As consolidation continues to affect and redefine the UK connectivity market, business connectivity provider Neos Networks is claiming to have strengthened competition by giving customers access to a wider range of independent fibre networks.
Specifically, with 10Gbps-capable services from CityFibre and direct access to the ITS fibre network, Neos says it now offers customers up to 10 network options.
Putting the expansion into perspective, Neos noted that recent developments – including BT’s pending acquisition of TalkTalk and its wholesale arm, PlatformX Communications (PXC); and the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s provisional concerns over Nexfibre’s proposed acquisition of Netomnia – demonstrate the precarious future of the UK’s fibre market. With network ownership evolving, maintaining meaningful competition and customer choice remains a key priority for the sector.
“Consolidation is changing who owns the UK’s connectivity infrastructure, but it shouldn’t reduce the choices available to customers” said Nafsika Katsoglou, director of product, digital and pre-sales at Neos Networks. “Our strategy [is] to give customers greater clarity and choice by bringing multiple network options together in one place. With CityFibre and ITS expanding that choice even further, customers can select the right connectivity for each location rather than being tied to a single network operator.”
The additions form part of Neos Networks’ development of its Livequote portal, which is designed to provide prospective and existing customers with a quoting, ordering and price comparison service matching its own network against leading third-party offerings. And, to bring greater clarity, choice and ease to a fragmented market.
The digital platform brings together connectivity options from its own network as well as BT Wholesale, Openreach, Virgin Media Business, PXC, Colt, Sky, Vorboss, CityFibre and ITS, enabling customers to compare available networks, commercial terms and service options rather than managing separate supplier relationships.
This means instead of being tied to one network operator across their estate, such as Openreach, customers can select from different infrastructure providers according to availability, capacity and their own commercial requirements.
The latest addition to Livequote gives Neos Networks access to additional CityFibre infrastructure, expanding the availability of high-capacity Ethernet and other connectivity services delivered through its national network and digital platform, subject to location availability.
Alongside Livequote, Neos Networks has launched API ordering across optical, DIA and Ethernet services, enabling customers to embed Neos Networks’ connectivity ordering directly in their own systems. This is designed to provide a more integrated and automated buying experience, reducing manual processes, and making it easier for customers to purchase and manage connectivity at scale.
Neos has also directly onboarded Ethernet and Ethernet over fibre to the premises (FTTP) services from ITS, introducing additional competitively priced connectivity options for Ethernet and Neos DIA across the ITS network. The latter spans locations from London and the North West to the Midlands, Yorkshire, Scotland and the South West.
“We’ve built our infrastructure around the needs of businesses in major towns and cities across the country,” said Dave Ferry, chief sales officer at ITS. “Combining that local reach with Neos Networks’ national backhaul network gives customers greater connectivity choice and direct access to our Ethernet and Ethernet over FTTP services in the UK’s major business conurbations.”
