09 Nov 2021

United Living enters 5G space with GBC acquisition

Construction group United Living has announced plans to expand into the telecoms sector with a focus on 5G having acquired telecoms infrastructure business Great British Communications (GBC).

GBC is a specialist provider of procurement, build and repair services to mobile network operators across the UK.

According to United Living, GBC will maintain its branding and ongoing service commitments following the strategic acquisition. GBC has supported a number of major telecoms rollouts across 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G alongside partners including Nokia, Ericsson, British Land, Three UK, EE, Vodafone and O2.

United Living has completed on the construction of 1,325 homes in the past year with a forward construction portfolio including plans to deliver 311 residential apartments on behalf of The Guinness Partnership at Points Cross in Leeds and a £17m housing scheme at Aviation Lane in Burton-on-Trent.

United Living chief executive Neil Armstrong said “This acquisition opens up exciting new opportunities for us. It will complement our existing utility infrastructure services and provides us with a platform to further grow within the telecoms space.

“5G is a multi-billion-pound market for the UK and is socially and economically transformative for the communities we serve. Artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and the Internet of Things, to name a few, are all reliant on better connectivity, which 5G helps support. We welcome the GBC team to United Living and look forward to supporting them as they go from strength to strength.”