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Stoke-on-Trent Council plans for gigabit broadband

14/03/18

Authority to own city ring fibre network and use VXFibre Open Access platform to give residents and businesses connectivity options

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has agreed on a partnership with Swedish company VXFiber to roll out a gigabit full fibre broadband infrastructure around the city.

It is beginning with a project in Stoke’s Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone, using the company’s Open Access platform, which it says makes it possible for broadband customers to switch between providers and try new services more easily.

The council will retain complete ownership of the city ring fibre network. It already owns the main ducts across the city and will utilise these to provide connections.

VXFiber will ‘light up’ the fibre and supply the platform for operators and service providers to build and launch their own services to run over the network.

It said the platform will enable the council to monetise its infrastructure and receive a return on its investment in an ‘open access’ ecosystem where all service providers can deliver their services.

Smart city

Councillor Abi Brown, deputy leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We’re serious about becoming a sustainable, smart city. However, the traditional part copper based broadband offering currently available simply isn’t good enough to keep pace with the fast changing connectivity demands of today’s increasingly digital society and economy.

“Full fibre gigabit connectivity addresses these needs and is the cornerstone of our vision for the future growth and prosperity of our city and its residents and businesses. VXFiber is playing a significant role in realising this vision in a way that’s practical, affordable and flexible, to adapt and grow alongside our city and its connectivity needs.”

The company also said the platform reduce service delivery costs for the council and encourage competition among broadband service providers.

Image: by neiljaxx CC by 2.0 via Flickr

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