Recently, Bournemouth, United Kingdom, has become the first of 15 towns and city-wide fiber networks that have bragging rights to say their homes have two fiber connections, fed via the sewer system. (How ‘bout that for dinner table conversation?)

Fibrecity uses a unique model that utilizes the sewer system to lay the fiber optic cable. This makes the rollout of its network commercially viable, and reduces disruption to the local area as there is little or no road digging. As well as the network in Bournemouth, work will be starting on a Fibrecity in Dundee, UK, this summer followed by a national roll out. The company is also working with international partners to rollout fiber networks using its innovative model across the globe.

The objective of this unique construction model is simple: these fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and point-to-point fiber optic networks being built means that homes and businesses will benefit from super fast connectivity - 100 Mbps - which far exceeds the Government’s vision for Digital Britain of a comparatively super slow 2 Mbps for each household.

Fibrecity, part of the i3 Group, is set to roll out nationwide fiber optic networks connecting at least 2,000 homes per week. One fiber enables homeowners to benefit from paid-for services such as IPTV, telephony and super fast 100 Mbps broadband, while a separate 40 Mbps fiber is dedicated to the council and will be used to deliver local services such as community TV and health services.

Elfed Thomas, CEO and founder of i3 Group, said: “Fibrecity is the only network that is building a national infrastructure to all homes, both new build and existing properties, that brings fiber into their living room. It does not at any point rely on the existing antiquated copper network like BT’s already outdated fiber to the cabinet network.

Since its launch last year, the Fibrecity initiative has progressed according to plan, and the first two Fibrecities are on track to be completed by the end of 2010. The firm is in a very strong position and is in final negotiations and positive discussions with a number of key service providers and companies that will provide next generation services including IPTV, delivering a complete range of channels including interactive gaming. 

Formed in 2002, i3 Group (formerly H2O Networks Group) is a pioneer of deploying dark fiber in the UK’s waste water network to enable connectivity. Its patented FS System is a fast and cost-effective way to lay fiber optic cable and to link up any location without the high costs and disruption caused by traditional cabling methods.

i3 Group is comprised of: Fibrecity Holdings, H2O Networks, H2O International, Innovation Centre, and World Wide Distribution Centre.

H2O Networks provides business networks using Darc (Derestricted Access Route Connections), a fiber solution that allows businesses and organizations to realize their full potential, while preserving the environment in which they operate.

Sources: www.h2o-networks.uk.net and www.fibrecity.eu 

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