ISP Exascale Start Building Own FTTP Broadband Network in Telford

The Managing Director of UK ISP Exascale, Thomas Bibb, has today informed ISPreview.co.uk that the provider has begun to build their own Gigabit speed “full fibre” (FTTP) broadband network in Telford (Shropshire), which will initially (Phase One) aim to cover 1,200 homes and 250 businesses within as little as 6 weeks.

We first learnt that Exascale planned to launch their own Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) service back in May 2019 (here), although at the time there wasn’t much detail available. The provider normally focuses upon delivering business connectivity and so it’s notable that most of the premises due to benefit from today’s announcement are residential.

The Phase One deployment will target the areas of Trench, Hadley and Horton Wood (Business Park) in Telford. The provider also said that where viable they’d be utilising Openreach’s (BT) existing cable ducts and telegraph poles via the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product to help reach local homes and businesses within their deployment area.

Exascale have told ISPreview.co.uk that their deployment will use a mix of Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) and Next Generation Passive Optical Network (NG-PON) technologies to initially deliver speeds of up to 1Gbps (1000Mbps+) and beyond.

Thomas Bibb said:

“This is a very exciting time for Exascale as we embark on our first ever full fibre project. This will enable Exascale to rapidly deploy very much needed full fibre internet and multi-site business connectivity within Telford, providing up to ten gigabit speeds without carrying out disruptive street works.”

The provider believes that they’re the first ever ISP to deliver such speeds in the district and potentially making them the “first ever” FTTP 1Gbps ISP in Shropshire, although Openreach has deployed a tiny bit of 1Gbps capable FTTP in the county and Virgin Media’s soon to be Gigabit capable cable network is also widely available across urban areas.

A number of packages are on offer including a 100Mbps (average speed) service for £40 per month, 400Mbps for £55 and 900Mbps for £75 (we aren’t sure if these are ex. or inc. VAT). All packages attach an 18 month contract term, Gigabit AC WiFi Router, 32:1 contention for shared capacity (been awhile since we talked about contention ratios) and offer a free installation thanks to the Government’s Gigabit voucher schemes.

Unlike other ISPs Exascale has even felt bold enough to publish a detailed rollout plan for both Phase 1 and their next Phase 2, which is a big positive.

Coverage Areas (Phase 1)

Hoop Mill, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5TB)
Kinley Drive, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5SY)
Britton Lock, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5SX)
Oxmoor Avenue, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5SS)
Wittingham Close, Hadley, Telford, (TF1 5TF)
Patchett Drive, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5SG)
Oakworth Close, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5DP, TF1 5DR)
Trenchlock 1, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5SU)
Trenchlock 2, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5SW)
Trenchlock 3, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5ST)

Areas to be deployed in the near future (Phase 2)

The Nettlefolds, Hadley, Telford, (TF1 5PF)
The Nettlefolds, Hadley, Telford, (TF1 5PG)
Castle Street, Hadley, Telford (TF1 6RB)
Castle Lane, Hadley, Telford (TF1 6RD)
Cricketers Drive, Hadley, Telford (TF1 6SY)
Sorbus Avenue, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5TL)
Pyrus Court, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5TJ)
Blockley Road, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5TG)
Tilia Green, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5TP)
Buxus Road, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5TN)
Caldera Road, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5LT)
Viburnum Way, Hadley, Telford (TF1 5TH)
Hortonwood 50, Telford, TF1 7AA
Hortonwood 30, Telford, TF1 7AB
Hortonwood 60, Telford, TF1 7AD
Hortonwood 50, Telford, TF1 7AE
Hortonwood 10, Telford, TF1 7ES
Hortonwood 30, Telford, TF1 7ET
Hortonwood 32, Telford, TF1 7EU
Hortonwood 33, Telford, TF1 7EX
Hortonwood 40, Telford, TF1 7EY
Hortonwood 45, Telford, TF1 7FA
Hortonwood 50, Telford, TF1 7FG
Hortonwood 35, Telford, TF1 7FR
Telford, TF1 7FS
Hortonwood 50, Telford, TF1 7FT
Telford, TF1 7GA
Hortonwood 66, Telford, TF1 7GB
Hortonwood 60, Telford, TF1 7GL
Hortonwood 1, Telford, TF1 7GN
Hortonwood 7, Telford, TF1 7GP
Hortonwood 8, Telford, TF1 7GR
Hortonwood 31, Telford, TF1 7GS
Hortonwood 37, Telford, TF1 7GT
Hortonwood 67, Telford, TF1 7GU
Hortonwood 2, Telford, TF1 7GW
Hortonwood 30, Telford, TF1 7LJ
Hortonwood Industrial Estate, Queensway, Telford, TF1 7LL
Hortonwood 37, Telford, TF1 7XT
Hortonwood 2, Telford, TF1 7XW
Hortonwood 2, Telford, TF1 7XX
Horton Park Industrial Estate, Hortonwood 7, Telford, TF1 7XY
Horton Court, Hortonwood 50, Telford, TF1 7XZ
Hortonwood 30, Telford, TF1 7YB
Hortonwood 30, Telford, TF1 7YE
Hortonwood 32, Telford, TF1 7YL
Hortonwood 32, Telford, TF1 7YN
Hortonwood 30, Telford, TF1 7YP
Hortonwood 32, Telford, TF1 7YR
Hortonwood 33, Telford, TF1 7YT
Hortonwood 40, Telford, TF1 7YU
Hortonwood 35, Telford, TF1 7YW
Hortonwood 7, Telford, TF1 7YX
Hortonwood 31, Telford, TF1 7YZ