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The ITS Technology Group, which have deployed various open access and business-focused full fibre broadband and Ethernet networks across parts of the UK, has today announced that they’ve completed the rollout of their XGS-PON powered Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across Crawley (West Sussex), giving more than 1,500 organisations access to gigabit-capable broadband.
The Crawley Borough Council (CBC) awarded ITS with the contract for their new £1.5m project last September (here), which included some private investment from ITS itself and aimed to provide every business in the Manor Royal (business park) area with the ability to connect to gigabit connectivity. The work was supported by funding from the previous Government’s £3.6bn Towns Fund programme (details) and has been built using a combination of new infrastructure, as well as reusing existing assets (e.g. ducts).
The 32km long network is now said to be extending digital connectivity to more business locations across the town, with a revenue share model enabling income to be reinvested for the benefit of the wider Crawley community.
The Manor Royal Business District is the biggest business park of the Gatwick Diamond area and one of the South East’s premier mixed activity employment hubs. Situated on the Sussex and Surrey county borders adjacent to London Gatwick Airport, it covers an area of 540 acres and is home to over 600 businesses generating 30,000 jobs.
Dave Ferry, CSO of ITS, said:
“This project responds directly to what businesses in Crawley have been asking for – access to dependable, high-quality, full fibre connectivity that can support their digital growth.
As an open-access network, it enables them to choose from a range of services delivered by our service provider partners, offering flexibility and ensuring that their connectivity can evolve as their business demands change over time.”
Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Crawley Borough Council, said:
“The completion of this project is a significant milestone for our town. It has strengthened the infrastructure that supports local employers and helps make Crawley an attractive place for new businesses to locate.
As part of the Towns Fund programme, this project shows how targeted public funding, alongside private investment, can deliver long-term benefits that help to futureproof our local economy.”
The operator’s full fibre network was last year said to “pass” more than 465,000 UK businesses (inc. commercial premises), and they often claim to “reach the rest” through their trusted operator partners’ infrastructure, which includes the likes of BTWholesale, Sky, PXC and Virgin Media Business.