M12 and Cityfibre Open Gigabit Full Fibre Network in Portsmouth

Fibre optic network builder Cityfibre and the new UK ISP connectivity brand name of M12 Solutions – Giganet – have today announced a joint project to deploy a new Gigabit capable “full fibre” broadband and Ethernet network for businesses inside the south coast city of Portsmouth (Hampshire, England).

The announcement states that around 1,500 businesses along the existing fibre route will benefit, while further expansion and roll-out will bring even more business customers within reach of the new optical network. Giganet also claims to have made a significant investment into key exchanges in the South of England, initially including Basingstoke, Winchester and Salisbury, with more coming on stream soon.

Exact details of the network’s coverage and funding sources haven’t been revealed, although it’s worth noting that the Government recently allocated a public investment of £3.9m to the city under their Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) scheme (here and here); the purpose of that was to setup the first Gigabit Commercial Port on the south coast.

Andrew Skipsey, MD of M12, said:

“This gives us a genuine competitive advantage in the delivery of next generation Gigabit-capable fibre connectivity. What we couldn’t have anticipated is that there is now a government voucher scheme available to help cover all the installation costs up to £3,000. This means that small firms can now get a full fibre service with a sensible price tag. We’re expecting the pot of money allocated by the government will run out soon, so urge companies to take action quickly.”

Apparently local firms will be able to buy a 500Mbps service from just £199 +vat per month or 1Gbps from £299. In Portsmouth’s PO postcodes, Giganet customers can find out exactly how close they are to the 71km of existing laid fibre cable, and how quickly they can get connected.

Meanwhile in non-PO postcodes, businesses that are in or close to Basingstoke, Winchester or Salisbury can take advantage of Giganet’s investment in the local BT Exchange for more control and better pricing, where Gigabit-capable fibre is available from £99 +vat per month. Dedicated fibre leased lines are also available, starting from £295 +vat per month with free set up.

The move will no doubt put pressure on existing Ethernet operators in the city and it’s worth noting that Virgin Media’s ultrafast cable network already has some exceptionally wide coverage in the area.