Fujitsu to Build Open, Wholesale FTTH Network in UK

Fujitsu UK announced plans to build an open access, wholesale FTTH network serving 5 million homes in rural Britain. The network would be an alternative to BT Openreach but use the company's existing underground ducts and telegraph poles. The FTTH network would use Cisco gear.


Fujitsu said some of the funding for this project could come from the £530 million earmarked by the UK Government to drive investment in superfast broadband in rural communities.


Virgin Media and TalkTalk have each confirmed their intention to buy wholesale access via this network to deliver services in remote parts of the UK. The network will also be open to other service providers on wholesale terms.


Virgin Media's CEO, Neil Berkett, said: "Virgin Media's involvement in this ground breaking project is part of our on-going drive to rapidly create a step change in the UK's digital evolution. Fujitsu's vision and global expertise provides an opportunity to change the game in terms of broadband provision in parts of the UK that are otherwise being left behind. We now have a once in a lifetime opportunity to make the ambition of a digitally-enabled society a reality beyond the country's cities and towns."http://www.fujitsu.com/uk/news/pr/fs_20110413.html