ISPs Ociusnet and SIMWOOD Plan UK FTTP Broadband Builds

Communications provider SIMWOOD and relative newcomer Ociusnet UK have today hinted at separate plans to deploy their own gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband ISP networks, which will aim to cover homes and businesses across parts of the United Kingdom.

The details came out after both put in an application for Code Powers from Ofcom (here and here), which are often used to help speed-up their deployment of new fibre optic infrastructure and cut costs, not least by reducing the number of licenses needed for street works. It can also help facilitate access to run fibre through or over Openreach’s existing cable ducts and poles (PIA).

In the case of SIMWOOD, which is perhaps better known for supplying businesses and ISPs with IP phone and voice services, the goal is merely expressed as seeking to deploy FTTP broadband services to reach poorly served homes and businesses in rural areas. Gigabit vouchers from the government may also be used for this, said the provider.

By comparison, Ociusnet said they’d “initially” start building FTTP in the South East and North West of England. “[The provider] proposes to offer retail ultrafast broadband services to homes and businesses and to offer wholesale services to other telecoms operators, enabling them to also provide retail ultrafast broadband service,” said Ofcom’s document; they also mention a desire to use Gigabit vouchers.

After a bit more digging (no pun intended), we discovered that Ociusnet have been building in the Cheshire town of Congleton for quite a long time. Interestingly, they usually build fibre networks for other ISPs, so the mention of offering retail broadband services above suggests that they may now have bigger plans for their own service.