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.”

The initiative forms part of the £23 million allocated from the Newcastle Town Deal grant to provide high-speed, reliable internet connections, creating new opportunities, and fostering local economic growth. It is set to transform digital access for communities and businesses in wards across the Town Fund Area within the Borough including Bradwell, Clayton, Crackley and Red Street, Cross Heath, Chesterton, Knutton, May Bank, Silverddale, Keele, Westbury Park, Westlands, and Wolstanton.

The fibre network will span up to 50km, designed to connect 15 key council sites which includes local authority buildings and CCTV cameras. It will also connect 13 priority community centres, to underpin the creation of digital hubs, offering residents opportunities to boost their digital skills and access online services.

Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, commented, “This initiative is a potential game-changer for our community by encouraging growth and investment for smaller businesses and providing residents with the digital infrastructure they need to improve their day-to-day lives.

“By delivering in areas overlooked by commercial providers we are ensuring communities are not left behind and ITS’s expertise in building and managing full fibre networks will be instrumental in achieving the council’s vision of a digitally inclusive borough.”

Daren Baythorpe, CEO at ITS, said: “We are thrilled to be awarded this contract and to partner with Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. Public-private partnerships like this are crucial for bridging the digital divide and ensuring that all communities have access to the benefits of full fibre connectivity. This project will not only enhance the digital landscape of Newcastle-under-Lyme but also drive economic growth and improve the quality of life for its residents.”

FibreLight provides guaranteed ‘always on’ access to 20% of the ordered speed, even during peak times, with the remainder accessible as symmetrical burstable bandwidth designed to meet the performance needs and service reliability of digitally-reliant organisations.

FibreLight fills the gap between traditional leased line and broadband service offerings. It provides enhanced service capabilities compared to an FTTP broadband service, at a more competitive price point than leased line services.

By leveraging ITS’s XGS-PON-capable network, it ensures seamless support for FibreLight customers transitioning to a FibreBright leased line service. This inherent flexibility allows connectivity to scale with the growth of business operations and the adoption of data-intensive applications.

Pete England, Product Director at ITS, said: “As we continue to invest heavily in the development of our business connectivity product portfolio, I am delighted that this now includes groundbreaking 2.5 and 5Gbps FTTP services.

“FibreLight has broken the mould. Instead of opting for an unspecified ‘minimum speed guarantee,’ our partners can rely on our Committed Information Rate (CIR) of 20%. This ensures their customers receive guaranteed service levels, combined with burstable bandwidth to maintain optimal performance and prevent slowdowns or interruptions.

“Our partners and their customers demand more than promises; they need assured performance. FibreLight provides exactly that, giving businesses the connectivity they need to thrive in an ever-evolving digital economy.”

FibreLight includes a fixed IPv4 address, with options to upgrade to enhanced business care packages and value add services such as backup, voice, additional fixed IPv4 addresses, and dedicated project management services for complex or multi-site projects. All ITS’s connectivity solutions can be accessed through its self-service partner portal. For more information visit /partner-with-us/products-portfolio/

ITS has announced a series of strategic appointments and promotions within its sales function, laying the foundation for ambitious growth in 2025.

In a move to strengthen its expertise in driving expansion across emerging markets and transformative technologies, ITS has bolstered its team with accomplished professionals known for delivering exceptional results in high-growth industries.

The changes reaffirm the company’s commitment to innovation, customer excellence, and leadership in key sectors such as public sector, data centres, AI, and cutting-edge technologies.

At the helm of these changes, Dave Ferry has been promoted to the role of Chief Sales Officer, where he will oversee ITS’s sales strategies across partners, public sector, and major business clients. With five years of significant contributions at ITS, Dave’s expertise and deep industry knowledge position him to steer the company toward its ambitious growth targets. His focus will include aligning and optimising sales efforts, cultivating new client relationships, and delivering an exceptional customer experience.

Joining Dave’s new team are Ashley Griffiths and Mark Thomas, proven industry leaders whose experience and achievements will bring additional strength to ITS’s sales function.

Ashley takes on the role of Business Director, Major Business. A leader with over 20 years of experience, Ashley has a proven record of driving growth in emerging markets such as AI, mobile, and next-generation technologies.

Prior to joining he held senior leadership roles at euNetworks, as well as serving as Managing Director at vlingo, The Loop at Gamma Telecom, and Ocean Charge, where he spearheaded transformative growth initiatives. Ashley’s expertise in Dark Fibre and Data Centres positions ITS to expand further into these critical areas.

Mark Thomas has joined ITS as Business Director, Public Sector. A seasoned executive, he has extensive experience leading high-performance teams. Mark previously served as Managing Director of Datrix and Chief Revenue Officer of Adept.

With a track record delivering growth across public and private sectors, Mark will play a pivotal role in driving ITS’s public sector ambitions and enhancing its reputation as a trusted partner for government and local authorities.

In addition to these external appointments, Dan Bruce has been promoted to Head of Volume Sales. Dan will oversee all sales activities for channel partners, bringing his in-depth understanding of ITS’s operations to deliver continued success in this vital area.

Commenting on the appointments, Daren Baythorpe, CEO of ITS, said:

“These appointments mark a significant step forward as we prepare for an ambitious and exciting year ahead. Dave Ferry’s leadership, coupled with the exceptional expertise of Ashley and Mark, creates a powerhouse team ready to drive growth in emerging markets and deliver value across our core sectors. With Dan Bruce’s promotion further showcasing our commitment to nurturing talent from within, we have the right structure in place to achieve our goals.”

He added: “Ashley and Mark bring decades of experience and a proven ability to unlock opportunities in rapidly evolving markets. Their insights and leadership will be instrumental in shaping ITS’s success story in 2025 and beyond.”

• Under the agreement, Sky Business will launch business Ethernet services using the ITS network which is currently ready to serve more than 25% of all UK commercial premises.
• Sky Business will leverage ITS’s investment into its market-leading B2B network and delivery tools, giving the efficiencies needed to transact at high volumes.
• The partnership builds on the success of the existing relationship Sky Business and ITS forged in 2020, which allows ITS to deliver business connectivity services using Sky’s infrastructure.

09 September 2024: 

Sky Business has signed a new long-term supply agreement with ITS to deliver robust, high-capacity Ethernet connectivity to businesses and other organisations across the UK.

The partnership agreement will bring the best of two networks together, using an innovative combination of ITS’s fibre and Sky Business’s core network to deliver high quality, ultrafast business-grade services.  The deal will ensure that Sky Business continues to grow its connectivity offering to the sector and offer flexibility and choice.

The partnership enables both parties to benefit from joint investment for seamless ordering, provisioning, assurance, and billing capabilities. This means Sky Business partners will receive a best-in-class service experience, managed by Sky Business’s UK-led operational centre.

This strengthens an already established partnership, where Sky Business plays a key role in supporting ITS’s wider connectivity portfolio.

Damian Saunders, Managing Director, Hospitality, Sky Business Mid-Market & Wholesale said: 

“Sky Business’s new partnership agreement with ITS will enable us to expand our reach and introduce an exciting new offering to deliver a robust network experience for more businesses across the UK.

This means we are now uniquely positioned to provide our customers with a broader, combined infrastructure, underpinned by the best of both networks and our best-in class service wrap.”

Daren Baythorpe, CEO at ITS said:

“We are delighted to forge this new agreement with Sky Business which creates a reciprocal relationship, building on our existing partnership. We have invested heavily in our full fibre infrastructure which has been designed and is being rolled out specifically to serve businesses across the UK. Driving business full fibre uptake through Tier 1 partners is at the heart of our growth strategy as we work towards our ambition to be the UK’s best option for last mile business-grade connectivity.”

ITS, the UK’s leading business fibre network provider, has secured £100 million of debt financing from global investment firm Avenue Capital Group.

Together with the significant existing facility provided by Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva PLC, this investment further underpins the delivery of ITS’ growth target for its full fibre network to pass 50% of the UK’s commercial business premises. The £100 million of funding will also be available alongside the existing facility to finance strategic M&A activity.

Following strong growth over the past five years, ITS has established itself as a national full fibre infrastructure operator, building a robust, reliable network with industry leading technology, bringing a gigabit-capable full fibre network to UK businesses. With a dedicated channel focus on B2B fibre, ITS now has the largest business fibre footprint outside of the incumbents.

ITS’ infrastructure supports symmetrical services up to 10Gbps using XGS-PON technology, providing open access to a network of more than 500 partners in the UK, and supporting some of the UK’s most progressive business and public sector bodies.

Daren Baythorpe, Chief Executive Officer at ITS, said: “We’re really excited to welcome our new investor, Avenue Capital Group. This additional funding recognises the strength in our business plan as we continue to expand our network, as well as consider strategic acquisitions, as the fibre market adapts to changing technology and undergoes consolidation.

“Following last year’s follow-on investment from Aviva Investors and the acquisition of NextGenAccess, we have worked with our partners to drive connections with both businesses and with public sector organisations. In addition, we’ve had a strong focus on service, investing in systems and delivery to drive improved experience, providing agility and assurance alongside our business growth.”

Jonathan Ford, Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Europe Strategy at Avenue Capital, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting ITS’ business-to-business fibre rollout in the UK. The company’s management team not only has very deep industry relationships to execute on their business plan, but it has also coupled it with a strong delivery track record. This funding fits well with our European strategy of investing in high quality companies with sustainable business models.”

Darryl Murphy, Head of Infrastructure, Aviva Investors, said: “It is encouraging to have secured funding into ITS from Avenue Capital which, alongside existing investments made by Aviva Investors, will enable the business to maximise its potential. We have been pleased with the performance of ITS to-date and this latest injection of capital will provide it with the ability to fulfil its future growth plans, as part of a critical sector for delivering the UK’s digital evolution.”

Greenhill acted as corporate finance advisors on the transaction with Dow Schofield Watts, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP provided legal advice, RSM were tax advisors and Analysys Mason provided commercial and technical due diligence .

Media contact:

Deborah Simcock 

deborah.simcock@itstechnologygroup.com

M. 07801 443022

Mike Goodwin, CTO at ITS Technology Group said: “As a joint venture partner rolling out the full fibre network known as LCR Connect, we are proud to build on this platform across the Liverpool City Region. As a consortium partner, we will deliver the infrastructure that will enable innovative 5G solutions to be provided at demanding high density and volume locations. This will be a gamechanger for connectivity at venues across the City Region. We are looking forward to working with the consortium partners to deliver this.”

To find out more, click here.

Recent Telecom Award Shortlistings

In the past two weeks, more shortlists have been announced and we are thrilled to be finalists in six highly competitive categories at three additional telecom awards this year. This highly prized recognition is testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire ITS Technology Group team and our suppliers, as we continue to deliver on our full fibre mission.

As a wholesale business network provider, our valued partners are at the very heart of all that we do. From helping to shape our Faster Britain full fibre network rollout and product roadmap to the continued development of our innovative Partner Portal and plug-in API; their input is pivotal. We’re delighted that they can come on this journey with us.

The Comms National Awards (CNAs)

You may have seen on our LinkedIn Page that we’ve been shortlisted in three categories at this year’s CNAs. This comes after we took home the highly coveted ‘Best Wholesale Network Provider’ award in 2022.

Our ‘Best Network’ entry centred around our Faster Britain network rollout, dedicated to providing the best connectivity that allows both our partners and their end-users to unlock unlimited opportunities to advance technologically, scale their operations and become the cornerstone within their market.

Our ‘Best Channel Portal’ entry embodies the value that our user-friendly portal offers to our partners. This online marketplace for business connectivity enables them to search, quote, and order full fibre services, as well as access marketing campaign material with ease!

We’re also delighted to have been shortlisted in the ‘Best Wholesale Service Provider’ category this year. The CNA winners will be announced on the 28th of September.

ISPA Awards (Internet Service Providers Association)

We’re finalists in two categories at this year’s landmark ISPAs. These long-standing telecom awards have showcased the very best of the UK internet industry for 25 years and are one of the most highly regarded in our sector. Therefore, it’s a real honour to be shortlisted in the ‘Best Channel Support’ and ‘Best Infrastructure (more than 250k premises passed)’ categories. The winners will be announced on the 9th of November at a ceremony in London.

CRN Women & Diversity in Channel Awards

Amongst our array of shortlistings, we’re also celebrating Neelam Parmar, our incredible Channel Marketing Manager here at ITS. Neelam has made it through to the ‘Outstanding Returner’ shortlist at the 2023 Women & Diversity in Channel Awards. This shortlisting comes after going through the nomination process.

Neelam works very closely with both our partners and their Account Managers, ensuring they’re equipped with the necessary tools and data they need to succeed in the highly competitive telecoms market.

She is a driving force in the execution of our Faster Britain movement, which includes being the brains behind our ‘Campaign in a Box’ marketing toolkit, which has been well received by our partner community. We’re absolutely delighted for Neelam and wish her well in her category. The winners will be announced on the 12th of October.

Join Our Mission to Connect Britain with Ultrafast Full Fibre and Become an ITS Partner Today

Our Faster Britain-approved partners are essential in connecting UK businesses and organisations to future-proof full fibre connections. If you’d like to become part of our ITS Partner Programme, discover more by clicking here.

Bringing four decades of telecoms experience – with the last twenty years focused on public sector – Andy has been appointed to a new role, Head of Public Sector Sales.

Building on a rapidly growing business area, he will lead the business’s activities that focus on working and collaborating with local authorities, government bodies and frameworks to drive fibre roll-out and uptake.

With a strong track record of public sector delivery at Telefonica O2 and latterly Neos Networks, Andy will lead the growth strategy in this area, taking forward existing relationships as well as developing new relationships and collaboration across the UK.

ITS has heritage in public sector, through its recent joint ventures LCR Connect in Liverpool City Region and now Digital Greenwich Connect in The Royal Borough of Greenwich.

In addition, it has numerous examples of wider public sector collaboration, undertaking builds, identifying and reusing existing local authority infrastructure, working with Tameside Council, Blackpool Council, Hammersmith and Fulham, Nottingham, and more recently across London, with Barking & Dagenham, Bexley and Havering.

With 80 other local authorities located in ITS’s Faster Britain fibre network footprint, Andy will also be helping the business’s partners maximise opportunities directly and via frameworks.

Speaking on Andy’s appointment, CEO Daren Baythorpe said: “Connectivity and digital infrastructure are crucial for local authorities in the UK, enabling the provision of better and more efficient services to communities, tackling digital inclusion, as well driving economic growth and job creation. Andy will bolster and expand ITS’s expertise in this area, bringing valuable insights, connections, and strategies to help navigate this complex and ever-changing field. I’m excited to welcome someone of his calibre into our team and look forward to us driving forward this growth area for our business.”

Andy Bell, Head of Public Sector Sales said: “ITS has an opportunity to position itself as a key partner to the public sector and I’m excited to be part of such a progressive business. I believe we have a real competitive edge and look forward to maximising opportunities to expand our network and ultimately take our fibre networks to a wider audience. We all pay into the public purse, and we all deserve access to the best services, and that’s the challenge for local authorities and government bodies. By supporting them and enabling the growth of the digital economy we can be directly involved in enabling cities and towns to better service businesses and citizens.”

The UK’s telecommunications infrastructure is undergoing a once in a generation transformation. As London’s legacy copper networks are set to retire from 2025, the importance of alternative full fibre infrastructure is being brought into sharp focus. 

The real cost of poor broadband

Originally only designed for telephone calls, the first copper networks were installed in the early 20^th century. Since then, the way we access information, collaborate, and communicate has changed substantially. Business applications have moved to the cloud, hybrid working means that many meetings are now held over Teams and Zoom (other conferencing solutions are available), and smart technologies such as IP surveillance and those that use sensors including heating and lighting are all reliant on robust, high-speed connectivity. Our digital dependence is growing.

However, a slow, unreliable broadband service can undermine all the opportunities that these technologies promise – maybe you have experienced the pain of the ‘wheel of doom’, calls dropping in and out, lengthy file upload times, or video conference screen freeze? What is the real cost of poor broadband? The impact of unnecessary end-user frustration created by unreliable services lowers productivity which ultimately hits the bottom line.

The digital revolution

There’s light at the end of this tunnel. Full fibre is being rolled out at pace to replace copper. Known as the gold standard in connectivity terms, it is the future of the UK’s communications infrastructure. Gigabit-capable fibre connectivity is high on the government’s agenda. To bring the UK up to speed, it has targeted 2030 as a timeframe for most of the country to have access to these ultrafast services. This digital infrastructure is being delivered with significant private investment, such as our own multimillion pound rollout across the capital and the rest of the UK, and public funds to level up the areas not included in operators’ plans.

Dispelling fibre myths

Not all fibre connectivity is equal. Fibre to the cabinet, known as FTTC, still relies on copper to connect your premises. While these services are much faster than over a copper-only connection, the service is only as good as the ‘last mile’ from the cabinet to the premises – it’s this part of the line that slows down the service and affects reliability.  

Full fibre means just that. The service is delivered entirely over fibre optic cables, known as FTTP. The only limiting factor is the capabilities of the equipment that is put on the end of the connection and means that full-fibre is truly futureproof.

It’s time to act if you’re still using a ‘landline’ to make phone calls, or are experiencing reliability problems with your connectivity service, you feel like you are having to work around its flaws, and it’s slowing you and your employees down. 

But even if you’re not having any broadband issues, and your connection is fast, you need to know if it’s full-fibre. If it isn’t, you should find out what your service provider’s plans are, particularly if your contract extends beyond the 2025 threshold.

The future’s now

As these full-fibre networks are already built or being rolled out, your rivals may already be benefitting from the competitive edge gigabit-capable services can deliver. Our own investment in our Faster Britain networks already reaches nearly 40% of business premises across London including a footprint spanning East London, which includes Barking & Dagenham, Havering, and Greenwich, and will soon go live across Poplar. 

For more information visit www.fasterbritain.com 

About the author

Imdadur Rahman, a Faster Britain Ambassador from full fibre provider ITS Technology Group, is on a mission to help organisations, institutions, and businesses across the capital learn more about the benefits of transformational digital infrastructure.