Fujitsu to support i3 Group with delivery of UK’s largest fibre to the home initiative
7/26/2010Milestone to support connection of one million homes to Fibrecity network within four years
Fibre optic infrastructure specialist i3 Group has signed a multi-million pound contract that will see Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Ltd support the company with the delivery of its Fibrecity network, the UK's largest ever fibre to the home (FTTH) initiative.
Under the agreement announced today, Fujitsu will take responsibility for laying the infrastructure that will connect up to one million UK properties to the superfast Fibrecity network within the next four years.
Fujitsu's first involvement will come this month when it begins to roll-out the fibre optic network to Dundee's 68,000 homes.
Within two years every home and business across the city will have access to superfast connectivity including broadband capable of speeds of 100Mbps with boosts of up to 1Gbps.
Elfed Thomas, CEO, i3 Group said: "Our Fibrecity network is the UK's largest fibre to the home initiative and we're delighted to have signed Fujitsu to support us with the roll out of our technology.
"Fujitsu brings considerable depth of resources and experience and this is a significant milestone towards our aim of rolling out true fibre to the home to over one million properties within four years."
Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe's CEO, Andy Stevenson said: "We are excited to have become a key partner for this revolutionary fibre network. i3 Group has pioneered the use of existing infrastructure including sewers to lower the cost and accelerate the build of fibre networks and we look forward to adding value through our experience of developing advanced next generation networks."
In May, Fibrecity Holdings, which is already enabling homes in Bournemouth to benefit from superfast connectivity services delivered via a unique open access gateway, announced that it also plans to develop networks in Derby, Halton, Nottingham, Plymouth and York.
Further cities under consideration for networks include Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol and Ipswich.
The i3 Group has pioneered the use of new technologies including existing ducts in the water networks to build low cost fibre optic infrastructures that bring super fast connectivity to homes and business. Known as the FS System, this and other innovative methods enable the i3 Group to lay fibre optic cables quicker and more cost-effectively than traditional civil works.
ENDS
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About i3 Group Ltd
Formed in 2002, i3 Group is a pioneer of deploying dark fibre in the UK's waste water network to enable connectivity. Known as its patented FS System, this method is a fast and cost-effective way to lay fibre optic cable and link up any location without the high costs and disruption caused by road digging.
i3 Group comprises: Fibrecity Holdings Ltd, H2O Networks Ltd, i3 International Ltd, H2O Support Services Ltd, Fibre Associates Ltd, Wireless Network Systems Ltd, i3 Asia-Pacific Pty Ltd and i3 America.
Fibrecity, Fibrezone, Darc, Focus System Fibre Optical Cable Underground Sewer System (FS System) are all registered trademarks of i3 Group Limited
For further information please visit: www.i3-group.co.uk
About Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Ltd
Based in Solihull in the West Midlands, Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Ltd is a leading supplier of Next Generation Network (NGN) products and services for major telecommunications providers in UK and EMEA. Fujitsu is at the technological forefront of delivering high bandwidth, copper and fibre networks including access equipment and both internal and external infrastructure design, plan and build services. It is a business division of Fujitsu UK & Ireland.
For further information please visit: www.fujitsu.com/uk/telecommunications
