UK ISP TalkTalk and CityFibre Sign New Strategic Biz Partnership

The wholesale division of broadband ISP TalkTalk – TT Wholesale Services – has today agreed to a new strategic business-to-business (B2B) partnership with full fibre network builder CityFibre, which will see the internet provider’s wholesale customers (often including rival ISPs) being offered more choice.

At present TalkTalk already sells consumer broadband packages over CityFibre’s national FTTP network, as well as via Openreach and other alternative networks. But today’s deal expands their wholesale offerings to businesses and rival ISPs by giving partners access to CityFibre’s differentiated business Ethernet infrastructure.

CityFibre’s rapid network expansion will also continue to grow the availability of related products. The operator is currently working to cover up to 8 million UK premises with their full fibre network (funded by c.£2.4bn in equity and c.£4.9bn debt) – across over 285 cities, towns and villages (c.30% of the UK) – by the end of 2025 (here).

Tom O’Hagan, MD of TT Business Wholesale Services, said:

“The potential of our ongoing relationship is really exciting. CityFibre is already the largest alternative network, and this new B2B partnership opportunity will continue to grow as its footprint expands and product portfolio widens. TTBWS see CityFibre as a key partner and together we offer our customers unrivalled solutions in the Ethernet space.”

George Wareing, Chief Sales Officer at CityFibre, added:

“TalkTalk Business Wholesale Services is a truly exciting partner through which to extend the reach of our innovative Ethernet products. The combination of TTBWS’s scale and automation, with our growing portfolio of differentiated business connectivity products represents a compelling proposition in the industry. We’re delighted that TTBWS see the benefits that access to these products will bring their customers across the country and we look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

The new partnership forms part of TalkTalk’s alternative network (AltNet) strategy, growing providers across numerous products from FTTP to Ethernet. It is expected a number of other Ethernet suppliers will join the platform over next year, and TalkTalk believes a third of new Ethernet connection could go to altnets, including CityFibre.