Draft:Grain Connect
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| Submission declined on 10 April 2025 by JBW (talk). Wikipedia is not a medium for marketing, promotion, or advertising. Declined by JBW 6 months ago. | |
| Submission declined on 19 October 2024 by CFA (talk). This draft's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article. In summary, the draft needs multiple published sources that are:
This submission does not appear to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. Entries should be written from a neutral point of view, and should refer to a range of independent, reliable, published sources. Please rewrite your submission in a more encyclopedic format. Please make sure to avoid peacock terms that promote the subject. Declined by CFA 12 months ago. | |
| Submission declined on 17 September 2024 by Miminity (talk). This submission appears to read more like an advertisement than an entry in an encyclopedia. Encyclopedia articles need to be written from a neutral point of view, and should refer to a range of independent, reliable, published sources, not just to materials produced by the creator of the subject being discussed. This is important so that the article can meet Wikipedia's verifiability policy and the notability of the subject can be established. If you still feel that this subject is worthy of inclusion in Wikipedia, please rewrite your submission to comply with these policies. Declined by Miminity 13 months ago. | |
| Submission declined on 16 September 2024 by GrabUp (talk). This submission appears to read more like an advertisement than an entry in an encyclopedia. Encyclopedia articles need to be written from a neutral point of view, and should refer to a range of independent, reliable, published sources, not just to materials produced by the creator of the subject being discussed. This is important so that the article can meet Wikipedia's verifiability policy and the notability of the subject can be established. If you still feel that this subject is worthy of inclusion in Wikipedia, please rewrite your submission to comply with these policies. Declined by GrabUp 13 months ago. | |
Comment: I do not see any improvements. In fact, the draft has gotten more promotional with the addition of "Reception / Media coverage". After this many resubmissions, I do not believe this topic is suitable for Wikipedia. Fancy Refrigerator (talk) 18:05, 14 October 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: Still excessively promotional, and still relies on too many references to trivial announcements and statistics. Everything from "History" to "Corporate affairs" could be condensed into 1-2 paragraphs and all the routine announcements removed. WeirdNAnnoyed (talk) 12:20, 3 September 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: Routine announcements do not count towards notability per WP:ORGTRIV. C F A 💬 22:18, 19 October 2024 (UTC)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry |
|
| Founded | July 19, 2016 in Carlisle, UK |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Key people | Sean Williams, Director. Richard Cameron, CEO. |
| Products | |
| Website | www |
Grain Connect Ltd is a British telecommunications company and alternative network provider (altnet) offering full fibre broadband and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. Founded in 2016, the company is headquartered in Carlisle, England, and operates its own Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across urban areas and new-build housing developments throughout the United Kingdom.
History
[edit]Grain Connect's origins trace back to 2013, when telecommunications company Solway Communications trialled a full fibre broadband service at Story Homes' Crindledyke development in Carlisle, England.[1]
The company was incorporated with Companies House on 19 July 2016 under the name FIBRE UN LIMITED, as a joint venture between Solway Communications and Pinnacle Group.[2] It was renamed Grain Connect Limited in January 2017.
Grain Connect was established during a period of increasing demand for gigabit-capable broadband services. In 2016, the average UK download speed was approximately 15 Mbps, placing the UK 20th globally for broadband speeds.[3]
The company’s first new-build development project was launched in Countesswells, Aberdeen in 2017.[4]
In 2019, Grain secured a £10 million investment from Albion Capital to support its growth and network expansion.[5] The company began extending its network into urban areas in 2020, starting with Carlisle.
Following a year-long trial, Grain expanded its rollout to twelve additional towns including Barrow, Blackburn, Accrington, Scarborough, Leicester, Grimsby, Hartlepool, Bradford, Oldham, Manchester, and Newcastle.[6]
In 2021, Grain received a further £75 million investment from Equitix[7] to accelerate its full fibre rollout in the UK.
By 2022, the company had connected 100 new-build developments[8] and secured a £40 million funding facility from Nord Bank to support further expansion.[9]
In May 2024, FibreProvider reported that Grain Connect had connected its 30,000th customer to its network, which spans over 50 UK towns and cities.[10]
In 2025, Grain announced a £225 million funding agreement managed and advised by HPS Investment Partners, LLC, to continue network deployment and customer growth.[11] [12]
Network
[edit]Grain Connect operates a Point-to-Point (PTP), Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network. As of the second quarter of 2024, the company reported over 30,000 connected customers.[13]
Services
[edit]Residential broadband
[edit]Grain Connect provides broadband services to residential customers via its own FTTP infrastructure.
Business broadband
[edit]The company offers broadband services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and landlords. For larger organisations, including those located on business parks, Grain provides Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) — a dedicated internet connection comparable to a leased line.
Operations
[edit]Grain Connect’s headquarters are located in Carlisle, Cumbria. In November 2021, the company relocated to larger premises in the Kingstown area of Carlisle to accommodate its growing workforce.
Corporate affairs
[edit]Senior management
[edit]Sean Williams was appointed as a company director in February 2019.[14] Richard Cameron[15] was appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in April 2021.[16]
Reception / Media coverage
[edit]Grain Connect has received positive coverage from industry media and investment analysts, highlighting its network strategy, service quality, and growth.
Independent reports note the company’s approach to network deployment, emphasising that Grain builds its own fibre infrastructure rather than relying on incumbent operators’ ducts and poles. Rory Gallivan of IonAnalytics stated:
“Grain is not going down [the route of using incumbents’ ducts and poles] … opting instead to build its own network from scratch.”[17]
Investment and legal publications have described Grain as a significant player in the UK alternative network market. A Shoosmiths press release, covering the £75 million investment from Equitix, described Grain Connect as:
“A leading provider of fibre-optic internet access services largely to new-builds as well as existing homes, working with developers in well over 100 locations across the UK.”[18]
ISPreview highlighted the company’s network expansion, noting:
“Grain currently has significant coverage in areas including the North East, North West and the Midlands … Grain’s network already serves communities across the North East, North West, and the Midlands.”[19]
Financial and industry reporting has also noted Grain’s investment-backed growth. TelcoTitans observed:
“Grain Connect claims positive earnings in its most recent quarter, with positive cash flow to follow in 2026. Altnet’s strategy of front-loading …”[20]
Consumer-focused media has noted Grain’s service rollout and competitive offerings. ThinkBroadband reported:
“The footprint mapped so far is around one third of Saltburn at 1,047 premises … packages start at £19.99 per month and early sign-ups can get up to three months free service.”[21]
Corporate press releases and advisory firms have reinforced the company’s scale and efficiency. A PwC statement summarised the Equitix investment:
“Equitix’s investment … will support Grain’s rollout ambitions to reach an initial 300,000 homes and businesses across Great Britain. Established in 2016, Grain delivers high-quality fibre broadband solutions predominantly to new build sites as well as existing homes using an innovative self-deployed FTTP network.”[22]
Equitix also highlighted operational efficiency, stating:
“Benchmarking data shows Grain’s build and connection costs are 47% lower than the next most efficient provider, and its operating cost per customer is 60% below the market average.”[23]
See also
[edit]- Fibre-to-the-Premises
- Broadband in the United Kingdom
- List of broadband providers in the United Kingdom
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "New Homes at Crindledyke Farm get fastest UK broadband". 13 November 2013.
- ^ "MNOCHROME LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK".
- ^ https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2016/12/average-uk-internet-speeds-hit-15mbps-world-rank-falls-20th.html [bare URL]
- ^ "Private sector investment brings UKs fastest broadband to Aberdeen". 18 April 2017.
- ^ "Grain Connect moves to the next level for UK full-fibre broadband installation programme". 5 November 2019.
- ^ "50 Years Ago: Barry traders appeal to council". 24 October 2020.
- ^ "Grain Prep GBP175m Plan for Large UK FTTP Broadband Rollout". 5 August 2021.
- ^ https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252508270/Grain-expands-fibre-network-as-CityFibre-hits-gigabit-roll-out-accelerator [bare URL]
- ^ "Huge £130m Boost for Grain's UK FTTP Broadband Rollout". March 2023.
- ^ "Grain hits 30,000 customer milestone". Fibre Provider. 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ^ "Grain secures £225m in quest to pass one million premises". Fibre Provider. 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ^ Jackson, Mark (2025-07-22). "Grain Secures £225m Funding to Accelerate UK Full Fibre Broadband Rollout". ISPreview UK. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ^ "Grain Reaches 30,000 Connected Customers on Their Full Fibre Network - Fibre News". 22 May 2024.
- ^ https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/WevcmnpDzMVXt-MvBuHRDI9BB-Y/appointments [bare URL]
- ^ Vassell, Lloyd (2024-06-12). "Grain Connect: the economics of an altnet". ION Analytics. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ^ https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/mi6YBQmKEDpQvJMmIEm6w1pEb2k/appointments [bare URL]
- ^ Vassell, Lloyd (2024-06-12). "Grain Connect: the economics of an altnet". ION Analytics. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ^ "Shoosmiths advises Equitix on £75m investment in fibre broadband provider Grain Connect". www.shoosmiths.com. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ^ Jackson, Mark (2025-07-22). "Grain Secures £225m Funding to Accelerate UK Full Fibre Broadband Rollout". ISPreview UK. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ^ Doran, Neal. "Cost leadership key as UK FibreCo Grain sows seeds of profitability". TelcoTitans.com. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ^ Ferguson, Andrew (2025-05-20). "Grain Connect available to a third of Saltburn". thinkbroadband. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ^ kirsten.loughman@edmondselder.com (2025-07-22). "Equitix-backed Grain secures £225 million funding boost to accelerate network expansion". Equitix. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
- ^ kirsten.loughman@edmondselder.com (2025-07-22). "Equitix-backed Grain secures £225 million funding boost to accelerate network expansion". Equitix. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
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