There’s been huge expansion of fibre networks in my area of the UK, but I haven’t seen any new poles put up, apart from newly built housing estates maybe. All the fibre I’ve seen has been run using existing poles and conduits.
It seems there are shenanigans afoot in Hull. Most the telecoms network in the UK was formed into a single network decades ago, now privatised as Openreach. Except in Hull, which kept an independent network, which was also eventually privatised as KCOM. Openreach allow any other fibre provider to use existing cable infrastructure like poles and underground ducts, but according to this news article KCOM are not being so cooperative. So new fibre providers are having to install their own poles, often right next to existing ones. Planning rules have also been changed recently which means poles can be installed with minimal planning permissions needed.
Fibre has caused a lot of issues with aerial cables, years ago the focus was on going underground and making the network invisible but the race for fibre at a low cost has put poles everywhere.
Aerial in the British way (antenna) or aerial in the normal way (hung between spans)? If it’s former, then I’m going to say BS but if it’s the later I would like to know more - right of way issues?