SSE Enterprise Telecoms Launch Scalefast FTTC Product for UK ISPs

SSE Enterprise Telecoms, which operates a 12,000km+ long fibre optic and Ethernet network across the United Kingdom, will today launch a new “cost-saving consumer broadband access product” for ISPs called Scalefast FTTC that could help providers to launch better Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC) based packages.

At the time of writing the details are a little thin, although the Scalefast FTTC solution claims to provide the “data backhaul for ISPs to virtually unbundle or access BT exchanges,” which they say can “alleviate a long-time concern of having to directly and efficiently unbundle BT exchanges.”

Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) is the process of freeing up an incumbent telephone operators (e.g. BT) exchange(s) so that rivals can install their own kit inside, thus partly bypassing the incumbent and allowing for greater product price and service flexibility (ISPs like TalkTalk, Sky Broadband and Vodafone have all done this). But the process isn’t cheap, particularly for fully LLU lines (Metallic Path Facility) that can give ISPs the most control.

SSEET claims their new product could thus make it easier for ISPs to test in new regions, or scale-up significantly. We understand that everything will also be billed based on how much data ISPs transfer through those exchanges, thus potentially “making it a more financially viable option” in comparison to unbundling an exchange themselves.

For business, the operator claims that Scalefast FTTC will enable ISPs to provide a network which is “resilient“, as well as a one that they can “easily control access to, to prevent oversubscription.” Admittedly FTTC superfast broadband products are slowly becoming a technology of the last generation, with “full fibre” (FTTP) now rapidly growing in importance, but no doubt it will still attract some ISPs and we’ll be interested to see what they make of it.

UPDATE 12:57pm

The full press release has now been released and, due to other more important distractions today, I’ve opted to simply copy and paste it below.

SSEET PR for Scalefast FTTC

Service providers (SPs), particularly ISPs with a fibre broadband offering or those seeking one, avoid the heavy costs of unbundling BT Openreach exchanges directly and instead virtually unbundle them leveraging SSE Enterprise Telecoms’ existing footprint. SSE Enterprise Telecoms will provide the data backhaul and offer a flexible usage-based billing model. Business and consumer broadband providers will retain control, keeping their direct relationship with BT Openreach and maintaining buying power.

The product is one of the first of its kind, and new to market, with a financially viable usage-based billing model, making it attractive in both the short and long-term. ISPs will benefit from the significant reduction to the CAPEX investment that direct unbundling involves. This speedier route to accessing exchanges also means businesses can test new regions more quickly. ISPs could be taking live customer orders within three months versus potentially longer time frames.

Scalefast FTTC will allow ISPs to utilise SSE Enterprise Telecoms’ extensive network, expanding their footprint nationwide. Consumer and business broadband providers will be able to offer a resilient and business-grade network to their customers, whilst still controlling oversubscription, as multiple NNIs can be procured to contend with traffic.

UK network investment

SSE Enterprise Telecoms has been steadily investing in its network through its expansion programme termed ‘Project Edge’. The latest phase, coined ‘Edge 3’, is made up of 177 BT Exchanges being unbundled in the coming year. Once the expansion plans are complete, Scalefast FTTC will offer virtually unbundled access to 733 exchanges, made up of 179 parent exchanges and 554 child exchanges.

Colin Sempill, Managing Director, SSEET explains: “Scalefast FTTC is a solution that gives customers the ability to virtually unbundle BT Openreach exchanges at very little capital or operational cost. We’re able to roll out this disruptive solution due to our ability to deliver competitive reach and pricing thanks to our Edge expansion programme and our continued commitment to connectivity excellence. With this high capacity core network and backhaul, businesses and consumers will be better-placed to utilise FTTC broadband services via ISPs”.