UK provider, Neos Networks has completed a key stage of its Project Edge network expansion programme.
Project Edge was launched in 2013 as part of the company’s plans to expand the reach of its UK fibre network. It is also designed to help facilitate the roll-out of a new wave of advanced 5G services for Three UK’s mobile network.
As part of this recent milestone, Neos said it has hit the target of unbundling approximately 550 BT exchanges before the end of 2021, bringing up to 100Gb/s high capacity fibre connectivity within reach of almost 750,000 business postcodes across the length and breadth of mainland UK. It means that the firm will reach a full fibre footprint of more than 34,000km before the end of the year.
In the last year, Neos confirmed that it had unbundled more than 300 BT exchanges in order to hit its target, despite the complexities and challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic and periods of national lockdown. The company’s UK network is designed to improve and enhance connectivity for its business customers—including wholesalers, network operators, AltNets, and ISPs, as well as a wide range of public sector organisations and enterprises. All the unbundled exchanges will be available via the company’s LIVEQUOTE portal which provides prospective customers with a quoting, ordering and price comparison service matching its own network against leading third-party offerings.
Colin Sempill, CEO of Neos Networks said: ‘We’ve hit our 2021 target slightly ahead of schedule and that represents a great leap forward for our company and our vision to be the premier supplier of B2B focused infrastructure in the UK. But it cannot stop there, and Project Edge will continue to reach out to help UK businesses access full fibre, high-speed, high-capacity connectivity on their doorsteps. During 2022 I would expect the number of unbundled BT exchanges to continue to climb towards 700, and we will also look to target last-mile fibre connectivity in key regional business hubs.’
