Business ISP FluidOne Launches Ethernet on Demand with Sky

Business ISP FluidOne has today launched a new Software Defined Networking (SDN) solution into the UK market called Ethernet on Demand (EoD), which allows customers to ramp up and down their data bandwidth dynamically and will initially be available on Sky’s carrier class network via over 2,800 exchanges.

Apparently the new SDN functionality will give FluidOne partners the ability to quote, order, manage and then flex bandwidth up and down on-demand on Ethernet Leased Lines in seconds.

All of this is said to be possible in real-time using the ISP’s Dash Portal, which is part of their new Platform One system (here) that aggregates various different fixed line, broadband and wireless services.

Russell Horton, FluidOne CEO, said:

“As part of an ongoing investment in innovation during the year, our network operations and software teams materially enhanced Platform One, our national fibre network. The team designed, configured and developed a robust, scalable software defined network (SDN) layer to allow ongoing releases of software defined network features over the coming year.

Ethernet on Demand is particularly strong in industries that have variable or seasonal trading and operational performance across the year. Retail, hospitality, events, travel and education all display peak bandwidth needs in busy periods; during term-time at a school, for example or at Easter and Christmas for retailers or in the summer holidays for travel firms.

EoD allows our partners to see their actual bandwidth utilisation and then ramp up to meet these seasonal requirements and then back down again to a steady-state norm for the rest of the year.”

Meanwhile Sky recently announced the launch of their related Gigabit Sky Ethernet services (here).