Fluidata Brings Choice of 50 UK ISPs to Digital Region in South Yorkshire

The long suffering Digital Region network, which offers an alternative superfast broadband platform to BT in South Yorkshire, has received a boost after it adopted Fluidata’s Service Exchange Platform (SEP). The move could give local homes a choice of more than 50 ISPs instead of just a handful.

Indeed one of the biggest problems with the publicly owned and debt-ridden Digital Region’s network, which is currently up for tender (sale) and could be largely taken over by either BTWholesale or ETDE SA in the very near future (full details), is that it has so far failed to attract any of the major broadband ISPs (e.g. TalkTalk etc.) to its network. This has left it with only the ability to offer services from a handful of comparatively niche providers (e.g. Origin Broadband, LittleBigOne etc.).

Fluidata’s SEP solution, which makes it easier for a range of competitive broadband ISPs to reach rural homes and businesses through a specially aggregated open access wholesale network, could be at least part of the answer to their problems. It enables ISPs to provide services in markets where previously they had no presence.

Piers Daniell, MD of Fluidata, said:

“If the government is serious about providing everyone in the UK with decent broadband, then we need to think differently. There are creative and effective ways to provide broadband choice across the country. Even providing broadband in rural areas doesn’t have to be one-horse race.”

David Cowell, CEO of Digital Region, said:

“The partnership between Fluidata and Digital Region means better broadband services and better choice for residents and businesses in South Yorkshire. The Digital Region network is transforming broadband provision in South Yorkshire.”

In addition Fluidata recently invested a further £2.5m to boost the capacity of its Service Exchange Platform (here), which we covered in more detail as part of our interview with Piers Daniell last year. Still the partnership has only just begun and it remains to be seen whether or not the development helps to reverse Digital Region’s otherwise problematic fortunes. We certainly hope so.