CityFibre and Easynet collaboration supercharges PSN

City communications

CityFibre and Easynet collaboration supercharges PSN

11 August 2014

Collaboration sees the creation of the most advanced Public Services Network Framework offering to UK towns and cities

11th August 2014 – Leading fibre optic infrastructure provider CityFibre and UK-based communications and managed service provider Easynet (formerly MDNX) have today signed a new agreement which will, for the first time, enable local authorities around the country to benefit from transformational, gigabit speed, pure fibre network solutions from the government’s Public Sector Network (PSN) Framework. The agreement will see the businesses deploy groundbreaking new technologies that will speed up and enhance the PSN.

The PSN is a ‘network of networks’ which aims to unify public sector network infrastructure procurement across the UK. It is part of the government’s drive to save taxpayers £500 million in 2014 by improving efficiencies in its IT spending.

Under the agreement, CityFibre will supply dark fibre connectivity into Easynet’s PSN network as part of their overall solution. This provides Easynet - a UK Government approved and accredited PSN and G-Cloud supplier - with the ability to offer its public sector customers with limitless capacity at a competitive price, as well as the ability to ‘tune up’ bandwidth over time, providing a truly future-proofed infrastructure platform. The metropolitan borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire will be the first area to benefit from the implementation of CityFibre’s technologies. This means cities and towns like Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Batley will soon have access to some of the fastest, most reliable digital connectivity in the country. The state-of-the-art fibre network will give a major boost to the economic and social development of the area, and will position Kirklees as one of the most digitally-advanced areas of the UK.

CityFibre’s network deployments all follow the company’s Well Planned City design, factoring in not just immediate, but also future demand. The overall design, including the route, number of fibres and access points can accommodate significant expansion enabling data centres, mobile towers, businesses and even homes to be connected to the network in the future.

CityFibre’s experience in delivering world-class Internet connectivity in regional centres such as York and Peterborough will be a perfect fit with Easynet’s extensive experience designing and delivering multi-million pound government PSN contracts. It also means that local authorities can secure a transformational solution, bringing them in-line with the most digitally advanced cities around the world.

Commenting on the agreement, Simon Holmyard, head of public sector, Easynet, said: “There is a real opportunity for public sector customers to realise the value available under PSN by incorporating all the available infrastructure and technologies, delivering maximum flexibility and commercial value. This agreement with CityFibre complements our accredited PSN network service provision and adds to our Government portfolio of Hosting, Unified communications and collaboration services. We see CityFibre playing a significant part in this market transformation as part of our overall solutions”. He continues, “With the Public Sector drive towards Smart Working, having access to data anywhere and anytime is key. High speed access is a must. This partnership will enable local public sector to embrace “Smart Working”. Kirklees and its peers and partners can leverage the power of the network for the benefit of local services and citizens”.

Greg Mesch, CEO at CityFibre said: “Thanks to our partnership with Easynet, CityFibre is now approved as a supplier to Easynet for the Government’s PSN framework. Our city-wide pure fibre solutions are now available to local authorities throughout the UK.

“In a digital age, we must ensure that our towns and cities are furnished with a next generation and future-proof digital infrastructure supporting the public and private sectors. Our partnership with Easynet is an exciting opportunity for local authorities up and down the country to make the most of the PSN.”

-ENDS-

CityFibre Media Contact:

Michael House at FieldHouse Associates

michael@fieldhouseassociates.com

+44 (0) 7958336475

Easynet Media Contact:

Anne Amlot, global PR manager

anneamlot@easynet.com

0207 032 5811

About CityFibre

CityFibre is the largest independent provider of pure fibre optic network infrastructure in the UK. The company designs, builds, owns and operates gigabit speed fibre networks in mid-sized cities and major towns, for the public and private sectors. These networks empower data-hungry users, unleashing unlimited speeds on future-proofed technology and ensure that the UK’s regional centres remain truly open for business in a digital age.

With network in 57 UK towns and cities, CityFibre serves a vast array of public sector organisations, service providers and businesses. It has also begun three Gigabit City projects in York, Peterborough and Coventry where city-wide pure fibre networks known as ‘COREs’ bring world-class Internet connectivity and the benefits of gigabit speeds to every aspect of the city’s community.

CityFibre is also a proud member of a joint venture with TalkTalk and Sky. Established in early 2014, the collaboration aims to prove the viability of gigabit speed fibre networks and services for the home and business. Work is currently underway to make York the first of these cities, with more set to follow in the near future. At its completion, tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the York will be connected directly to a future-proof modern digital infrastructure.

CityFibre is based in London, United Kingdom, and its shares trade on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM: CFHL). Further information on the company can be found here: www.cityfibre.com

About Easynet

Easynet is a UK-based Communications and Managed Service provider (“CSP”)&(“MSP”), and a UK government-approved and accredited PSN and G-Cloud supplier, delivering a managed network of networks. It has 20 years’ experience providing managed services to public and private sector, national and multinational businesses.

Easynet offers customers a portfolio of network, hosting and unified communications solutions enhanced by a range of ‘over the top’ solutions including security, voice, videoconferencing and application performance management. Its Public Sector customers include Transport for London, Anglian Water, and JANET.

For more information visit www.easynet.com

CityFibre News

With network projects in over 60 cities and construction underway to reach up to 8 million homes