CityFibre Cuts Costs by Harnessing MS3 Fibre Optic Network in Hull UK

CityFibre’s on-going work to build a new 62km long fibre optic network in Hull (East Yorkshire, England), which is part of a major long-term deal to supply capacity for local mobile operators EE and Three UK (here), has found a way to slash its costs by harnessing some of MS3‘s existing network in the area.

A few years ago MS3 also deployed a 33km long fibre optic network across Hull and East Yorkshire for £4.5 million and they’re now working to expand this out to the rest of Hull, which will reach many more businesses (covering around 200km).

Obviously there was the potential for some overlap between CityFibre and MS3’s approach, but instead of fighting it out the two now appear to have found a mutually beneficial solution.

Tony Hales, MS3 Managing Director, said:

“As a business with significant fibre and duct assets in the city, we are delighted to be able to support CityFibre with this important network project that will make a huge difference to the connectivity options available to businesses and service providers in our city.“

James Thomas, Director of Operations at CityFibre, said:

“As an infrastructure builder, we always look to improve efficiencies, accelerate our roll-outs and access new areas. MS3’s duct network enables us to do just this. Ultimately this means that a city-wide alternative digital infrastructure in Hull will be opened up even faster.”

Mind you it should be noted that Cityfibre’s development could potentially suffer due to the BT and EE merger, although that is still very much the subject of on-going competition checks. Otherwise CityFibre will apparently be making use of MS3’s “second duct network” in Hull, although the details of this deal aren’t clear.