ISP G.Network Preps 1Gbps Fibre Optic Network for Central London SMEs

A new business ISP called G.Network has revealed that they’re in the “early stages” of developing a new 1Gbps Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to serve small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in central London, which will harness Openreach’s (BT) existing cable ducts (PIA).

At present only a few providers make use of Openreach’s Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product, although the new PIA2 service that is being introduced as a result of Ofcom’s recent Strategic Review appears to be encouraging a lot more interest (here).

Apparently the ISP will initially focus their deployments around the borough of Westminster and the City of London due to their “high concentration of SMEs, the burgeoning demand for high speed internet access and comparative lake of prompt FTTP connection.” The “last mile” section of this network will be catered for by “proactively laying fibre in high-demand areas” via PIA.

The provider has also established a website, which states that 10Gbps connections may also become possible in the near future. Otherwise their “unlimited” fibre packages will be priced from £85 +vat a month with no connection fee for a symmetric 20Mbps service on a 12 month contract, while Leased Line pricing starts from £350 for a dedicated 50Mbps connection.

Service provision times vary from within 5 working days (if a fibre cable already passes near to your office) and run up to 6 weeks, with the latter usually reflecting new infrastructure deployments and any delays from the need to secure wayleave agreements from landlords etc.

Despite not yet being live the operator has already begun seeking Code Powers from Ofcom in order to make it easier to deploy their network, which will be consulted upon until 5th June 2017. The regulator appears to provisionally support the proposal, much as they almost always do.