Business ISP Elite Launch 100Gbps OSA Filter Connect Fibre Service

Business ISP Elite has become one of the first to offer a product based off Openreach’s new OSA Filter Connect service, which is kind of a virtual (grey) dark fibre style solution that can offer scalable bandwidth from 10Gbps to 100Gbps synchronous (without having to regrade the fibre due to limitations at the exchange).

Apparently end-users will be presented with an NTU for management, and a MUX (Multiplexer) which uses different light wavelengths to deliver scalable bandwidth. In addition to the 10Gbps active based product, there would be eight or sixteen additional port channels to use; to which each can be lit at Bandwidth’s ranging from 1Gbps, 10Gbps, 40Gbps and 100Gbps per port.

Elite appears to be offering OSA Filter Connect countrywide as a LAN extension (here), or within 20KM to one of its On-net exchanges a high-capacity WAN service. The provider claims that their On-net footprint can currently service over 136,000 postcodes covering Manchester, Birmingham and London for WAN services, such as Ethernet Fibre and OSA.

Matthew Rogers, Elite’s Head of Marketing & BD, said:

“By being at the forefront of technology and product releases, we are giving our Partners and Wholesalers the ability to offer these new revolutionary technologies to their customers before anyone else; giving them the market edge in such a competitive industry.

We will be putting together Sales and Marketing documentation for them to use in the up and coming days. However, as always, their Account Managers have been giving full product training to support them and jump on ‘white label conference calls’ with the end-user to support them further.”

Openreach first announced the new OSA Filter Connect solution toward the end of last year (details here), which occurred after Ofcom’s proposed Dark Fibre Access (DFA) service was sent back to the drawing board following a legal challenge over their incorrect market definitions. DFA would have allowed rival ISPs to gain “physical access” to OR’s existing cables (i.e. enabling them to install their own kit at either end of the fibre within cable ducts).

However the alternative OSA product doesn’t suit everybody, not least since it means having to provide space and power etc. for Openreach’s kit. By comparison some ISPs view DFA as being simpler, especially if they can be made to take fibre at an access chamber rather than having to provide a cabinet for them. Ofcom are expected to try DFA again in the near future, as part of their next Business Connectivity Review (BCR).

Obviously it should go without saying that this is not a consumer product and shouldn’t be confused with FTTP etc.