Nextgenaccess in HS1 Concession Deal to Deploy Fibre for Kent

Fibre optic network builder Nextgenaccess has signed a new 20-year concession agreement with High Speed 1, which should support a track-side rail deployment of new fibre to help bring “essential ultra-fast broadband” within easy reach of Kent local authorities, ISPs, mobile operators and business communities (at no cost to taxpayer).

Under the plan Nextgenaccess aims to deploy their multi gigabit-capable “full fibre” infrastructure (432 fibres) along High Speed 1, the 67-mile high-speed railway (train) link which connects St Pancras International in London to the UK Channel Tunnel in Kent.

In this case the high capacity fibre itself will run between Stratford and the Eurotunnel in Folkestone. It connects to the international fibre systems to mainland Europe in Folkestone, thus providing one of the shortest fibre routes to the Eurotunnel and subsea cable crossings in Kent.

Dyan Crowther, CEO of HS1 Ltd, said:

“We are committed to delivering greater economic benefits to the people of Kent. Through our infrastructure we are already providing the fastest trains in the country and are now also enabling Nextgenaccess to provide some of the fastest broadband speeds to Kent.

This is an innovative collaboration that will save hundreds of thousands of hours of road disruption that would otherwise be caused by installing this fibre on Kent’s roads.”

Mark Weller, MD of Nextgenaccess, said:

“We are delighted to have been granted this exclusive concession by HS1 which is a clear validation of our fibre solutions technology and flexible approach to enabling fast, affordable ultra-fast broadband. We are committed to quickly and cost-effectively bringing the high value, low latency benefits of full fibre within the reach of local authorities and thousands of underserved businesses in strategic areas of the country – via rail, road and where necessary other viable infrastructure including canals and utilities.”

Nextgenacccess, a privately owned company that is being supported by an investment of £22m from the National Digital Infrastructure Fund (NDIF) via the Amber Infrastructure Group, has so far built an independent wholesale network with over 100 Points of Presence (PoPs) – including Telehouse London and BT Tower – in 10 different UK local authority areas.