Undercurrent.
Explore / Infrastructure

Telecoms

UK telecoms infrastructure — broadband, mobile spectrum, and the companies that control them.

Start here. Follow your curiosity.

Explore connections ↗
01

The Garden Hose

Nearly three quarters of Britain's potential direct transatlantic capacity sits in two cables landing at Bude. The British state owns neither and cannot command a sovereign repair ship.

02

The Pipe Under Your Street

When you switch broadband provider, nothing physical changes. Same cable, same cabinet, same exchange. You just changed who sends you the bill.

03

The Invisible Grid

The UK government made £22.5 billion selling thin air — then the operators couldn't afford to build the network.