Corby-based internet service provider Rocket Fibre has revealed that they’re looking to expand their existing roll-out of a Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based gigabit broadband network. The operator currently holds an “initial ambition” of being able to cover 21,000 “customers” in Northamptonshire (England) with the new network.
At present the ISP already offers broadband packages to customers via CityFibre’s and OFNL’s national UK broadband networks, but more recently they’ve started to conduct small-scale FTTP deployments of their own in parts of Northamptonshire (seemingly in bits of Corby). Packages on this tend to be priced from £25 per month for 100Mbps (symmetric) speeds on an 18-month contract term, which rises to £75 for 2Gbps.
However, Rocket Fibre is now seeking Code Powers from Ofcom, which are typically sought to help speed-up or expand deployments of new fibre optic networks and to cut costs, not least by reducing the number of licences needed for street works. The powers can also help with supporting access to run new fibre via Openreach’s (BT) existing cable ducts and poles (PIA).
The related application for this indicates that Rocket Fibre’s own-built fibre network would be made available on a wholesale basis to its “clients” (we assume this extends to other ISPs too) and that Code Powers would also support efforts to connect its network at data centres in London, Corby and the Midlands, as well as others across the UK.
Needless to say that launching a new altnet into an already overcrowded market, which is also under considerable strain due to high builds costs and high interest rates, is currently quite a risky proposition. But we’ll keep an eye on Rocket Fibre to see how their own-build plans progress over the next few years. At present there aren’t many public details available to go off.