• More than 11,000 business and commercial premises ready for service
• ITS network footprint expands into Scotland for the first time

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Glasgow marks ITS’s first expansion into Scotland, with the network now ready for service for more than 7,000 business premises. Organisations across the city – spanning sectors including financial services, digital industries, life sciences and the creative sector – can now access gigabit-capable connectivity, with coverage extending to key hubs such as the International Financial Services District, the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District, and Merchant City.

In Newcastle, the network reaches over 4,000 business premises. The city has a higher than average concentration of large employers and a growing base of organisations in health, education, and technology sectors, increasing demand for scalable, high-capacity services. Newcastle is home to innovation hubs including Newcastle Helix, the National Innovation Centre for Data, and the Digital Quarter.

Dave Ferry, Chief Sales Officer at ITS, said:

“Glasgow and Newcastle upon Tyne are among the UK’s most forward-looking cities, and switching on our networks marks an important milestone in our nationwide rollout, including our first build in Scotland.

“Our focus is on delivering infrastructure designed for business, enabling thousands more organisations of all shapes and sizes to access reliable, high-capacity connectivity.

“Full fibre is the foundation of the digital economy, underpinning everything from cloud adoption to AI. These networks will help to attract further investment and ensure businesses in both cities can take full advantage of emerging technologies.”

With the launch of Glasgow and Newcastle, ITS’s footprint now extends to more than a quarter of all UK business premises. This growth is driven by a strong pipeline of projects, combining local authority contracts with investment in ITS’s own infrastructure.

ITS’s wholesale platform gives ISPs, MSPs, resellers, national and international operators access to its digital infrastructure, enabling them to deliver gigabit-capable services to organisations across the UK.

ITS and euNetworks have joined forces to enhance connectivity for businesses across the UK and Europe.

The partnership between ITS and euNetworks, a European provider of critical bandwidth infrastructure, brings together ITS’s dedicated, business-grade full fibre network – already reaching more than 25% of the UK’s commercial premises and passing a third of data centres – with euNetworks’ extensive footprint of 582+ connected data centres across Europe.

Together, the two companies deliver high-speed, low-latency links connecting business premises, data centres, and the cloud.

The collaboration enables UK enterprises to benefit from new, premium-grade, high-bandwidth connections, with the two organisations providing connectivity up to 10Gbps from any point on the ITS network to any location across euNetworks’  European footprint. Enterprises gain direct, secure links to IT workloads and multiple cloud environments, with guaranteed resilience, assured connectivity, and data sovereignty.

The combined footprint unlocks access to the most strategically important data centres across the UK and Europe

For ITS’s 500+ channel partners, the agreement provides access to integrated point-to-point or point-to-multipoint services. Offered through a single contract, they will benefit from streamlined ordering, consolidated billing, end-to-end delivery, and in-life service management.

“UK businesses are demanding faster, more resilient ways to connect to their critical applications and data,” said Daren Baythorpe, Chief Executive Officer at ITS.

“By linking our full fibre leased line services with euNetworks’ reach, we’re giving enterprises and partners the ability to scale, innovate and stay secure, without complexity. This collaboration is about delivering the performance and simplicity customers need to thrive in a cloud-first, data-driven world.”

Marisa Trisolino, CEO at euNetworks, said: “As a European provider of critical bandwidth infrastructure, euNetworks is proud to be able to extend the value of our expansive data centre footprint to ITS’s customers and partners as part of this collaboration.”

“Our joint focus on automation and streamlined operations makes it even easier for UK enterprises to benefit from our combined reach, allowing us to quickly and proactively address the ever-increasing demand for scalable, secure, AI-ready connectivity.”

What it means for customers

Businesses can now take advantage of dedicated, high-performance connectivity that supports their mission-critical applications and cloud-based services, offering:

• Direct, private links from customer sites to key UK and European data centres
• Onward links to Cloud Hyperscalers
• Low latency and high reliability
• Enhanced security and assured data transfer from a private, fully managed network
• End-to-end service management – from ordering through to assurance, a single order and in-life service journey

ITS has announced the launch of ITS SecureEdge, a new value-added service designed to protect businesses of all sizes from Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. 

The service, which will leverage Cisco Secure DDoS Protection technology, is part of ITS’s wider mission to redefine what business connectivity looks like in the “fibre utility” era, moving beyond pure bandwidth into smarter, more equitable infrastructure solutions.

“Connectivity has to be more than speed alone,” said Pete England, Product Director at ITS.

“We’re investing in innovation that directly answers the real-world risks businesses face every day. DDoS attacks can cripple an organisation in minutes – from online retailers losing sales, to schools and councils losing critical digital services. With this launch, we’re making protection simple, affordable, and built into the network itself.”

Traditionally, DDoS mitigation has been the preserve of large enterprises and government, relying on solutions that backhaul traffic to off-site scrubbing centers – often at significant cost and prohibitive in today’s low latency application environments.

ITS’s new approach brings protection closer to the edge of the network, utilising AI to allow always-on monitoring, ultra-fast mitigation and accuracy at scale. Crucially, it also takes the security measures available to a much wider business audience

Its distributed model avoids the costly redirection to external scrubbing centres, reducing mitigation times from minutes to seconds. The service evolves continuously as Cisco Secure DDoS Protection learns from global attack patterns.

ITS SecureEdge has been designed for businesses of every size – not just those with enterprise budgets. Where legacy services often cost thousands of pounds a year, ITS has designed a model that is a modest uplift on existing connectivity, ensuring SMEs, schools, and public sector organisations can access the same protection as global enterprises.

Benefits for customers include:

●    Business continuity – critical services stay online even during attacks.
●    Cost savings – predictable subscription pricing with no need for specialist in-house solutions.
●    Brand and trust protection – reducing reputational risk from outages or breaches.
●    Futureproofing – protection that evolves automatically against new and emerging threats.

“Every customer deserves the same standard of security, regardless of their size or sector,” added England. “We’ve built this as a single-tier service – no bronze, silver or gold – because resilience shouldn’t be reserved for those who can pay a premium. That’s what equity in infrastructure really means.”

Natalie Jones-Owen, Managing Director, Service Provider Sales at Cisco comments, “By integrating Cisco’s DDoS Protection technology directly into ITS’s edge device portfolio, we’re enabling a seamless, inline defense that accelerates both detection and mitigation—right at the network’s edge. This enhances protection by responding to threats in real time and helps reduce the load and associated costs on traditional scrubbing centres.  This allows operators to deliver advanced security more efficiently and affordably to a wider range of customers. We’re pleased to support ITS in making highly resilient, future-ready security accessible to all.” 

With ITS Secure DDoS Smart Protection, the company extends its lead in building innovative, modular solutions that help partners and customers prepare for the next decade of digital society.

• 24/7/364 intelligent mitigation
• Scalable to handle modern volumetric attacks
• Simple deployment with minimal disruption
• Backed by ITS and Cisco experts

Despite Crawley’s strong economic performance, parts of the town have historically lacked access to modern digital infrastructure. This new network will directly address this, as well as findings from the 2022 Manor Royal BID Survey, which identified poor broadband speeds as the most significant issue facing local businesses.

Once built, businesses will be able to choose from a wide range of gigabit-capable full fibre services through ITS’s service provider partners. The project will help deliver on the Towns Fund’s aims to boost economic growth through regeneration, improved transport, faster digital connectivity, and the development of local skills and culture.

Through ITS’s social value programme, the project will support existing local sustainability initiatives and introduce new activities aimed at bridging the digital divide. This includes digital skills training, community engagement, and support for underserved groups to ensure that the benefits of full fibre connectivity are felt across the town.

Michael Jones, Leader of Crawley Borough Council, said:

“This project is in direct response to what our business community told us they needed. It’s a great example of how public and private sector expertise and investment can come together to deliver real, lasting impact.

“Crawley’s proximity to Gatwick Airport and its excellent transport links make it attractive to businesses locating to the area. The new network will help to ensure Crawley continues to attract both established industries and emerging sectors.”

Steve Sawyer, Executive Director, Manor Royal BID, said:

“Manor Royal is one of the UK’s largest business parks, home to more than 700 businesses, with around 30,000 people working here. When the BID was first created in 2013, the park was struggling, and broadband was one of the biggest issues holding us back. Getting superfast connectivity made a huge difference, but companies are now demanding more.

“We are excited by this announcement and the transformative investment being made in this new full fibre network. It will give every business access to high-quality, futureproof connectivity at an affordable price. It won’t just be the preserve of those who can afford to buy bespoke solutions – it will deliver the speeds and reliability that a modern business park like Manor Royal needs to thrive.”

Daren Baythorpe, CEO of ITS, said:

“Crawley is a thriving hub of enterprise and innovation, and we’re proud to be the trusted partner delivering the next-generation digital infrastructure it needs to stay ahead. This full fibre rollout will provide future-proof connectivity for businesses of all sizes, driving sustainable growth and long-term competitiveness across the region.

“But it’s not just about technology – it’s also about people. Our social value programme ensures that the benefits of this investment extend beyond business, empowering local communities and helping more people access the opportunities of an increasingly digital world.”

The contract, which will see ITS move into South Wales for the first time, aligns with the programme’s goal to create a smart region ready to innovate and adopt emerging technologies, ensuring an inclusive digital landscape that meets everyone’s needs.

This significant investment will serve 41 dark fibre connections across 34 strategic public sector sites in Carmarthenshire, connecting education, health and local authorities. The project includes key partners Carmarthenshire County Council, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Hywel Dda University Health Board, and Coleg Sir Gar.

The new network will connect sites and data centres to store, move, and share large quantities of data securely at ultra-high speed. This will improve the collaboration between these organisations, enabling them to use advanced technology and applications such as AI, and share and analyse data in real-time. It will also underpin innovative ways of working and enable more data-driven decision making, having the capacity to flexibly meet the evolving needs of the sectors and the delivery of modern public services.

It aims to deliver positive community impact, prioritising digital inclusion, tackling inequalities, and limiting environmental impact. Digital Champions in each local authority will work with industry, government, and poorly connected communities to support the delivery of the programme at a local level.

In addition to securing the contract award, ITS will invest in a wholesale full fibre network that mirrors the dark fibre route and extends beyond it to pass more than 2,800 businesses. This private investment will enable access to gigabit-capable services, significantly enhancing the area’s digital infrastructure. It will foster greater market choice, offering highly resilient, business-grade connectivity to both local partners and end-user organisations.

Daren Baythorpe, CEO of ITS said:

“We are thrilled to have been successful in this tender process which will see us play a pivotal role in transforming the area’s digital landscape. As our first public sector contract in South Wales, this is a fantastic milestone for us and one that will provide the foundation for a connected future for the region, driving innovation and prosperity for the entire community.

“ITS has a strong track record of working with the public sector to deliver connectivity solutions that benefit local businesses and communities, putting social value at the heart of each project. This type of innovation aligns perfectly with the Digital Infrastructure Programme’s objectives, providing a platform for economic growth and bridging the digital divide.”

Cllr. Philip Hughes, Cabinet Member for Organisation and Workforce at Carmarthenshire County Council said:

“This announcement marks a significant advancement in equipping our public sector services to meet future demands. By aligning with the Digital Infrastructure Programme’s objectives, this project will underpin the expanding needs of digital services in our communities, which rely on having effective, secure, and high-capacity infrastructure.

“Not only will it enhance the quality and reliability of services for communities across the county, but it will also act as a catalyst for further investment into digital infrastructure. This investment will foster innovation and economic growth, helping to ensure that Carmarthenshire is able to benefit from technological advancements.”

ITS is at the forefront of next-generation connectivity, with its entire full fibre network built on XGS-PON technology – enabling scalable, high-capacity services. In a UK-first, ITS has successfully trialled dedicated internet access over 50G-PON in both lab and live business environments. This breakthrough marks a significant milestone for the UK fibre market, offering a more sustainable and efficient way to deliver ultra-fast services using existing fibre infrastructure and reducing the need for additional equipment.

Demonstrating its continued commitment to South Wales, ITS has strengthened its regional presence with the appointment of Stephen Dobynne, Client Director for the Public Sector, to the Private Sector Advisory Board of the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (SWWCJC).

For more information on this or improving the connectivity in your area, get in touch with your local Digital Champion.

This digital infrastructure project is being funded by the Mayor’s Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) and further utilises Boldyn’s 20-year concession with Transport for London (TfL) to deliver connectivity across the capital to benefit those who live, work and visit London. This partnership will enable ITS to gain access to Boldyn’s existing assets and infrastructure within the London Underground to support and manage the new full fibre networks.

Funded through London’s share of retained business rates, the SIF supports projects like this one – enhancing connectivity to drive long-term economic and productivity growth across the capital.  

Now in build, these new networks will boost internet accessibility for working in or visiting public sector buildings, including council offices, libraries, community centres and sheltered accommodation. Critical CCTV sites across all four boroughs will also be connected, strengthening modern surveillance services in high footfall areas, and enhancing public safety.

As a result, over 9,000 overlooked business premises in Bromley, Lewisham, Merton, and Wandsworth will be able to access gigabit-capable services through ITS’ network of ISP and reseller partners. This will extend ITS’ network coverage to all London Boroughs and will be in reach of 70% of the capital’s commercial premises.

The delivery of this new fibre infrastructure will unlock lasting social value by tackling digital exclusion, supporting the development of digital skills, and equipping community hubs with reliable connectivity – helping people to access the opportunities of the digital world.

Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, said: “Access to reliable high speed broadband is key to improving public services, boosting local economies and creating safer, thriving communities across the capital.

“Backed by funding from the Mayor, this initiative will deliver much-needed digital infrastructure to local residents and businesses in London, supporting our mission to close the digital divide and deliver-long term growth as we work to build a better, fairer London for everyone.”

Paul Osborne, Chief Commercial Officer for the UK & Ireland at Boldyn Networks, said: “This project is a shining example of how innovative public-private partnerships can make grant funding go further to deliver exceptional results. Bringing seamless connectivity to the London Boroughs is a major focus of our work in the city. ITS’ existing footprint across London complements the scope of this initiative while leveraging our advanced network infrastructure in the London Underground. It aligns with our vision and commitment to full fibre access as the foundation for improved public services, safer communities, and thriving local economies.”

Daren Baythorpe, CEO of ITS, said: “Our work with Boldyn Networks will advance the digital ambitions of Bromley, Lewisham, Merton, and Wandsworth. The innovative use of London Underground’s assets under Boldyn’s concession agreement with TfL perfectly aligns with our reuse, ‘dig once’ and sustainability ethos. This project is set to transform local communities by delivering a platform to bridge the digital divide, attract inward investment, and deliver long-term value to the economy.”

A full fibre network designed and built to underpin the shared digital ambitions of Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Essex County, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, and Thurrock Councils, operating as South Essex Councils (SEC) is live. The network has already connected 250 public sector sites and is enabling access to gigabit-capable services to approximately 9,000 businesses.

Established in 2018, SEC has brought together six local authorities and one county council with the common goal of making South Essex the place to live, to visit, to work and do business. Among SEC’s strategic aims, ensuring access to high-capacity digital infrastructure is crucial to the delivery of modern public services, enabling councils to achieve more with fewer resources, helping to attract inward investment, and stimulate competition to boost the local economy.

Funding of approximately £7.5 million was secured to support SEC’s overall vision for South Essex from DCMS (now Department for Innovation, Science and Technology (DSIT)), Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (now Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC)), and South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP).

The 280km dark fibre network build, which started in April 2020, was rolled out in three phases by infrastructure provider, ITS. Services have been installed to public sector sites across the region, including council offices, libraries, sheltered accommodation, museums, hostels, leisure centres, schools, fire stations, and community and village halls.

Carol Thomas, Director for Digital and ICT at Southend-on-Sea City Council and South Essex Councils Digital Programme Lead, said:

“SEC and our Digital Programme were established to foster joined up thinking across neighbouring local authorities. Among our priorities was a mission to upgrade our outdated broadband networks to underpin economic growth and improve the delivery of public services. In a relatively short timeframe, working with ITS, we have achieved a number of key milestones. This project has delivered futureproof connectivity and reduced our costs, already transforming how we deliver services to our communities. Our focus remains on continuing to create sustainable and positive outcomes that will benefit South Essex for years to come.”

Leader of Basildon Council, and Chair of South Essex Councils, Councillor Gavin Callaghan, said:

“The SEC Digital Programme has made a real difference to people across South Essex. From providing high-speed internet in libraries and community centres to installing Wi-Fi in sheltered housing, we’re ensuring more residents and businesses can access the digital tools they need in everyday life and work. Whether it’s staying connected to family, learning new skills, or accessing services more easily, these improvements are helping to close the digital divide and make South Essex a more inclusive, forward-thinking region. This isn’t just about technology; it’s about making life better for everyone.”

Daren Baythorpe, CEO of ITS, said:

“It is impressive that the seven councils at the heart of SEC had the foresight to collaborate on this significant digital infrastructure project. Full fibre is essential to underpinning a modern economy that reflects the needs and aspirations of businesses and residents. We are delighted to have worked with SEC to build and continue to operate this transformational network to benefit local businesses and organisations to harness the power of digitalisation.” Local businesses can now access gigabit-capable full fibre services through ITS’ partners, a network of local and national resellers, managed service providers, and internet service providers who also offer a comprehensive portfolio of ‘over the top’ IT services such as voice, storage, backup, and security solutions. For more information about service availability click here.

In 2023, Digital Greenwich Connect launched the initial 21km phase of the network across Woolwich. This second phase delivers an additional 7km across Eltham town centre. The full fibre network now passes 2,000 businesses, public buildings, and 20,000 social homes. 

Cllr Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich said: “It’s Our Greenwich mission to ensure that town centres, high streets and shopping parades are vibrant places that are prosperous and meet the needs of local people.

“Digital Greenwich Connect is one of the innovative ways that we are ensuring residents and businesses have access to fast and reliable digital connectivity. This will not only support our plans to modernise the delivery of council services but also support economic growth and digital inclusion; helping Royal Greenwich to play an active role in delivering positive changes in the most efficient and effective ways possible.” 

The extension of the network into Eltham means that residents and businesses who live, work and learn in the area will be able to benefit from gigabit capable services that are flexible and can grow with their needs, which are offered by Internet Service Providers (ISP) who use the network.  

Daren Baythorpe, CEO of ITS said: “Our partnership with DG Cities has grown in strength to deliver ahead of plan. We have ensured that end-users not only have access to high-quality business-grade services, but can also choose the service provider that they buy their services from to meet their own needs.

“The expansion of this transformational full fibre network from Woolwich to Eltham town centre signals a key milestone and underpins the forward-thinking approach of the council in its strategic goals to support the digital transformation of the area, future-proofing it for generations to come.”  

Trevor Dorling, Managing Director, DG Cities said: “The launch of this second phase of Digital Greenwich Connect is testament to the impact of the initial rollout in Woolwich and the success of the partnership between DG Cities and ITS, facilitated by the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

“Digital Greenwich Connect is ensuring that Royal Greenwich has the digital infrastructure in place that is essential to deliver modern public services and support a modern mixed economy.”    

For more information click here.

Known as Faster Britain, the brand new 8km full fibre network spans across the city from Gloucester Quays through to the Olympus Business Park Quedgeley passing many business areas including the transformation of Gloucester Food Dock and King’s Quarter. ITS is also committed to expanding the network to connect the Cheltenham Enterprise Zone which will be completed later this year.

The innovative fibre spine has been built more sustainably reusing existing ducts, minimising the highly disruptive road digs often associated with this type of engineering project. Using the very latest technology, the same Faster Britain connection allows businesses to access hassle-free scalable connectivity services – from full fibre broadband through to a dedicated 10Gbps leased line. Services are available through local and national Faster Britain partners.

I am delighted that our Faster Britain network will make Gloucester’s business community among the best connected in the UK. Full fibre is as important as any other infrastructure such as road and rail, and is vital to the local economy, attracting inward investment, and creating more job opportunities. As a country, we are now on a timeframe to step away from the reliance on ‘so called’ fibre connectivity services that utilise copper as these legacy networks will be retired from 2025. We have worked hard with our Faster Britain service partners to develop a suite of scalable, flexible full fibre connectivity solutions to suit business demands across all industry sectors.

Daren Baythorpe, CEO of ITS Technology Group

ITS Technology Group is a national wholesale full fibre provider. Through its own Faster Britain networks which are on track to pass 25% (c.500k) of the country’s business premises by the end of the year, and its trusted operator relationships, it can provide connectivity to any business in the UK.

Businesses interested in harnessing Faster Britain full fibre are invited to find out what gigabit-capable services are available across Gloucester at www.fasterbritain.com/gloucester