Bridging the digital divide is critical for underserved communities across the UK. For LightSpeed, a leading independent full-fibre broadband provider, the mission is clear: deliver Gigabit broadband to the Midlands and East of England with industry-leading technology and outstanding service.
To achieve this, LightSpeed required robust, scalable network infrastructure to support its Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) and wholesale service expansion. With its UK-wide reach and expertise in delivering tailored, high-performance solutions for rapid growth, Neos Networks was the ideal connectivity partner.
The challenge
LightSpeed is committed to transforming digital access in regions often overlooked by traditional providers. However, scaling up its network to meet its ambitious growth targets posed several challenges:
- Rapid expansion into underserved areas: LightSpeed needed to connect homes and businesses in new regions like North Staffordshire while maintaining its high-performance standards.
- Seamlessly linking critical sites: A reliable, high capacity backhaul network was essential to connect LightSpeed’s infrastructure with key data centres and markets in London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
- Building a robust network for wholesale services: With growing demand from other service providers, LightSpeed needed infrastructure capable of supporting bespoke wholesale and managed connectivity solutions.
To meet these challenges, LightSpeed needed an experienced partner who could deliver tailored connectivity solutions at scale, ensuring seamless service to its customers and wholesale partners.
The solution
Neos Networks worked closely with LightSpeed to design and deliver a high-performance connectivity solution tailored to their needs. This included providing advanced network infrastructure, including:
- Dark Fibre
- 100Gbps and 10Gbps optical links
- Backhaul services
Dark Fibre enabled LightSpeed to expand its FTTP network into regions like North Staffordshire and beyond. The high capacity optical links provided robust, resilient connections for core networks and key data centres. And by leveraging Neos Networks’ extensive UK-wide network, LightSpeed could also bolster its wholesale services, offering greater choice and flexibility to its partners.
Together, these elements delivered the capacity, scalability and resilience LightSpeed needed, laying the foundations for sustained growth.
The outcome
The partnership between LightSpeed and Neos Networks is already transforming connectivity across the Midlands and East of England. Key outcomes include:
- Enhanced network scalability: LightSpeed has the infrastructure to connect more premises and expand into new areas efficiently.
- Improved performance and resilience: The high capacity links ensure reliable and seamless connectivity, even during peak demand.
- Accelerated rollout: LightSpeed’s ability to extend FTTP services has supported pre-sales, customer sign-ups, and faster service deployment.
With this advanced network infrastructure, LightSpeed is well positioned to meet its ambitious targets: connecting 150,000 new premises in the target area by 2027, delivering an exceptional broadband experience to its customers.
Overall, this partnership is an important step in both LightSpeed and Neos Networks’ missions – to bridge the digital divide and make connectivity work for all communities across the UK.
“Partnering with Neos Networks equips us with the flexibility and scalability to expand rapidly while staying true to our commitment to exceptional service delivery. This collaboration has been vital in helping us bridge the digital divide and bring high-quality broadband to underserved communities.” – Chris Tagg, Chief Technology and Information Officer at The LightSpeed Group
