Russian oligarch's UK broadband deal sparks calls for crackdown Mikhail Fridman's LetterOne is backing a £1bn plan by Upp to upgrade parts of the telecoms network in East Anglia 3 June 2021 • 6:00am Campaigners are calling for a crackdown on foreign deals with telecom companies following a major investment in UK broadband infrastructure by the Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman. Tory MPs and foreign policy experts said that greater scrutiny is needed after LetterOne, an investment company co-founded by Mr Fridman, announced that it is backing a £1bn plan by the broadband builder Upp to upgrade parts of the network in East Anglia.