building and running networks. Together we will deliver faster, cheaper, and better broadband for millions. And we’re only just getting started.”