UK based Virgin Media Business has launched a trial with THECUBE to provide the startup incubator with secure business-grade Internet to resell on a flexible basis to its members.
THECUBE, based near "Silicon Roundabout", at the heart of London’s hi-tech startup community, will be enabled with a dedicated, carrier-grade 1Gbps Internet access.
The free trial will last one year, during which the incubator will explore a range of commercial models and package the service so its users can benefit from superfast and dedicated Internet connections without the need for long-term contracts.
The trial offers flexible access to business-grade Internet, providing entrepreneurs with the connectivity to get their ventures moving in the right direction, without being locked into long-term business contracts, said the company.
Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said last year the Prime Minister set out their ambition for London’s East End to become a world-leading technology city to rival Silicon Valley, and added, programmes like Virgin Media’s will help turn this vision into reality.
"This programme will help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into new businesses by providing them with access to the infrastructure they need," Vaizey said.
THECUBE founder Araceli Camargo said their role is to attract and incubate entrepreneurs by giving them the best tools to enable their ambitions, and this trial enables the startup incubator to provide entrepreneurs with a previously inaccessible technology, but on their terms.
Virgin Media Business managing director Mark Heraghty said splitting the 1Gbps service they are provisioning to THECUBE, into numerous superfast services they can resell to their resident startups makes business sense for all parties.
"We’re making use of both nationwide fibre optic network and our willingness to challenge the norm with TheCUBE and working alongside local businesses to help them achieve their ambitions," Heraghty said.
Virgin Media will deliver THECUBE’s new connection via its Big Red Internet proposition, which will provide unconstrained bandwidth and lightning speeds, without any costly upgrades, as the startup incubator’s Internet connectivity demands increase.
