UK internet service provider Internet Technology Group is leasing a European network capability from Viatel Inc, the New York-based carrier’s carrier. ITG has taken enough capacity on Viatel’s Circe network, to link its London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris operations. The firm reckons the cross-border capability means it can now class itself as an independent tier-1 ISP, a rapidly declining species in the UK since last week’s acquisition of INS by Cable & Wireless (NBD 07/07/99) which would make it the UK’s only such independent business, if you believe some industry sources.
The network is a long-term lease on New York-based Viatel Inc’s Circe fiber-optic network, which conveniently passes through the UK, France and Holland. The German segment of Circe, Ring 3, is owned by a joint venture of Viatel, Metromedia Fiber Network Inc and Carrier 1 Holdings Ltd. Ring 3 hasn’t been lit yet, but ITG’s Frankfurt operation isn’t open yet either so that should cause few problems. Both are expected to arrive in the next month or two. ITG have leased 155Mbps circuits on the network.
The ISP has big plans in Europe. Although at first it intends to use the network as a value-add for its national customers, it is targeting multinationals that want a pan-European service provider with the leasing of Circe capacity. In a press release, the firm rolled out International Data Corp to confirm it was in with a shout of picking up a respectable market share.
