ITS launches full fibre network in Manchester

The Cheshire-based technology group is expanding its ‘Faster Britain’ network to the city, giving around 10,500 businesses access to hyper-fast broadband connectivity.

A full fibre broadband connection offers speeds of up to 1,000 megabits per second, otherwise known as 1 Gbps (gigabit).

ITS Technology Group’s Faster Britain full fibre network is an open-access wholesale network, enabling access to a range of business connectivity, IT, and cloud services via its 300-plus partners.

The company has already rolled out the network across parts of the North West in recent years, to areas such as Blackpool, Preston, and Tameside in Greater Manchester. ITS is also a joint venture partner of LCR Connect, a 212km full fibre network currently being built for businesses in the Liverpool City Region.

The new section is now live, providing hyperfast fibre connectivity to business and industrial areas across inner-city districts of Manchester, including Deansgate, Spinningfields, Piccadilly, New Islington, and The Green Quarter, covering buildings such as Beehive Mill, The Express Buildings, and The Great Northern Railway Complex.

The network comprises three spines to serve businesses in areas including Droylsden, Lower and Higher Broughton, Ancoats, and Cheetham Hill. Credit: via DJLS Consulting

The network has been built reusing existing ducts to avoid road digs and minimise disruption to local communities, ITS said.

The group’s chief executive Daren Baythorpe said: “The UK’s telecoms and communications infrastructure is undergoing the biggest transformation since it was first installed more than a century ago.

“As the legacy copper networks are earmarked for retirement, I am proud that our Faster Britain network is now live across Manchester, giving more businesses access to high quality gigabit-capable connectivity.

“We are continuing to expand our offer across the region and have designed our Faster Britain network to serve business dense areas where there is pent up demand for access to reliable, high-speed services.”

Faster Britain launched in 2020. The network is being delivered using the latest XGS PON technology, which allows the same customer connection to scale from full fibre broadband through to a dedicated 10Gbps leased line, ITS said.