North-West fibre optics solutions provider announced as 2010 Broadband Infovision Award finalist
North West-based i3 Group, the company which is bringing next generation internet connectivity to homes across the UK, has been nominated for a top industry award.
The fibre optic solutions provider has been shortlisted in the Broadband Innovation of The Year category at the 2010 Broadband Infovision Awards. These awards recognise the technologies, applications, products, advances and services judged as the most unique and beneficial to the IT industry.
The nomination is for the company’s Fibrecity projects which will result in more than one millions homes and businesses being connected to its fibre optic network over the next four years – with standard speeds of 100Mbps and boosts of up to 1Gbps.
Formed in 2002 by Elfed Thomas, i3 Group is a pioneer in building dark fibre networks using the sewer networks, other ready-made ducts and patented micro-trenching technology to roll-out super fast connectivity. This method is a faster, more cost effective and less disruptive than conventional civil works. The company is using this and other patented low cost methods to connect homes and businesses to fibre optic networks across the UK so they can benefit from next generation internet-based services.
Construction of Fibrecity networks are currently underway in Bournemouth and Dundee with a third Fibrecity network set to be announced in autumn 2010.
Elfed Thomas said: “We are delighted to be nominated for this prestigious award and to be recognised for our unique Fibrecity model.
“It is our aim to bring open next generation internet connectivity to as many people as possible which is why we are building the only large scale fibre to the home network in the UK that includes existing properties and not just new builds.
“We also wanted to offer consumers more choice than ever before through our Fibrecity gateway, which serves as a virtual market place allowing multiple service providers to offer and deliver services over a single Fibrecity network connection.
“We greatly look forward to continuing our work in Bournemouth and Dundee and getting started in other towns and cities throughout the UK.”
The winners of the 2010 Broadband Infovision Awards will be announced at a gala dinner awards presentation evening at the 2010 Broadband World Forum in Paris on 26th October.
