Network operator and UK ISP LightSpeed Broadband, which claims to have already built their gigabit-capable broadband (FTTP) network to cover 250,000 premises in the East of England and West Midlands, has today opened their network up for use by rival ISPs and businesses via a new wholesale division – LightSpeed Networks.
The provider, which was last year acquired by Kompass Kapital (here) after suffering job cuts and a build slowdown in the East of England (here), currently claims to have builds across parts of 32 market towns in South Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Rutland.
However, until now LightSpeed has tended to be more of a vertically integrated provider, but all that has just changed with today’s launch of their new wholesale offerings via LightSpeed Networks (technically it actually launched last week, but the press release only dropped today) – offering partners a range of connectivity options from 100Mbps and all the way up to 100Gbps (everything from FTTP to lightning-fast Ethernet or wavelength connections).
The move sees the LightSpeed Group being split into two distinct brands:
LightSpeed: The ISP providing access for homes and businesses to Gigabit broadband across the East of England and West Midlands
LightSpeed Networks: Expanding the group’s full fibre connectivity across existing and new areas, and the provider of wholesale connections to partners
Third-party ISPs joining this network will also be able to benefit from a range of consumer services ranging from 100Mbps to 2Gbps.
Brett Shepherd, LightSpeed Group CEO, said:
“We’re delighted to have launched LightSpeed Networks at Connected Britain this month, discussing all things broadband with likeminded telecoms innovators.
Our mission is to empower homes, businesses, and communities with flexible, high-quality broadband infrastructure. By building partnerships based on shared goals, we aim to push the boundaries of technology and unlock new opportunities for everyone.”
Interestingly, the website for Lightspeed Networks also offers a visual map of their infrastructure, which provides some clues as to their roll-out plan.