Neos Networks Make Progress on Oxfordshire UK Full Fibre Build

Neos Networks has announced that their ongoing project to deploy a new gigabit-capable full fibre broadband network to over 175 public sector sites (councils, hospitals etc.) across Oxfordshire (England), many of which are in rural areas, is “on track” to complete by the end of 2023 – some 90 sites have already been reached.

The project, which is part of the GigaHubs (formerly Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN)) scheme under the UK Government’s £5bn Project Gigabit programme, first began in 2021 (here) and has so far achieved four of its eight delivery milestones. Funding for the 20-year deal included a £5m investment from Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) and around £2m from GigaHubs itself.

Neos’ role in all this is to act as an aggregator, bringing together several connectivity suppliers — including Openreach, Virgin Media (Business) and regional alternative network ISP Gigaclear — to build, manage and operate the new infrastructure. Once complete, it is expected to have rolled out over 1,500 km of new fibre, laying the foundations for a “smart county“.

As part of the council’s commitment to improving connectivity in rural locations and its corporate buildings, Faringdon Library and Woodcote Community Centre are two of the first sites to have full fibre broadband under the project.

Cllr Glynis Phillips, OCC’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said:

“We’re delighted with the progress that the project has made over the last 12 months. Transforming broadband infrastructure across the county is providing a springboard to improve the services we provide to our community and will be key in maintaining our position as one of the UK’s best-connected counties. We are proud to be delivering on our commitment to our Digital Infrastructure strategy by bringing more opportunities and quality of life improvements to the doorsteps of our citizens.”

However, the new fibre isn’t just about serving public sector sites, since the new footprint of rural infrastructure that it creates could also help to incentivise other broadband ISPs and network operators to connect surrounding homes and businesses to faster speeds (this would need more private investment).

Neos currently owns one of the fastest growing, high capacity business fibre networks in the UK, spanning 34,000km, 676 Points of Presence (PoPs) and 90+ data centres across the United Kingdom.