Global colocation and bandwidth infrastructure services provider Zayo Group has been selected by telecommunications company O2 to provide and manage a fully resilient core fiber network throughout the UK. The nationwide fiber network spans from Glasgow to Salisbury, comprises more than 4,500 route km and incorporates 19 connectivity points around the UK.
The 15-year agreement marks a shift for O2 from SDH and Ethernet-based managed services infrastructure to a dedicated fiber optic network, which connects mobile switching sites across the network. The new infrastructure will provide O2 with flexible capacity to accommodate increasing demand for mobile data driven by its 4G rollout and increasingly digital customer base. The national network will incorporate towns and cities around the UK including Slough, Croydon, Newcastle and London.
“With the O2 4G network now covering over 260 towns and cities and half of the UK population, there has been unprecedented growth in the amount of data traffic transmitted across the network,” said Adrian Di Meo, Chief Technology Officer for O2. “A year after the launch of our 4G network, it has already carried a total of 5,400 Terabytes of 4G data, which is the equivalent of eight million hours of HD video.”
Telefónica UK
“Deploying high capacity core fiber is essential when faced with this increase in data traffic and the resilience and reliability of our network is important for customers,” added Di Meo. “Zayo’s track record, expertise and experience made them a natural choice to provide this fiber optic infrastructure. The new backbone will continue to help deliver a great digital experience for our customers.”
O2 is the commercial brand of Telefónica UK Limited. With over 23 million customers, O2 runs 2G, 3G and 4G networks across the UK, as well as operating O2 Wifi and owning half of Tesco Mobile.
“We have seen an increase in data consumption and this is most apparent when we look at the ever-increasing requirements for mobile users,” said Alastair Kane, European vice-president for Zayo. “Zayo is committed to expanding its European footprint and enabling its partners to manage these constantly expanding traffic requirements. By moving this particular infrastructure to a dedicated fibre optic platform, O2 can manage their growth more effectively.”
Zayo Group
Based in Boulder, Colorado, Zayo Group provides comprehensive bandwidth infrastructure services in over 300 markets throughout the U.S. and Europe. Zayo delivers a full suite of lit services and dark fiber products to wireline and wireless customers, data centers, Internet content providers, high-bandwidth enterprises, and government agencies across its 81,000 route mile network. The company also offers 37 carrier-neutral colocation facilities across the U.S. and France.
