When the Network is Live, but Readiness and Returns Are Still Stranded

Trillions have been invested globally in laying fibre networks. Whilst coverage is expanding and networks are going live, plans are still progressing to connect harder-to-reach areas and turn “homes-passed” into “homes-connected”. But in most markets, coverage alone doesn’t guarantee business success – especially when readiness signals and operational workflows remain inconsistent. As a result, many operators find that the business case – and the ability to deliver predictable, high-performing services - still isn’t secure.

Recent research with 100 fibre broadband operator decision-makers across the UK – and insights from international markets – confirms what many already sense: networks are built, but the mechanisms that turn readiness into reliable service and revenue remain fragmented or unreliable.

The friction is no longer an abstract operational issue. As investors increasingly demand predictable returns, the pressure to prove cash conversion – not just coverage - is intensifying. Some are already fatigued by long payback cycles and constrained funding.

The challenge isn’t lack of ambition. It’s the gap between signals and outcomes – between knowing a service is ready and reliably turning that readiness into revenue, partner onboarding, or customer experience.

Why Now is Different

Consolidation is accelerating. Whether through mergers of challenger networks or incumbents scaling wholesale offers, the landscape is shifting. Owning more network capacity alone no longer guarantees success. Many operators report that even with strong coverage, a five- to seven-year payback is often cited as a target - before accounting for incremental investments.

In this environment, every day of provisioning delay is a day of lost revenue and a day of customer frustration. Every manual step adds risk and erodes margins. Every slow partner integration limits market share.

The default strategy – to rebuild core systems – is slow and expensive. But operators don’t need to start from scratch to improve readiness. They need infrastructure and systems that respond instinctively – listening to signals and triggering revenue and service pathways without disruption.

From Installed to Activated

The question isn’t whether the network is live. It’s whether the business – and the customer experience – are.

Part 1 of 5 in this Fibre Monetisation Playbook series. The next article, exploring the impact of slow activation on revenue, will be published on Friday 11 July 2025.