Network operator MS3, which is deploying a new 10Gbps capable open access (wholesale) full fibre (FTTP / XGS-PON) broadband ISP network across 30 locations in the UK (mostly East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire), has announced that they’ve now extended their coverage to 200,000 premises (up from 174,261 on 4th Jan 2024).
The Asterion-backed network operator currently aims to reach 535,000 UK premises by the end of 2025. A big chunk of that has been happening in Hull, where the operator – based in the same city – has now seen its network rollout reach 113,000 premises passed (93,000 Ready for Service) and local customers top 10,000. The gap between their Built and RFS figure partly reflects issues with gaining access to Multi-Dwelling Units (MDU).
Some of MS3’s other big and now completed deployments can be found in locations such as Scunthorpe and Immingham, while ongoing work is also taking place in Mexborough and Grimsby. In addition, the operator is on track to complete the majority of its Hull build by the end of 2024.
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Guy Miller, CEO of MS3 Networks, said:
“Passing the milestone of 200,000 premises is a testament to our team’s ongoing determination and drive to change the broadband landscape in the region. We remain committed to providing exceptional full fibre services to our ISP partners and their customers as we continue to expand our network. We are also very proud of our take-up levels with a number of areas in Hull above 20 per cent despite us only starting the build two years ago.”
At the time of writing, we don’t currently know how many of that 200k is Ready for Service (RFS), but we suspect it’ll be around the 170k mark and will update this article once we have the answer.
UPDATE 12:42pm
MS3 has informed us that the RFS figure this week is 171,814 premises, which includes 92,839 on their self-build network in Hull and 78,975 outside in PIA areas (i.e. harnessing Openreach’s existing cable ducts and poles).
Vast majority of Hull is certainly covered then now which is good for Hull residents.