Briant Broadband launches mobile service via data2go eSIM platform

The West Sussex Altnet has entered the mobile market using data2go's eSIM platform and success-sharing model to sidestep traditional launch costs.

By The Datatech Times Editorial Team AI level 2 of 5
AI level 2 of 5: drafted by our AI editorial assistant from the company's announcement; fact-checked, edited and signed off by Mark Walker, Editorial Director. What the levels mean
A bright data center aisle flanked by rows of black server racks with illuminated indicator lights, overlooked by multiple screens displaying colorful network graphs.

Briant Broadband, an independent Altnet and ISP based in Worthing, West Sussex, has launched Briant Mobile, a nationwide mobile service built on the eSIM platform operated by data2go.mobi. The partnership gives the provider national mobile coverage without requiring the physical SIM logistics and upfront infrastructure investment that have historically made mobile market entry prohibitive for smaller operators.

The launch reflects a broader strategic challenge facing the UK's Altnet sector. Regional fibre builders have invested heavily in last-mile infrastructure, yet their commercial relationships with households remain limited to broadband and, in some cases, VoIP. Mobile extends that relationship and creates additional subscription lines per household, improving both average revenue per user and churn resilience.

The deal

data2go's platform operates on a success-sharing commercial model, meaning Briant pays a proportion of revenue rather than a large upfront fee. The company did not disclose specific revenue-share terms or the underlying mobile network on which the service runs. Briant Mobile is available immediately with a range of data plans and eSIM activation, accessible at mobile.briantbroadband.com.

Adrian Bain, Managing Director of Briant Broadband, said: "data2go gave us a practical route into mobile. Its eSIM platform removed much of the operational complexity and allowed us to bring Briant Mobile to market quickly."

Chandru Mullaparthi, chief executive of data2go, described the Briant partnership as a template for the wider Altnet and ISP market, noting that the platform is also designed to support subscription businesses beyond traditional connectivity providers.

data2go.mobi is built and operated by Bluehouse Technology, a UK telecoms software company. The release did not disclose the size of data2go's existing customer base, the number of ISPs or Altnets already on the platform, or any financial metrics for the business.

Market context

The UK Altnet market has grown substantially since Openreach's wholesale fibre access obligations encouraged a wave of independent fibre builders. Providers such as Briant now compete on service breadth as well as network quality, and the quad-play bundle of broadband, TV, VoIP and mobile has long been seen as the most effective retention tool among larger operators.

eSIM-based mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) enablement is an increasingly crowded space, with a number of platform businesses targeting ISPs and enterprise customers who want to add mobile without obtaining their own spectrum or building a full MVNO stack. The data2go model sits within this category, competing with established MVNO enablement platforms from carriers and specialist wholesalers.

For Altnets, the economics of mobile add-on services are sensitive to wholesale access pricing from the host network. The UK's mobile market is served by four infrastructure operators, and MVNO wholesale rates remain a recurring area of scrutiny for Ofcom, which has been reviewing competition in fixed and mobile markets as part of its broader telecoms strategy.

The data2go platform's stated ambition to expand beyond Altnets into other subscription businesses suggests the company sees its commercial model as sector-agnostic, though the release offered no specifics on target verticals or a product roadmap beyond the current offering.

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