MS3 Adds 22 New Full Fibre Rollout Locations in Yorkshire UK UPDATE

Asterion-backed operator MS3, which aims to build a 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP / XGS-PON) broadband ISP network to cover 500,000 premises across the North of England by the end of 2025 (here), has today announced 22 new build locations for Yorkshire. Some 100,000 premises have already been covered.

Just to recap. MS3 started deploying their new open-access (wholesale) full fibre network to premises in parts of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire early last year, beginning with Hull, Scunthorpe, Cleethorpes, Grimsby and others. The first homes have since gone live and the operator is now starting to ramp up their rollout under Phases 3 and 4 of its development plans.

In total, over 80,000 residential and business properties will benefit from this stage of the rollout in areas including Mexborough, Conisborough and Denaby, Swinton and Kilnhurst, Thurnscoe, Askern, Campsall, Woodlands, Adwick, Skellow, Carcroft and Norton.

Take note that a number of UK ISPs are already offering broadband packages via MS3’s new open access wholesale network, such as Hull Fibre, Octaplus, Link Broadband, OpenFibre, FiberZone, Direct Save Telecom, Zone Broadband, Infinics and Squirrel.

The 22 New Full Fibre Build Locations (MS3)

Phase 3
Mexborough, Conisborough and Denaby, Swinton and Kilnhurst, Thurnscoe, Askern, Campsall, Woodlands, Adwick, Skellow, Carcroft and Norton

Phase 4 (follows later)
Brigg, Broughton, Hibaldstow, Scawby, Harworth, Bawtry, Tickhill, Hatfield, Stainforth, Thorne, Moorends, Driffield and Nafferton

We note that some of the new locations they’re targetting already have access to gigabit-capable broadband networks, while others will do in the near future. But MS3 seems to recognise this level of aggressive competition as par-for-the-course and continues to plough forward.

Guy Miller, CEO of MS3 Networks, said:

“Hull and its surrounding areas have notoriously suffered from poor broadband choice due to a monopolised market that was challenging and expensive for new ISPs to enter. We’ve been working hard to turn that tide for the past few years, aiming to cover 500,000 premises by the end of 2025. Reaching 100,000 premises last month has been an important milestone for our team and demonstrates the impact our network is having on the local area.

100,000 local homes and businesses can now benefit from greater broadband choice that delivers better quality at more competitive prices. We know that the internet is a vital utility for residents, professionally, socially and for their education. We’re continuing our work to bring greater broadband choice across the UK, and our next build phases are a commitment to that growth.”

Take note that we don’t currently know whether the 100,000 premises reached so far are all classifiable as ‘Ready for Service’ (RFS) by consumers, but we are checking and will report back soon. Otherwise, MS3 has clearly made a lot of progress and are now moving into the rapid build phase, although we still don’t know quite how much investment they’ve managed to attract.

Only time will tend whether they manage to avoid some of the stresses and strains currently being experienced by other alternative networks (AltNets) in the market, such as with the difficulty of converting build into viable take-up.

UPDATE 3:39pm

We’ve been informed that the 100,000 figure is the number of premises built passed, rather than the number that could be considered RFS.