Three UK and SSE Sign Deal to Upgrade Network for 4G and 5G Mobile

Mobile operator Three UK has today announced a new contract with SSE Enterprise Telecoms, which will initially see the latter facilitating fibre optic connections to 20 of the mobile operator’s core data centres. The deal helps to enhance capacity for their existing 4G network and prepare it for 5G.

The first 5G based Mobile Broadband services aren’t due to be commercially deployed in the United Kingdom until 2020 but operators are already conducting work to prepare themselves, not least because it will be capable of delivering multi-Gigabit data speeds to end-users. At the same time the demand on their 4G network is also rising (currently averaging 6.8GB data usage per month) and a more capable core network should help to cater for that growth.

Apparently the new data centre connection contract is part of a multi-million pound phased agreement that will also see SSE Enterprise Telecoms and Three UK unbundle BT exchanges in the coming years.

Colin Sempill, MD of SSE Enterprise Telecoms, said:

“Our continued investment has made us the go-to network provider to help UK businesses unlock their growth potential. As a connectivity provider, we understand how integral network infrastructure is to allow technologies like 5G to reach their vast potential. We’re excited at the opportunity to assist Three UK in its journey to bring unrivalled experiences to its customers while offering new connection options to our own.”

Bryn Jones, CTO at Three UK, said:

“We are putting our network on the best footing possible to meet the current and future demands of consumers. Our customers use up to 3.5 times more data than the rest of the UK, a demand which is only going to increase as we move towards a 5G world. The decision to select SSE Enterprise Telecoms to assist us on this journey was straightforward. Their knowledge and ambitions for UK connectivity were clear and made them the natural choice.”

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