X-Fibre Prep FTTP Broadband Build in Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire

A relatively new UK network builder called X-Fibre has revealed that they’re planning to roll-out a new gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network to “surpass” 10,000 homes across parts of Surrey, West Sussex, and Hampshire “within the next five years” (i.e. by 2028).

At present the Gloucestershire-based company, which was incorporated on 18th May 2021 (here), has a single Director – Leroy Patterson, who also runs both LEROY PATTERSON LTD (14557817) and MICRO TRENCH LTD (13972901). But from their website we get the impression that X-Fibre is more of a civil engineering firm, even if their build plan makes them sound like an alternative network with a wholesale solution for ISPs and mobile operators etc.

The latest details came to light after the operator made a request for Code Powers from Ofcom (here), which is typically sought to help speed-up deployments of new fibre optic infrastructure and cut costs, not least by reducing the number of licenses needed for street works. It can also be used to facilitate access to run their own fibre via Openreach’s existing ducts and telegraph poles (PIA).

As part of that application, X-Fibre stated that they’d already installed related networks in the rural areas of Surrey Hills and several towns and villages in West Sussex, “where existing broadband coverage is poor“. But we don’t know exactly which locations they’re referencing and what ISPs were involved, if any.

Ofcoms Statement

The Applicant is proposing to build and operate a FTTP network, providing internet connections and communication services to homes, businesses, and organisations with a view to further expanding their reach across Surrey, West Sussex, and Hampshire. It aims to surpass 10,000 homes within the next five years.

The Applicant has stated that it intends to deploy its FTTP network in rural areas that are not covered by Openreach’s FTTC facilities or an alternative cable network.

Many target properties are a significant distance from the existing FTTC cabinet and have a service providing limited broadband speeds which tend to be between 20Mbit/s and 2Mbit/s and lack a symmetrical service. The applicant states that their planned network will provide a very high quality, high-capacity connection, with a symmetrical broadband service and residential broadband speeds starting at 50Mbit/s and rising to 1 Gigabit. Businesses customers would be offered bespoke ultrafast speeds starting at 1 Gigabit.

Suffice to say that now is a particularly difficult time to be getting into either the Alternative Network (AltNet) or fibre-related civil engineering space, since both are under pressure from rising costs, aggressive competition from rival builders and other factors.