The initial organisations in the Bristol Network have been connected to a 10Gbps fibre to the premise (FTTP) network in the south west city.
The Bristol Network is run by a partnership featuring ITS Technology Group and Net Support UK, which was awarded a 20 year licence to build and operate city-wide FTTP infrastructure using council-owned ducts.
The network features 75km of duct infrastructure of which 58km is unused, with plans to expand this to more than 180km.
Services will include wholesale access only products and managed services available to end user businesses through channel partners.
Bristol City Council digital transformation head Gavin Beckett said: “As a leading digital city, The Bristol Network and the collaboration with Bristol City Council is imperative to drive forward a programme of change throughout the city. This project dovetails perfectly into our smart city and ‘Internet of Things’ initiatives.”
ITS Technology Group CEO Roy Shelton said: “The network is quickly being utilised by the type of businesses and organisations that Bristol is so proud of.
“We have worked hard with our local partners to design and roll out the network to areas which continue to be underserved and starved of robust ultrafast broadband.
“Working in partnership with Bristol City Council and our partners the network will continue to evolve to be the largest and only council supported network in Bristol. The network will also form the basis for further digital inclusion and innovative solutions to be deployed via our wider global technology partners.”
One of the wholesale partners, Spectrum Internet, has connected Yogscast and Spike Island, two local digital firms, to the infrastructure.
CityFibre, a rival FTTP operator, is working on a 1Gbps network in Bristol and has partnered with Triangle Networks.
