Step Telecoms Plans New UK Gigabit Speed Dark Fibre Network

A network operator called Step Telecoms UK has revealed that they’re planning to build a new gigabit-capable Dark Fibre network and lease it along with duct infrastructure on a wholesale basis to its data centre operator clients, which will initially focus on sites in London, Manchester and Slough (inc. some connections to coastal UK subsea cable landing stations).

The plan was revealed as part of the company’s application for Code Powers from Ofcom, which are typically sought to help speed-up deployments of new fibre and cut costs, not least by reducing the number of licences needed for street works. The powers can also help with supporting access to run new fibre via Openreach’s (BT) existing cable ducts and poles (PIA).

However, Step Telecoms UK (10724266) is currently listed on Companies House as being in a “Dormant” state, which usually means that it’s not doing any business (trading) and doesn’t yet have any other income. The business seems to have been in that state since shortly after it was first incorporated, all the way back in April 2017. But the new application suggests this may soon change.

Digging deeper. One of the company’s two active Directors, John Coughlan, appears to be a Director of another business at the same Sheffield address (Unit 3 Rotherside Road) called Oracy Ltd, which claims to be one of the “leading service providers in both telecommunication and [the] electric vehicle charging industry“. We did attempt to load the associated website at https://oracy.co.uk, although it appears to have an invalid security (SSL) certificate. But otherwise there’s not a lot more to add, yet.