UK ISP Giganet Expand FTTP Broadband Cover via Cityfibre

Hampshire-based UK ISP Giganet, which offers Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband packages to homes via both the Openreach and Cityfibre networks, appears to have expanded their relationship with the latter to include coverage in Portsmouth, Swindon, Reading, Plymouth, Crawley and Horsham.

Cityfibre is currently investing £4bn as part of its wider UK deployment (here and here), which currently aims to cover around 1 million premises by the end of 2021 and then 8 million across 100+ cities and towns (c.30% of the UK) – the latter target is expected to be “substantially completed” by the end of 2025.

In terms of Giganet’s new Cityfibre based coverage, we understand that they should be ready to connect their first customers in those cities from “early” 2021. The ISP had already confirmed that they were working with Cityfibre’s FTTP deployment before today, but until now we didn’t know which locations would initially benefit.

Out of that group of six launch cities, we understand that Portsmouth will be the first to get connected.

Andrew Skipsey, CEO of Giganet, said:

“This announcement will bring Giganet’s full fibre broadband services to hundreds of thousands of homes across the South. Building on our huge experience of offering full fibre home broadband, this partnership will ensure we can connect even more people in previously poorly served areas. With our focus on great value packages, local engagement, and well-proven customer service, we expect to see huge demand.

This announcement builds on our well-established partnership with CityFibre over who’s networks we have offered full fibre services to businesses since 2018. In Portsmouth, our local city, we have been awarded both Original Launch Partner and City Champion status, reflecting our commitment to and success in unleashing the benefits of full fibre connectivity.”

Greg Mesch, CEO of CityFibre, said:

“We are thrilled to be adding Giganet, already a valued customer, to our growing list of ISPs now offering full fibre services to homes as well as businesses. The launch of their full fibre broadband services in the New Year will be great news for people living across the South of England.

With ISPs continuing to join our networks, CityFibre is fast becoming the infrastructure of choice for full fibre home broadband. We are currently mobilising or building across 67 towns and cities nationwide and have plans to reach up to 8 million premises by 2025. These world-class networks are creating a scaled competitive ecosystem for ISPs that will result in greater choice for ISPs, better services for consumers and a better outcome for the entire country.”

Originally Cityfibre’s residential FTTP broadband network could only be accessed via Vodafone’s service (Gigafast Broadband), but since a change in that agreement earlier this year we’ve seen a number of other ISPs join their platform, such as TalkTalk, Zen Internet and others. Further details should crop-up here in the near future – https://home.giga.net.uk/cityfibre/ .