CityFibre, TalkTalk and Sky Broadband Setup Bolt Pro Tem for FTTP in York

The Joint Venture (JV) between CityFibre, TalkTalk and Sky Broadband, which aims to roll-out a 1000Mbps capable fibre optic (FTTP) broadband network to homes across the city of York and two further cities in the near future, has established a new company to help manage and oversee the project – Bolt Pro Tem Limited (company no. 08975479).

The existence of the new company, which was officially incorporated on 3rd April 2014 and is based in London, was quietly confirmed today as part of a submission to the national UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, for new Code Powers (these make it easier to get approval for street works, such as when building a new network etc.).

The JV partners have always intended to establish such a company and so its confirmation comes as no surprise. Otherwise the submission to Ofcom doesn’t tell us anything fundamentally new, except that progress is being made.

Code Powers Submission (Extract)

The Applicant has explained that it intends to deploy an electronic communications network comprising of fibre optic cables and, where necessary, a system of conduits which will connect directly to homes and business premises. The Applicant has confirmed that it will deploy its fibre optic cables in ducts and chambers under public highways and private land and in cabinets located at street level.

The Applicant has explained that the purpose of its electronic communications network and system of conduits will be to transmit internet, voice, video, data and television services to apparatus connected to the premises of residential and business consumers. These services will be made available by the Applicant’s service provider customers (namely British Sky broadcasting Limited, TalkTalk Group Limited and Cityfibre Holdings Limited) and transmitted by the Applicant’s network.

As noted above, the Applicant has suggested that it intends to build its electronic communications network initially in York, and then two further (as yet unidentified) cities in the United Kingdom.

Interestingly TalkTalk said this week (here) that they have already “commenced the first phase of digging to build the network out from our points of presence to our cabinets two weeks ago“. The Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband network, which will initially reach 20,000 homes before being extended to cover the rest of the city with more investment, is expected to start connecting its first customers in York during 2015.

Ofcom’s consultation on the Code Powers request will remain open until 15th December 2014, although such requests usually pass through the system without receiving any opposition.

In related news another operator, Internet Connections Limited, has also put in an entirely separate request for Code Powers today (here). Apparently, in January 2013, the provider began a pilot project to roll-out superfast broadband services to a rural community in Cheddleton (Staffordshire, England) using BTOpenreach’s Sub-Loop Unbundling (SLU) solution and this appears to have gone well. The provider now wishes to expand this project further to surrounding areas in Staffordshire.