- Strategic agreement includes built and work in progress fibre network assets, as well as new Project Gigabit contract
- The agreement enables the expansion of CityFibre’s nationwide footprint by up to 185,000 premises
- Connexin will extend its ISP and Smart Home services over the CityFibre network through a new nationwide wholesale agreement
24 March, 2025, London: CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, has today announced the acquisition of Connexin’s full fibre infrastructure, establishing a material foothold across Hull and East Riding and enabling the expansion of CityFibre’s footprint by up to 185,000 premises. The agreement will see Connexin’s shareholder, PATRIZIA’s European Infrastructure Fund II, become a minority shareholder in CityFibre.
The acquisition includes Connexin’s built network assets which currently pass more than 80,000 premises, as well as work in progress to a further 20,000 premises and options to extend further throughout Hull over time.
CityFibre will also take on Connexin’s Project Gigabit contract to rollout fast, reliable gigabit-capable broadband to over 34,000 hard-to-reach premises in Nottinghamshire and West Lincolnshire. This will become the tenth Project Gigabit delivery contract secured by CityFibre1 and will unlock a future expansion to over 50,000 non-subsidised premises in the target regions.
CityFibre will immediately begin integrating Connexin’s XGS-PON network to bring CityFibre’s market-leading wholesale products, pricing and services across the footprint. CityFibre expects to complete the integration later this year, further extending its nationwide network which already passes more than 4.4m premises.
The acquisition underscores CityFibre’s firm commitment to actively engaging in market consolidation as part of its nationwide rollout to more than 8 million premises. It follows CityFibre’s acquisition of Lit Fibre in May 2024, which was fully integrated in less than nine months, demonstrating CityFibre’s ability to integrate and commercialise acquired footprint to drive network growth.
Connexin will now expand nationwide, across CityFibre’s network, and build on its success in Internet of Things (IoT), including rolling out one of the UK’s largest LoRaWAN® (long range wide-area) networks and winning contracts for over 2 million smart water meters.
Greg Mesch, CEO of CityFibre, said: “Connexin has built an outstanding network and it’s a brilliant fit for CityFibre. Our mature wholesale model will now bring Hull’s homes and businesses increased choice and access to unrivalled connectivity products, services and prices. After our rapid integration of Lit Fibre’s network, we have demonstrated that this is an effective way to expand our footprint and we look forward to playing an active role in the sector’s accelerating consolidation in 2025.
“Given our major role in the government’s Project Gigabit rollout, we are also pleased to take on a further contract, delivering next-generation digital infrastructure for more hard-to-reach rural communities across Nottingham and West Lincolnshire.”
Furqan Alamgir, CEO of Connexin, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with CityFibre as we focus on our national growth strategy. This partnership will bring the best of our combined expertise to consumers and businesses alike across the UK.
“The next phase of our growth is tremendously exciting as we accelerate our focus on expanding our Smarter Home, Business, Enterprise, Public Sector and Utilities products and services across the UK, enabling these rapidly evolving markets to achieve ambitious goals through adopting smarter technology.”
Phoebe Smith, Managing Director, PATRIZIA Infrastructure, said: “This agreement is a great step forward for infrastructure competition in Hull. We’re delighted to be joining as CityFibre shareholders and to support its continued expansion and success as the UK’s leading full fibre wholesale platform.
“We’re very proud of everything Connexin has achieved, and we look forward to continuing to support its growth as a leading provider of LoRaWAN® and IoT infrastructure”
Cameron Barney Herbst Hilgenfeldt acted as financial advisor for Connexin. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe acted as legal advisor to Connexin. PwC supported CityFibre with financial and Tax due diligence. Bristows LLP acted as legal advisor to CityFibre. Cartesian acted as integration advisor to CityFibre.
ENDS
Media enquiries, please contact:
CityFibre: cityfibre@headlandconsultancy.com
Connexin: Hugh Davies – h.davies@connexin.co.uk / 07782 325 923
Anna Hennessy – anna.hennessy@ruderfinn.com / 07974 161137
Notes to editors
1 The nine Project Gigabit Lots won by CityFibre are:
- Cambridgeshire
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
- Hampshire
- Leicestershire and Warwickshire
- East and West Sussex
- Kent
- Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes
- East Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire
The first Project Gigabit customers in Cambridge, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampshire and Leicestershire and Warwickshire are already connected to CityFibre’s national network.
About CityFibre
CityFibre is the UK’s largest independent full fibre infrastructure platform, providing carrier-neutral digital infrastructure to its wholesale customers and enabling ultra-fast, reliable and futureproof broadband, Ethernet and 5G services to homes and businesses as well as schools, hospitals and GP surgeries. CityFibre’s full fibre network rollout targets at least a third of the UK market: more than 8 million premises.
As the UK’s most intelligent fibre network, CityFibre is trusted by major Internet Service Providers and mobile operators including TalkTalk, Three, Vodafone and Zen as well as a new generation of smaller regional ISPs dedicated to delivering full fibre broadband. In August 2024, Sky and CityFibre announced a long-term partnership that will see Sky launch broadband services on the CityFibre network.
CityFibre is owned by funds managed by Antin Infrastructure Partners, Infrastructure at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Mubadala Investment Company, Interogo Holding and Newlight Partners.
About Connexin
Connexin, established in 2006, is a UK-based smarter technology provider with industry-leading services across five areas: Home, Business, Enterprise, Public Sector and Utilities.
Passionate about bridging digital divides for all, Connexin was one of the first challenger brands to enter the Hull broadband market in 2022 and shook up the legacy local monopoly. Connexin also develops and operates award-winning smarter public sector and utilities infrastructure to enhance connectivity and improve quality of life. Connexin’s mission is to connect the digital world to the real world to improve the way we live.
With a commitment to innovation, the environment and a uniquely inspiring work culture, Connexin is trusted by Yorkshire Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent Water, Hull City Council and CBRE, and has won numerous high profile accolades including “UK’s Smartest Street”, “Digital Impact”, runner up in the 2024 “Fastest Growing Northern Tech Business”, “Sunday Time’s Best Place to Work”, and is a certified B-Corp.
Connexin’s headquarters are located in Hull, East Yorkshire, with a registered office in London.
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