H2O Networks' revolutionary Focus (Fibre Optical Cable Underground Sewer) System allows organisations to use the UK's sewer system to set up their own secure IT and telecom networks with unlimited bandwidth.

Jonathan Hudson, managing director, Ask 4 comments: "With increasing business and consumer demand for up to the minute methods of communication and with increased understanding of convergence and its benefits, organisations are increasingly demanding greater bandwidth. We knew that fibre optic cabling would provide this bandwidth, but wanted a cost-effective way of doing this."

The cost advantages of H2O's network means that not only is it cheaper to install, but it offers a fixed term cost rather than bandwidth tariffs. The bandwidth is hugely scalable and so will cope with the evolution of technology and the capacity this will eat up for the foreseeable future. The deployment process is a least 80 per cent faster than traditional methods, resulting in operational networks within weeks rather than months. Every city and town has ready-made ducts that can be used without causing disruption.

An additional advantage is that the cables lie at depths of up to 5m below the ground, compared with 450mm for conventional cables, making it far more secure, particularly in disaster recovery situations.

Elfed Thomas, managing director, H2O Networks comments: "Our Focus system offers both public and private sector organisations a cost-effective alternative to the traditional method of deploying fibre cable. It offers a fixed term cost rather than bandwidth tariffs, so that when extra capacity is needed, it's there, and the business doesn't incur further connection charges."