New research from Vitrifi, a UK-based software company leading the charge in data-centric and intent-driven network operations, shines a spotlight on the pressing challenges faced by network operators. The study, which surveyed 100 senior decision-makers across incumbent and alternative network providers, found that slow activation and limited automation significantly impede efforts to monetise investments in fibre and next-generation connectivity.
A striking finding from the study was that a mere 3% of fibre broadband operators have fully embraced automation in service provisioning and activation. This results in manual processes continuing to dominate, adding operational costs and risking customer trust amidst rising competition.
"Automation is often treated as a checkbox exercise," said Oliver Happy, Head of Product at Vitrifi. The research emphasises not just the need for automation, but for a more strategic approach that prioritises operational signals leading to effective outcomes.
The most quoted barriers to monetisation are
- Slow provisioning and activation (37%)
- High customer-related operational costs (37%)
- Internal silos in operations (32%)
- Low customer demand (30%)
Seventy-five percent of operators reported that new customer connections even now take over four days to provision, with about 45% noting that it often exceeds a week. Although some level of automation is present, a third of respondents indicated processes still heavily rely on human intervention.
Automation has be signposted as the solution to these problems however research shows automating existing workflows without reconsideration how operation signals drive readiness can accelerate inefficiencies rather than resolve it.
Despite recognising these barriers, fewer than four in ten operators have plans to invest in automating provisioning and activation workflows in the next year. Instead, most operators are focusing on staff training (51%) and analytics enhancements (47%). This misalignment between operational urgency and investment could be detrimental, especially as funding cycles become restrictive and monetisation expectations from investors intensify.
Vitrifi offers a compelling vision in their Monetisation Playbook. This five-part series examines strategies such as modular overlays and real-time orchestration that ensure operators can enhance revenue-predictability without extensive overhauls.
"Fibre deployment is no longer the differentiator,” notes Happy. "Operators that can activate revenue at scale - without compromising customer experience - will set pace in an increasingly competitive market"
The study is detailed in the report Understanding the Monetisation Gap in UK Fibre Networks, which draws on data from 100 UK-based professionals across various sectors like strategy, delivery, and technology. Respondents repserents a mix of teir 1-4 operators. 48% serve over a million end-users with 71% deploying fibre for more than 5 years.
