SoGEA extends APFN footprint to 9.3m more UK premises. Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2026 - 11:30 AllPoints Fibre Networks (APFN) has today launched SoGEA, extending aquila's reach to areas not yet covered by full fibre following successful partner trials with Meraki, Triangle, F One Technologies and Nu Fibre. SoGEA brings a further 9.3 million UK premises within reach of the aquila platform. Combined with FTTP, that brings aquila's footprint to 32.9 million. The organisation states that this allows partners to migrate customers away from traditional landline-based services ahead of the PSTN switch-off in January 2027, without requiring a wait for full fibre availability. Nisreen El-Kaloush, CCO of AllPoints Fibre Networks, said: "The PSTN switch-off is imminent, and partners need practical ways to migrate customers today. SoGEA extends aquila's reach into areas that don't yet have full fibre, without adding complexity for partners." Related Topics

SHE Creates: transforming spaces, empowering lives through Indian art. Updated on Aug 13, 2026 Introduction. A home represents security, belonging, and the freedom to build a future. For many women, home ownership marks an important milestone that reflects independence, confidence, and new opportunities. Recognising this journey, IIFL Home Loans partnered with MeMeraki to create SHE Creates, an initiative that celebrates women through the language of Indian art. Bringing together traditional artisans, contemporary design, and meaningful storytelling, SHE Creates transforms corporate spaces into immersive artistic experiences. Every mural and installation reflects a different dimension of a woman's journey while creating opportunities for artisan communities across India. The initiative celebrates India's living craft traditions and demonstrates how art can inspire conversation, preserve heritage, and generate lasting social impact. A shared vision for art and empowerment. SHE Creates brings together the shared values of IIFL Home Loans and MeMeraki. While IIFL Home Loans champions women's financial independence and home ownership, MeMeraki contributes its expertise in Indian art, artisan collaborations, and cultural storytelling. The initiative was conceived as more than a series of artworks. It creates spaces where visitors engage with stories of resilience, aspiration, entrepreneurship, and belonging. Every installation reflects the belief that art can communicate complex social ideas in ways that feel personal, accessible, and memorable. By collaborating directly with master artisans and craft communities, MeMeraki ensures that each artwork remains rooted in tradition while responding to contemporary themes that resonate with today's audiences. Indian art as a living tradition. India's traditional art forms have long served as powerful mediums of storytelling. They preserve history, celebrate communities, and communicate ideas through colour, symbolism, and craftsmanship. SHE Creates builds upon this legacy by bringing these traditions into contemporary corporate spaces. Rather than presenting craft as an object of display, the initiative transforms it into an active conversation around women, identity, and home ownership. Every artwork reflects the unique language of its chosen craft while exploring themes that remain deeply relevant today. The result is a thoughtful balance between cultural heritage and contemporary design. Stories that celebrate women. SheBuilds. Concept. SheBuilds celebrates women as creators of homes, communities, and opportunities. Inspired by the growing movement of women embracing home ownership and financial independence, the mural presents women as confident decision-makers who shape the spaces around them. Artistic expression. The large-scale mural combines traditional Indian visual storytelling with contemporary urban imagery. Women appear alongside architectural landmarks, neighbourhoods, and everyday scenes that reflect the many roles they play as professionals, entrepreneurs, caregivers, and leaders. The composition connects the idea of building a home with building a future. Significance. SheBuilds challenges conventional ideas of ownership by placing women at the centre of the narrative. It celebrates their contributions to families, communities, and cities while reinforcing the belief that every home represents confidence, aspiration, and new beginnings. SHElter. SHElter explores the emotional relationship between women and the idea of home. It presents a home as a space of belonging, comfort, independence, and self-expression. Inspired by the layout of a traditional Indian home, the mural transforms each room into a visual story. Everyday spaces such as the entrance, living area, kitchen, and terrace become symbols of growth, resilience, and identity. The artwork draws upon traditional Indian folk art to celebrate familiar experiences through vibrant storytelling. The installation reimagines the home as a place where women shape memories, traditions, and aspirations. It highlights the many ways women redefine domestic spaces while creating environments that nurture both families and personal growth. SheEmpowers. Created by master terracotta artist Dolon Kundu, SheEmpowers celebrates women who preserve traditions while creating opportunities for future generations. The installation reflects the power of shared knowledge, mentorship, and entrepreneurship. Handcrafted terracotta panels are framed by two female faces representing different generations. Each sculpted panel narrates stories inspired by the artist's own experiences and the journeys of women artisans who have transformed inherited skills into sustainable livelihoods. "SheEmpowers" extends beyond artistic expression. It reflects the larger vision of SHE Creates by supporting artisan communities through capacity building, financial inclusion, and long-term opportunities that strengthen both craft traditions and women's entrepreneurship. Homes of Bharat. Homes of Bharat celebrates India's diverse architectural traditions and the wisdom embedded within vernacular housing practices. The installation explores how regional homes reflect local environments, cultural identities, and generations of indigenous knowledge. Crafted in terracotta, the artwork presents a map of India surrounded by architectural forms from different states. Every sculpted panel captures the distinctive materials, construction techniques, and design elements that define regional homes. Together, they create a visual archive of India's rich architectural heritage. The installation highlights the enduring relevance of vernacular architecture in contemporary conversations around sustainability and resilient design. By celebrating local craftsmanship and traditional building practices, Homes of Bharat encourages a deeper appreciation for the cultural and environmental wisdom that continues to shape homes across the country. Creating opportunities for artisan communities. The impact of SHE Creates extends well beyond the completed artworks. Every collaboration contributes to strengthening India's traditional craft ecosystem by supporting practising artisans and creating sustainable opportunities for growth. Working closely with master artists, MeMeraki develops projects that encourage long-term engagement with craft communities. As part of the initiative, support was extended to Dolon Kundu's terracotta craft cluster to strengthen production infrastructure and expand opportunities for women artisans. The programme also includes capacity building, financial inclusion initiatives, and skill development that enable artisans to build sustainable livelihoods while preserving generations of inherited knowledge. These efforts ensure that traditional crafts continue to flourish alongside contemporary creative practice. MeMeraki's role in preserving living craft traditions. At the heart of SHE Creates is MeMeraki's commitment to making Indian art accessible, relevant, and sustainable. Every project begins with collaboration. Designers, researchers, and artisans work together to develop concepts that honour traditional craftsmanship while responding to present-day ideas and spaces. By working directly with practising artists, MeMeraki creates opportunities for India's living craft traditions to reach new audiences without compromising their cultural authenticity. Each collaboration values inherited knowledge, encourages artistic innovation, and demonstrates the enduring relevance of Indian craftsmanship within contemporary environments. Through initiatives like SHE Creates, traditional art continues to evolve while remaining deeply connected to the communities that sustain it. Conclusion. SHE Creates demonstrates how meaningful collaborations can connect social impact, Indian craftsmanship, and contemporary design. Together, IIFL Home Loans and MeMeraki have created an initiative that celebrates women's journeys while strengthening the future of India's artisan communities. Every mural, installation, and artisan partnership contributes to a larger story of empowerment, heritage, and opportunity. By investing in both people and craft, SHE Creates transforms spaces into places of dialogue and ensures that India's artistic traditions continue to inspire future generations.