EU approves TCGL and DigitalBridge UK fiber transactions

The European Commission has approved a proposed concentration involving DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (U.S.) and Truespeed Communications Group Limited (TCGL, U.K.), controlled by Aviva Plc. The transaction, notified on February 18, 2026, grants TCGL and DigitalBridge joint control over entities including County Broadband Limited, Freedom Fibre Limited, and Truespeed Communications Limited, all operating in the U.K. fiber market. This move aligns with broader efforts to expand high-speed broadband infrastructure across the region.

Separately, DigitalBridge and its partners, Advencap and Soho Square Capital, agreed to sell their stake in Netomnia—a U.K.-based wholesale fiber operator—to a consortium led by InfraVia Capital Partners, Liberty Global, and Telefónica. The $2.7 billion acquisition aims to consolidate the U.K. fiber market, with the combined entity, Nexfibre, expected to pass 20 million premises through its expanded network. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals but underscores growing private-sector investment in digital infrastructure.

These developments reflect the U.K.'s push to meet its Digital Decade targets, with full fiber networks seen as critical to economic competitiveness and sustainability. Private investment has already funded €120 billion in European FTTH deployment, though challenges persist in rural areas where costs remain high. The EU's approval of the TCGL-DigitalBridge deal signals confidence in market-driven solutions to bridge connectivity gaps while maintaining competitive dynamics in the sector.

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