ITS Technology Gobbles Manchester Wireless Broadband ISP CityServe

The ITS Technology Group, which builds next generation infrastructure like fibre optic networks, has today acquire the majority shareholding (70%+) in a wireless broadband ISP (CityServe Limited) that specialises in delivering access and other services to social housing and hard to reach homes across East Manchester in England.

Apparently CityServe, which was originally developed in 2001 by Manchester City Council (MCC) and has a network that covers a 25km² area (including 48,000 homes), will continue to trade under their existing name and will now benefit from fresh investment to expand the wireless broadband into both residential and SME markets.

In addition, ITS said that it also plans to offer cloud-based services (e.g. Office 365) and wireless CCTV to businesses within the reach of the network.

Roy Shelton, CEO of ITS Technology, said:

“There is a real lack of broadband and internet services on offer to social housing, with many homes deprived of connectivity of any description. With the push to get local government services online among other services that require access to the internet, there is a clear disconnect. ITS has developed a solution that fills this digital gap for a number of hard to reach areas across the UK, and the acquisition of CityServe and its footprint in East Manchester, will play a significant role in this region.”

Last month ITS signed a wholesale broadband deal with business ISP Fluidata and they’ve also got links with some rural fibre optic developments.