Fujitsu withdraws from broadband bidding

Fujitsu has withdrawn from two further areas being tendered under the £530m rural broadband delivery program, which is likely to raise further questions about the competitiveness of a process designed to roll out superfast broadband to most of the UK.

The Japanese company was one of only two picked to compete under the government framework to help allocate funds for remote broadband last week alongside BT. The process had attracted criticism from other potential infrastructure suppliers, most of which have pulled out. Fujitsu’s decision leaves BT as the only party that has so far won any regional tender since the Broadband Delivery UK process began, although the Japanese company remains committed to bidding in future. Decisions are being made at a local authority level, with many deciding to use a national framework designed to make bidding quicker. Fujitsu plans to withdraw from bidding for the Cumbrian region, while North Yorkshire is expected to choose BT as its preferred supplier, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, thus forcing Fujitsu to withdraw from that region too. BT is also the only group left bidding for areas that have not used the national framework, such as Wales and Highland & Islands, and has already been selected in Rutland and Lancashire.