- Northern and London rings go live on time to complete construction
- State-of-the-art, 2000km network built to deliver the highest standards in capacity, performance and reliability
- High-profile customers already in place including Hutchison 3G, NCP &: Firstnet
186k, the telecoms subsidiary of Lattice Group, today announced another major milestone, completing and lighting its entire UK core network.
186k now operates the UK's most advanced, national next-generation network spanning nearly 2000kms and connecting 20 towns and cities across the UK - from Glasgow to Bristol. This core infrastructure is linked to Metropolitan Area Networks currently under construction in the major business centres of London, Birmingham and Manchester, and will enable 186k to provide 1000s of business customers with high performance network connectivity straight from their offices across the rest of the UK.
186k CEO, Lawrie Haynes says: 'We set ourselves a target to complete our core network by the end of 2001 and despite some major hurdles, we've achieved that objective. It's testimony to the fact that 186k delivers on its promises - a commitment that runs through our entire business.'
With no legacy infrastructure to contend with, 186k has designed its network to deliver the highest standards in performance and reliability. By constructing most of its network cross-country, 186k reduces the threat of third party interference and delivers industry-leading resilience to customers.
'Performance and reliability are integral to our commercial success, helping us secure long term contracts with major names like Hutchison 3G and NCP Manchester even before the network was complete,' adds Haynes.
About 186k
186k is a next-generation communications company delivering the state-of-the-art network infrastructure needed to make true broadband communications a reality in the UK.
The brand name derives from the speed of light: 186,000 miles per second, reflecting the speed and sophistication of the company's state-of-the-art, all-optical network.
186k operates a wholly owned, IP-powered national fibre network that spans nearly 2000 kms, connects 20 major centres of demand across the UK and is capable of reaching speeds of tens of terabits per second. Using the latest optical transmission equipment, the 186k network will offer protected services with industry-leading service availability.
Underpinned by its contracts with Hutchison 3G and NCP Manchester Ltd, 186k is rolling out Metro Area Networks (MAN) in Birmingham and Manchester respectively, bringing the network even closer to customers in these key cities. Through a strategic relationship with the telecoms joint venture created by Lattice Group and Thames Water, 186k will have access to a MAN in London.
186k provides corporates and communications companies, including carriers, mobile operators, ISPs and ASPs, with the bandwidth and services required to meet today's and tomorrow's broadband communications needs. Services include dark and lit fibre, managed bandwidth, managed wavelengths, co-location and carrier grade IP (Internet Protocol) services.
186k's parent company is Lattice Group, which has invested £450m in the construction and provisioning of 186k's network.