The role of the law in greasing the wheels of the nation's full fibre and 5G roll outs has been underscored by the expansion of Trenches, a legal eagle specialising in the comms sector.
The wayleave and telecoms law specialist, which was founded two years ago, witnessed 300% growth in 12 months and forecasts a 500% hike in turnover in its next financial year.
These climbing figures are reflective of the transformation under way in the telecoms sector which is driving demand for outsourced wayleave services, according to Trenches head honcho Sharon McDermott, a lawyer with almost 20 years industry experience.
"The UK still lags behind many of our European neighbours when it comes to full fibre coverage, but with Government targets for the majority of the population to be covered by 5G by 2027, we are seeing the country’s FTTP infrastructure now evolving faster than ever before," stated McDermott.
“This is not only a world we know a lot about, but one I am passionate about, not least because I was involved in Virgin’s Project Lightning.
"I saw first-hand the challenges that operators face in both urban and rural areas, and this was the reason for setting up Trenches.
“I want to share our experience and legal acumen so that Trenches can help operators build as many premises as possible, whether they need to rely on the Electronic Communications Code or not."
Trenches' clients include TalkTalk, WightFibre, toob and Virtual1. It also acts as a legal specialist for firms such as Luminet.
The company has just opened its third office in Odiham, north Hampshire, adding to existing bases in east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
As part of its expansion Trenches appointed Terry Daniell as Operations Director to oversee the strategic acquisition of wayleaves. His experience includes a total of 25 years working for Virgin and BT.
McDermott added: “The world of tech is complex and multi-layered; and sometimes it’s important to know when to push boundaries.
"Whether we’re managing disputes, reviewing tenders or negotiating contract terms, our focus is to maximise revenue while minimising risk.
"Clients need legal counsel that helps them approach every problem or opportunity strategically, so they can keep moving in this fast-paced environment."