Smallworld Cable

Smallworld Cable was the consumer-facing identity of a regional cable telecommunications business serving parts of western Scotland and northwestern England. The business began in 2001 as Omne Communications, founded by former employees of BT and NTL. It entered the local television market after receiving a local delivery service licence from the Independent Television Commission, and its television service launched in December of that year. The company encountered financial difficulty early in its existence. Omne Communications entered administration in May 2002. In February 2003, CLS Holdings, the owner of WightCable, acquired a 76 percent interest for £4.1 million, preventing the operation from closing. The business was subsequently renamed WightCable North, reflecting its relationship to the WightCable operation while distinguishing it geographically. CLS Holdings sold the business in January 2006 to Netfonics, reportedly at a loss, and the company adopted the Smallworld Media name in March 2007. In December 2009, the brand became Smallworld Cable and introduced a new visual identity. At that point it operated its own hybrid fibre-coaxial cable network and positioned itself as a regional triple-play provider. Its core consumer proposition combined broadband, digital television and fixed-line telephone services. The network covered communities including Irvine, Dreghorn, Troon and Kilmarnock in the west of Scotland, as well as Carlisle, Lancaster and Morecambe in northwest England. The company was reported to serve more than 40,000 homes. Smallworld’s broadband portfolio included several cable-network speed tiers. By late 2013, the advertised download options were 25 Mbit/s, 50 Mbit/s and 100 Mbit/s, while ADSL services were available outside the cable footprint. The company marketed its infrastructure as fibre broadband, although customer access used a hybrid fibre-coaxial architecture. It also offered optional wireless home-network equipment and commonly included standard installation when broadband was purchased in a bundle. The television service carried more than 120 channels, including local terrestrial channels and subscription services such as Sky Sports and Sky Movies. Customers could add multiroom viewing. Fixed-line telephone services included caller identification, call forwarding and voicemail, with free local calls available to cable telephone customers in the company’s service area. Smallworld Cable also maintained a local commercial profile through its sponsorship of Kilmarnock F.C.’s main shirt. The business changed its name to Smallworld Fibre in early 2013, reflecting the industry’s growing emphasis on fibre-based broadband terminology. On 3 February 2014, Virgin Media acquired Smallworld Fibre for an undisclosed amount. During 2014, the Smallworld network was integrated into Virgin Media’s operations. Virgin Media discontinued the Smallworld Fibre brand in December 2014 and transferred customers to the Virgin Media network. The brand is therefore defunct, although elements of its network and customer base continued under Virgin Media.

Smallworld Cable originated in the summer of 2001 as Omne Communications, a regional telecommunications venture established by former employees of BT and NTL. Its initial business model was based on deploying and operating a local cable network capable of supporting several consumer services. The company received a local delivery service licence from the Independent Television Commission and launched its television service in December 2001. The new business soon experienced financial pressure. Omne Communications entered administration in May 2002, creating a risk that its network and local services would disappear. On 1 February 2003, CLS Holdings, whose telecommunications interests included WightCable, acquired a 76 percent stake for £4.1 million. The investment preserved the company and provided a new ownership structure. Later in 2003, the business was renamed WightCable North. WightCable North remained a regional cable operator rather than a nationwide telecommunications company. Its network and customer base were concentrated in western Scotland and the northwest of England. In January 2006, CLS Holdings sold the company to Netfonics. The sale was reported as having been made at a loss of £2.1 million for CLS Holdings. In March 2007, the operation adopted the Smallworld Media name, beginning a further phase of brand development. In December 2009, the company became Smallworld Cable and introduced a new logo. The rebrand coincided with investment in its network. Smallworld announced that core network upgrades had been completed and that it intended to introduce faster 50 Mbit/s broadband using DOCSIS 3.0 technology. The same announcement noted that the company had connected Dreghorn, adding roughly 1,200 homes to the potential customer base. The business continued to expand and promote an integrated bundle of broadband, television and fixed-line telephone services. Smallworld’s network used a hybrid fibre-coaxial design: fibre was used in the network distribution system, while coaxial cable served the final customer connection. The company nevertheless marketed its broadband using fibre-oriented language, reflecting the competitive importance of higher-speed connectivity. By December 2013, its cable broadband range included 25 Mbit/s, 50 Mbit/s and 100 Mbit/s download tiers. ADSL was available where customers were outside the cable footprint. Optional wireless home-network kits were also offered, and installation was generally free when broadband was purchased with other services. The television business carried more than 120 channels, including local terrestrial services and paid programming such as Sky Sports and Sky Movies. Multiroom viewing was available for an additional charge. The fixed-line telephone product included caller identification, call forwarding and voicemail. Smallworld also promoted free local calls for cable telephone customers in its local operating area, which included parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and a large section of northern England according to its service description. The company had more than 40,000 homes in its coverage area and maintained local visibility through its main shirt sponsorship of Kilmarnock F.C. In early 2013, the company changed its name from Smallworld Cable to Smallworld Fibre. The new name placed greater emphasis on the broadband infrastructure and followed the market’s increasing use of fibre terminology. The final corporate turning point came on 3 February 2014, when Virgin Media acquired Smallworld Fibre for an undisclosed fee. Virgin Media merged the network into its own operation during 2014. In December of that year, Virgin Media ended the Smallworld Fibre brand and moved customers onto the Virgin Media network. The Smallworld identity subsequently ceased to operate as an independent consumer telecommunications brand.

1. 2014Acquisition by Virgin Media

   Virgin Media acquires Smallworld Fibre and integrates its network into the Virgin Media operation.

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2. 2014Brand discontinued

   Virgin Media retires the Smallworld Fibre brand and transfers customers to its own network and branding.

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3. 2013Smallworld Fibre name adopted

   The company changes its name from Smallworld Cable to Smallworld Fibre.

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4. 2009Smallworld Cable identity introduced

   The company rebrands as Smallworld Cable and introduces a new logo.

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5. 2009DOCSIS 3.0 upgrade announced

   Smallworld announces network upgrades and plans for 50 Mbit/s broadband, while extending its network to Dreghorn.

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6. 2007Smallworld Media rebrand

   WightCable North adopts the Smallworld Media name.

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7. 2006Sale to Netfonics

   WightCable North is sold by CLS Holdings to Netfonics.

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8. 2003CLS Holdings acquires control

   CLS Holdings acquires 76 percent of Omne Communications for £4.1 million, and the company is later renamed WightCable North.

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9. 2002Administration

   Omne Communications enters administration.

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10. 2001Omne Communications is founded

    Former BT and NTL employees establish Omne Communications as a regional cable telecommunications company.

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11. 2001Television service launches

    The company launches television services after receiving a local delivery service licence from the Independent Television Commission.

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A regional, own-network triple-play telecommunications provider competing through bundled broadband, television and fixed-line telephone services in underserved local markets.

• Cable broadbandBroadband internet

  Smallworld supplied broadband over its hybrid fibre-coaxial cable network. By late 2013, the principal cable-network download tiers were 25 Mbit/s, 50 Mbit/s and 100 Mbit/s. ADSL services were available outside the cable footprint. Customers could purchase wireless home-network equipment for an additional fee, and installation was commonly included when broadband formed part of a bundle.

• Digital cable televisionPay television2001

  The digital television service was delivered over Smallworld’s cable network and offered more than 120 channels. The line-up included local terrestrial channels and subscription programming such as Sky Sports and Sky Movies. Multiroom viewing was available as an additional service.

• Fixed-line telephoneTelephony

  Smallworld’s fixed-line telephone service was available to customers within its cable network. Features included caller identification, call forwarding and voicemail. The company also offered free local calls to cable telephone customers in its local service area.

• Triple-play bundlesTelecommunications bundle

  The company’s principal consumer proposition combined broadband, digital television and fixed-line telephone services over a single local cable network. Bundling supported the company’s positioning as a full-service regional alternative to larger national providers.

• 2014Acquisition and network integration by Virgin MediaM&A

  Smallworld Fibre operated a regional network serving more than 40,000 homes across parts of Scotland and northwest England.

  What changed. Virgin Media acquired Smallworld Fibre for an undisclosed fee and merged the network into its own operation.

  Aftermath. Virgin Media discontinued the Smallworld Fibre brand in December 2014 and transferred customers to the Virgin Media network.

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• 2013Rebrand as Smallworld FibreStrategy

  The company operated in a market where fibre-oriented broadband terminology was increasingly important to consumer positioning.

  What changed. Smallworld Cable changed its name to Smallworld Fibre.

  Aftermath. The new identity lasted until Virgin Media acquired the business in 2014 and later retired the brand.

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• 2009Upgrade to DOCSIS 3.0 broadbandGeneration change

  Smallworld Cable had completed upgrades to the core network and sought to increase the speeds available across its cable footprint.

  What changed. The company announced plans to roll out 50 Mbit/s broadband using DOCSIS 3.0 technology and expanded service to Dreghorn.

  Aftermath. The upgrade supported the company’s higher-speed broadband proposition and increased the number of homes within its network reach.

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• 2014Smallworld Fibre is acquired by Virgin Media

  Virgin Media acquired Smallworld Fibre for an undisclosed amount and merged its network into the Virgin Media operation during 2014.

  M&A
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• 2014Virgin Media retires the Smallworld Fibre brand

  Virgin Media discontinued the Smallworld Fibre identity and migrated viewers and customers to the Virgin Media network.

  Other
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• 2009Smallworld Cable announces network upgrades and planned 50 Mbit/s service

  The company announced completion of core network upgrades and plans to roll out faster 50 Mbit/s DOCSIS 3.0 broadband. It also connected Dreghorn, adding approximately 1,200 homes to the network footprint.

  Product generationProduct launch
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• 2006WightCable North is sold to Netfonics

  CLS Holdings sold WightCable North to Netfonics, ending its ownership of the regional cable company.

  M&A
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• 2003CLS Holdings acquires a controlling stake in Omne Communications

  CLS Holdings, through its WightCable interests, acquired a 76 percent stake in the business for £4.1 million and helped preserve the operation.

  M&A
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• 2002Omne Communications enters administration

  The company entered administration less than a year after its launch, placing the regional cable operation at risk of closure.

  Bankruptcy
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1. Smallworld Cable