As first hinted at last week (here), broadband ISP Zen Internet has today revealed details of their new “strategic partnership” with Sky Business Wholesale (Comcast). The move gives Zen’s partners (other ISPs etc.) and direct business customers access to Sky’s Ethernet-enabled exchange footprint.
At present Sky’s network spans over 2,800 UK exchanges and more than 80% of those have been enabled for 10Gbps services (i.e. Ethernet leased lines). Both Zen and Sky also intend to align their API strategies and automation capabilities, which should help to accelerate quoting, ordering, and service delivery.
The partnership also strengthens Zen’s new partner portal, The Fibre Hub, after its launch in May (i.e. aggregating access to a number of major and smaller fibre optic networks at wholesale). The Fibre Hub already offers access to a Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband footprint of nearly 20 million premises via infrastructure providers Openreach, CityFibre, ITS Technology and Freedom Fibre, with Trooli products coming in a couple of weeks.
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Zen will now also provide its channel partners and direct business customers access to Sky Business Wholesale’s Ethernet-enabled exchange footprint and 10G Ethernet services. This builds on Zen’s offering of Ethernet over FTTP (EoFTTP) and business-grade connectivity products from CityFibre and ITS.
David Barber, Strategy Director at Zen Internet, said:
“Sky’s network reach is a strong strategic fit for Zen. This partnership expands choice and flexibility for our channel and UK businesses we serve directly, enabling us and the channel to compete more effectively on price, coverage and service. It is another significant step in bringing genuine infrastructure competition to the UK market.
As we continue to build relationships with more key network providers, we’re on track to offer the widest geographic reach and the best commercial advantage for the channel and for direct business customers.”
Damian Saunders, Managing Director at Sky Business Wholesale, said:
“We’re excited to partner with Zen, a business that shares our focus on innovation and customer choice. This is just the beginning of a broader collaboration that will bring real value and better outcomes for the channel and business customers alike.”
Zen also expects to be offering CityFibre based leased lines from around mid-September 2025.
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