Networking

Easily upgrade fibre networks with new transceiver products

ProLabs, a leader in compatible optical networking and connectivity solutions, has announced the launch of two new transceiver products which will extend the life of existing broadband networks. Since the launch of the first fibre optic networks in 2008, demand for internet services has grown massively, a trend exacerbated by recent increases in bandwidth demand from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) tools and greater automation in data centre applications. In response, on the opening day of Connected Britain, ProLabs launched two new transceivers which will enable operators to upgrade their existing fibre networks without having to uproot and replace existing cables. “So much has changed since the first full fibre networks were built it is understandable that some are beginning to struggle with the demands placed upon them by bandwidth hungry households, businesses and data centres,” ProLabs, Vice President of Sales EMEAI, Sam Walker says. “The highly anticipated new transceivers being launched today will extend the life of networks across the country without the need for major infrastructure replacement projects. Upgrading existing network elements and infrastructure has never been so easy.” The new QSFP28 100G ZR4L-Bidi transceiver enables existing 10G fibre networks to operate at 100G levels at distances up to and above 70km without the need to replace any existing infrastructure. The product is 100% compatible with all leading Network Equipment Manufacturer (NEM) switches and rotor platforms and comes with a single LC connector interface, making it perfect for any network operator looking to upgrade their network with minimum fuss. The QSFP28 100G DCO transceiver responds to customer demands for a tuneable 100G product. It is capable of 80km ‘Point-to-Point’ reach without amplification and massively increases the capacity of existing infrastructure making it suitable for high traffic scenarios and backhaul. It is also backwards compatible with existing switchboards. “These transceivers have been developed with service providers in mind,” continues Sam. “In instances where a business has acquired another and is looking to integrate an older legacy network into the fold, our products will enable them to save valuable resources without an overhaul of legacy fibre. This will prove invaluable for alternative networks (altnets) with ambitions to consolidate and expand despite a limited budget.”

FTTH summit highlights industry trends and challenges

Hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by the Fiber Network Council APAC - which holds this year’s presidency of the FTTH Councils Global Alliance (FCGA) - the latest summit brought together over 25 senior leaders from the six regional councils. Over the course of two days, participants engaged in networking and discussions, exploring both the differences and shared challenges of fibre deployment and adoption at the international level. The event provided a valuable opportunity for the FTTH Councils Global Alliance to align on shared objectives and initiatives, while enabling fibre stakeholders worldwide to exchange and learn from the successful experiences of their peers, with a focus on future challenges and regional priorities. The fibre deployment trend in the Asia-Pacific region is accelerating, with the 'FTTH/B Panorama 2023 APAC' released by the Fiber Network Council APAC report showing a 7.1% increase in subscribers to 645 million and a 7.9% rise in homes passed to 815 million by June 2023. Over the last decade, subscribers have grown 6.3 times, and homes passed have increased 2.6 times. However, this rapid expansion has led to a decline in the take-up rate in some markets. The report classifies the region into three tiers: mature markets with over 80% coverage (China, Japan, South Korea), medium markets with 30-80% coverage (Australia, Indonesia), and high-potential markets with less than 30% coverage but strong growth, particularly in India, which saw 153% subscriber growth since December 2021. The FTTH Council Europe's 'European FTTH/B Market Panorama 2024' shows a positive trend in FTTH deployments in Europe, with 69.9% coverage in the EU39 area in September 2023. Despite this, only 34.7% of homes are effectively connected, with significant hurdles in key markets like Germany, the UK, Italy, Greece, Belgium, and Austria, resulting in a take-up rate of just 50%. Implementing the Gigabit Infrastructure Act will be crucial for expanding fibre networks and reaching maximum coverage, alongside effective demand-side measures and a clear plan for copper switch-off to stimulate the adoption of fibre-based services, pre-requisite to driving the required private investments. The Fiber Broadband Association’s 'The State of The North American Fiber Industry', December 2023, shows that the region had record fibre deployment, with 9 million homes passed during the year. The United States ended the year with 77.9 million homes passed and 30.9 million homes passed with fibre. Fibre 'take-rates' are averaging 45.4% based on unique home passings. In Canada, fibre has now been deployed passed 12.1 million homes with 44.6% take-rates against unique fibre home passings. The US is in the early stages of the largest fibre investment cycle in history, as the Administration works to connect every home by the end of the decade. The FTTH Panorama Latam 2023 report, by the Fiber Broadband Association – LATAM Chapter, highlights that Latin America and the Caribbean had 56.7 million fixed broadband FTTH accesses by the end of 2022. The growth of FTTH technology is expected to replace other fixed broadband technologies in the region, which currently serves 54 million households. Countries with low FTTH penetration, such as Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Panama, and Puerto Rico, present significant opportunities for market development. With 68.7 million underserved households, the region has substantial growth potential, especially when compared to Europe's 70% coverage and 35% penetration rate. Fibre optics are seen as the key driver for this expansion. Fiber Connect Council MENA emphasised the critical role data centres will play in driving the AI revolution and enabling widespread 5G deployment across the region. The Middle East is poised for significant growth, with its data centre market valued at $5.57 billion in 2023 and projected to soar to $9.61 billion by 2029, reflecting a robust CAGR of 9.52%. As the backbone of digital transformation, these investments will be pivotal in shaping the future of technology and connectivity in the region. Digital Council Africa reiterated that the continent has seen an unparalleled digital metamorphosis, catalysed by the far-reaching effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This transformative wave has reshaped the SSA landscape through the rapid expansion of connectivity, the widespread adoption of mobile technologies, and the surge in internet usage. SSA's youthful population stands as a compelling attraction when compared to regions with predominantly older demographics. Nonetheless, manoeuvring through the intricate SSA terrain can be a formidable undertaking, and better policy environments will attract further investment.

Yeastar to showcase Contact Centre Solution at UCX 2024

Yeastar, a provider of Unified Communications (UC) solutions and a continuous driver of UCaaS and CCaaS in recent years, has announced its participation in UCX 2024, which is being held in London from 2-3 October 2024. At the exhibition, Yeastar is poised to unveil its Contact Center Solution, underpinning its commitment to the user experience and delivering enhanced, full-fledged and user-centric communication experiences from London to across the globe. UCX 2024 is set to be a best-in-class event in the realm of unified communications and collaboration, and since 2008, it has supported over 150,000 IT professionals. This year it will not only spotlight the latest UC market-leading trends and cutting-edge technologies transforming how next-gen businesses communicate both internally and externally, but it will also feature a comprehensive range of topics including data, AI and automation, customer experience, IT operations and service management, and more. Yeastar offers the following 'Easy-first' solutions: Yeastar Cloud Phone System: Yeastar offers a cost-effective cloud solution to eliminate high IT expenses, hardware maintenance, and complex setups. Users can benefit from a unified experience with advanced cloud functionalities and real-time central management for a streamlined, ready-to-deploy system. Ideal for both large enterprise and start-ups, Yeastar’s flexible subscription plan and enterprise-grade UCaaS infrastructure ensure seamless connection and collaboration across any device and location, maximising ROI.• Yeastar Central Management: a centralised platform to simplify UCaaS service delivery and on-premises device management.• High Availability Solution: N+1 High Availability with four full-fledged deployment choices and enterprise-grade redundancy.• Microsoft Teams Integration: Embded app with all enterprise-grade features (and thus no need for a Teams phone license or Microsoft Calling Plan).• Bulk Auto-provisioning: Configuring IP Phone in clicks, supporting 270+ mainstream IP models.• CRM-friendly Integration: Seamless integration with popular CRM platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, etc. The latest offering is the Yeastar Contact Center Solution, a multi-tasking solution designed for efficiency. With an ‘Easy-first’ approach, it enhances agent productivity through robust call and chat report management. Advanced call centre and omnichannel capabilities integrate seamlessly with SMS, Facebook, and WhatsApp via APIs, streamlining workflows and saving valuable time. “Stepping out is crucial, and we’re excited to connect with industry pioneers and gather valuable insights at the UCX2024,” says Arya Zhou, Head of Global Sales at Yeastar. “We are eager to showcase Yeastar's future-proof, scenario-oriented products; especially the brand-new Contact Center solution, designed to meet businesses’ daily communication and collaboration needs. Yeastar is looking forward to engaging with visitors, understanding their challenges, delving into their needs, and exploring opportunities to drive the future of Unified Communications together.” Yeastar will be at Stand R36. For more from UCX, click here.

Singtel achieves 5G coverage across Singapore’s MRT network

Singtel today announced that it is the first and only network provider in Singapore to achieve full 5G coverage throughout the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network islandwide. This includes all six underground lines, as well as 27 stations of the newly completed Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL). Enhancement works started as early as 2022 with a specialised team of engineers carrying out the network upgrades. With the enhanced coverage, consumers can now enjoy fast, reliable 5G connectivity throughout their commute on Singapore’s train network. Ng Tian Chong, CEO of Singtel Singapore, says, “Many of today’s commuters, who are on 5G, want to maximise their time wherever they may be. By ensuring strong 5G connectivity throughout Singapore’s MRT network, we’re supporting thousands of commuters who use digital tools to complete their daily tasks. Whether traveling above or below ground, our customers can rely on our strong connectivity to work on-the-go, keep in touch with their loved ones, surf the internet, stream videos or game on their mobile devices. We’re proud to have achieved this new milestone, demonstrating our commitment to delivering the best connectivity in Singapore.” To ensure full 5G connectivity on the underground and new lines of the rapid rail system, Singtel engineers had to work within constraints such as conducting testing and installation works during the stations’ non-operational hours in order to avoid any disruption to train services. They also had to work within confined spaces which require specific tools and precise and safe execution. In keeping with Singtel’s goal of achieving net zero by 2045, its engineers meticulously reconfigured existing hardware that originally served the 3G and 4G spectrums within the MRT tunnels to 5G – thus saving time and resources. With the completion of the installations across the MRT lines, Singtel’s 5G coverage presently spans over 1,700 outdoor and 1,000 indoor locations, including all shopping malls and transport hubs along the MRT. Singtel continues to find ways to exploit 5G technology to benefit its customers. In 2023, it introduced the 5G Express Pass, a value-added service to give customers network priority even in crowded areas. This benefits customers at high traffic events. For more from Singtel, click here.

EXA Infrastructure to acquire Bulgarian telecoms company

EXA Infrastructure has agreed to acquire Global Communication Net AD (GCN), a Bulgarian telecommunications company offering services on its owned national fibre optic network of over 2,500km (over 1,550 miles). EXA Infrastructure provides critical modern infrastructure and engineering expertise that serves as the backbone for digital and economic growth, and the deal will see EXA Infrastructure acquire the full suite of GCN's products and services, including dark fibre, wavelength and colocation services. With the addition of GCN's network, EXA Infrastructure will expand its extensive footprint into the strategically important region of South-Eastern Europe, providing key access to international interconnection points in Turkey, Greece, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia and Georgia. This region has grown in significance due to the traffic volumes entering Europe from Asia and the Middle East, and also due to the greater focus on network redundancy and alternative route provisioning given the lack of diversity around the Red Sea. As a result of the deal, EXA Infrastructure now owns 155,000km (96,312 miles) of fibre network infrastructure across 37 countries, strengthening its position as the largest owned network connecting Europe to the rest of the world. Steve Roberts, SVP of Network Investments and Products at EXA Infrastructure, says, "The GCN network consists of over 2,500km of owned duct and cable connecting Sofia with all the borders neighbouring Bulgaria, as well as the Black Sea coast cities of Balchik, Varna and Burgas. Each of these locations are strategically important for existing and planned subsea cables, creating a natural east-west corridor. "EXA Infrastructure also gains 100km of metro network connecting key data centres and business zones within Sofia. By adding the GCN assets into our expanding network, we continue to offer our customers more route options and more scalability traffic into and around Europe." Jim Fagan, CEO, EXA Infrastructure, adds, "This acquisition further extends our network presence in South-Eastern Europe, and continues to differentiate our capabilities in serving customers for their critical infrastructure needs across the breadth of Europe. We have near term plans to expand our network both organically and through acquisition to bring more value, options and services to our customers in an ever-changing digital world." After nearly two decades of strategic leadership, Dimiter Angelov, current CEO and ex-majority shareholder of GCN, has announced his planned departure as the company prepares for its acquisition by EXA Infrastructure. Under Dimiter's stewardship, GCN not only evolved from a modest fibre optic network operator into a thriving and resilient enterprise, but also spearheaded the construction of Bulgaria’s government backbone network spanning the whole of the country. Reflecting on his journey, Dimiter expressed pride in the company’s accomplishments and confidence that, once the transition is complete, EXA Infrastructure will continue to uphold the legacy he has built. He believes the values and vision that have defined GCN will endure as the company embarks on this new chapter. The transaction was facilitated by DB Capital as lead advisors to the majority shareholder of GCN, alongside KND Partnership and Sofia Connect EAD as one of the sellers. Completion is subject to certain customary conditions and is expected to be completed in Q4 2024. For more from EXA Infrastructure, click here.

NetApp optimises VMware environments with new capabilities

NetApp, an intelligent data infrastructure company, has announced new capabilities that support VMware Cloud Foundation deployments. Mutual customers will be able to leverage NetApp solutions to right-size their IT environments to run VMware workloads at scale efficiently. For more than a decade, NetApp and VMware have collaborated to ensure the success of their joint customers and to help them unlock the full value of their VMware investments. During that time, NetApp has been a key engineering design partner with VMware and is continuing to drive innovation in highly available, scalable and performant storage as a design partner for its Next-Generation vSphere Virtual Volumes (vVols). Now, NetApp is announcing new capabilities that will enable joint customers to run their VMware deployments more efficiently. “NetApp and Broadcom are working together to take the uncertainty out of hybrid cloud environments,” explains Jonsi Stefansson, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at NetApp. “More than 20,000 customers rely on NetApp to support their VMware workloads. NetApp's continued close collaboration with Broadcom following the acquisition of VMware ensures our solutions seamlessly interoperate so our mutual customers can leverage a single intelligent data infrastructure to operate their VMware workloads more efficiently.” NetApp is helping to optimise costs, simplify operations, and increase flexibility for customers running VMware environments by offering: • Expanded support for VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF): NetApp and Broadcom customers will now be able to simplify their VCF hybrid cloud environments by using NetApp ONTAP software for all storage requirements, including standard and consolidated architectures. The latest release of ONTAP Tools for VMware (OTV) will support SnapMirror active sync to provide symmetric active-active data replication capabilities for NetApp storage systems running VMware workloads. SnapMirror active sync allows customers to operate more efficiently by offloading data protection from their virtualised compute and improving data availability. • New capabilities for Azure VMware Solution (AVS): To support customers that are extending or migrating their vSphere workloads to the cloud, customers can now leverage Spot Eco by NetApp with AVS reserved instances to get the most value out of their deployments. Using Spot Eco to manage AVS reserved instances while also using Azure NetApp Files to offload data storage can reduce compute costs significantly. • Enhanced VM Optimisation features for NetApp Cloud Insights: NetApp is introducing Cloud Insights VM Optimisation, expanding its comprehensive solution for optimising virtual environments, including VMware. Cloud Insights VM Optimisation will give customers tools to reduce costs by increasing VM density, run storage at the best price-to-performance ratio for their environment, and monitor their entire environment to ensure availability, performance, and adherence to configuration best practices across the entire stack. To help customers optimise the compute, memory and storage resources of their VMware environments, NetApp is also offering customers a free 30-day trial of Cloud Insights to most cost-effectively migrate to the new VMware software subscriptions. These offerings follow last month’s release of enhancements to NetApp BlueXP disaster recovery service, which provides guided workflows to design and execute automated disaster recovery plans for VMware workloads across hybrid cloud environments with newly added support for VMFS datastores. “As organisations modernise infrastructure with VMware Cloud Foundation, they want to know that the services upon which they rely from industry-leaders such as NetApp will continue to work seamlessly and deliver the value they have come to expect,” says Paul Turner, Vice President of Products, VCF Division at Broadcom. “Having NetApp as a close collaborator helps our mutual customers deploy innovative data and storage services on top of their private cloud platform, and ensure they are getting the most value out of their VMware environments.” “We have made Microsoft Azure the cloud of choice for VMware environments, and offer fast and cost-effective solutions enabling many customers to move their VMware workloads to the cloud,” says Brett Tanzer, Vice President of Product Management at Microsoft. “As VMware customers navigate changes to operating virtualised environments, we have given our customers a way to lock in secure and predictable pricing over multiple years. NetApp's data management and cloud observability capabilities help our customers ensure those deployments are delivering the return on investment they need.” “In an ever more complicated world of cloud, data, and infrastructure operations, IT teams are increasingly looking for holistic platforms over point solutions,” notes Scott Sinclair, Practice Director, Enterprise Strategy Group. “These joint updates from NetApp and Broadcom enable customers to use NetApp’s intelligent data infrastructure to consolidate multiple data operations onto a single platform with industry-leading data management and CloudOps capabilities. That will help customers drive greater operational and infrastructure efficiencies that reduce the total cost of ownership for their VMware investments.” For more from NetApp, click here.

Ultra-fast fibre connects winegrowers in Austria

Wine-growing regions of Lower Austria have been connected with reliable and super-fast fibre internet thanks to a partnership between Slovenia’s Kontron and Speed Connect Austria. The residents of rural areas traditionally dependent on agriculture – and known for vineyards and wine-growing – can now benefit from the new opportunities of a digital society. The major milestone has been reached less than a year into the project, with more than 800km of fibre being laid in Lower Austria as part of Speed Connect Austria’s open access network. Slovenia Kontron’s Iskratel broadband products, including OLTs (Optical Line Terminals) and ONTs (Optical Network Terminals), have been used as part of the project, enabling 10-gigabit connectivity for residents in the rural region. “We are delighted to see Speed Connect Austria bring ultra-fast fibre broadband to underserved rural areas in Austria,” says Svjetlana Kalaba, Executive Director Business Unit Broadband at Kontron Slovenia. “This efficient deployment will benefit all those that have been left behind, and we are privileged to play a key role in this success.” One of the locations benefitting from fibre connectivity is the Zellerndorf district located in the 'Retzer Land', a part of the Weinviertel wine-growing region in the north-east of Lower Austria. The Zellerndorf area has seen almost a 10% population decrease over the last two decades. An improved online experience and internet access were identified as crucial to ensure residents have a better place to live and work. "The investment in modern infrastructure makes our community ready for the digital future and enormously strengthens our attractiveness as a location,” says Markus Baier, the Mayor of Zellerndorf. “Fibre connectivity is as important in creating new opportunities for residents and businesses as electricity was 150 years ago. Fast internet sustainably improves the quality of life, economy and infrastructure in our community. “I am delighted with the success of the collaboration between Speed Connect Austria and Slovenia’s Kontron that has seen a quick and efficient fibre rollout, thanks to the advanced technology and great project planning.” According to FTTH Council Europe’s recent FTTH Market Panorama report, Austria has a 42.2% coverage rate with more than 1.7 million homes passed with fibre as of September 2023. “We are celebrating a key milestone for our project and will continue to help drive up the coverage and take-up rates of fibre across Austria to keep pace with other EU countries,” notes Antonio de Vall, CFO at Speed Connect Austria. For more from Slovenia's Kontron, click here.

DataVita launches alternative to public cloud services

DataVita, Scotland’s largest data centre and cloud services provider, has launched National Cloud, a platform that addresses the challenges many organisations face when using the public cloud that supports the wider use of artificial intelligence (AI). National Cloud is designed for workloads that don’t fit well into the traditional public cloud and it offers full transparency and predictability over costs – with no hidden fees or egress charges – removing the risk of the potentially infinite costs that come with existing pay-as-you-go public cloud models. The service is delivered from some of the most sustainable data centres in the UK, offering the lowest digital emissions of any cloud provider in the country, DataVita claims. This also ensures data residency within the UK – whereas many public could operators use overseas facilities – addressing compliance and security concerns for public services and regulated industries. Built on open architecture and interoperable systems, National Cloud allows integration and movement between different products which reduces vendor lock-in risks and enables hybrid cloud capabilities. It is purpose-built to handle complex workloads, supporting the requirements of medium and large enterprises, tech start-ups, and public sector organisations. DataVita has forged a strategic partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to deliver the new platform, combining the agility of a specialised cloud provider with the robust technology, industry experience, and simplicity of an established market leader. Danny Quinn, MD of DataVita (pictured above), says, "National Cloud is our answer to the recurring issues organisations face with public cloud services. We're actively seeking out workloads that public clouds can't efficiently support, particularly those driven by AI's growing demands and organisations requiring intricate hybrid cloud architectures. Our platform offers the performance, security, and scalability needed for these intensive applications, all while providing cost predictability and sustainability. "Available across the UK, we're already seeing significant interest from organisations looking to escape the limitations of public cloud services and gain more control over their critical workloads and data. Our focus on transparency, sustainability, and expertly tailored solutions sets us apart in the market." Xavier Poisson, Global Vice President for Service Providers & Colocation Providers at HPE, adds, “The National Cloud combines HPE GreenLake cloud’s leading capabilities to manage, observe, automate and secure complex cloud environments, with DataVita’s experience as a leading provider of cloud and connectivity services. With this new platform, customers across the UK will have access to a trusted infrastructure that allows them to stay in full control of their data and derive value from it.” For more from DataVita, click here.

R&M expands ready-to-install cabling systems

R&M, a developer and provider of high-end infrastructure solutions for data and communications networks, is expanding its range of terminated fibre optic cables. The VARIOline family now includes three plug-and-play solutions. The ready-to-assemble loose tube cabling system simplifies installation in buildings, data centres and outdoor areas as installers only have to feed the cables into shafts, ducts and racks and connect them in patch panel modules. The overall solution, consisting of ready-to-use cables and fitted fan-out legs, saves field-mounting, splicing and measuring on the construction site. Installation work can be carried out in a time and cost-saving manner with just a few specialists. The VARIOline overall solutions are used for backbone, trunk and campus cabling with either single or multimode fibres. VARIOline Easy is designed for protected environments, making it ideal for high-density packing in data centres and enterprise networks within commercial buildings and factories. This solution enables efficient space utilisation and easy management of fibre optic connections, providing a seamless and reliable network infrastructure for critical applications. VARIOline Classic provides a mechanically stable solution suitable for medium-density packing in both indoor and certain outdoor installations. It serves as a robust alternative to splicing, offering enhanced durability and ease of installation. This product line is ideal for backbone, trunk, and campus cabling, available with either single-mode or multi-mode fibres, making it versatile for various network setups. For the most demanding environments, VARIOline OP is available for outdoor environments. It withstands extreme mechanical and thermal stresses, making it suitable for industrial applications, Fibre to the Antenna (FTTA), events, tunnels, and smart cities. VARIOline OP can endure a tensile strength of up to 999 N, is waterproof with IP67 protection, and remains temperature stable from -25°C to +70°C. This product line ensures reliable performance even in the harshest conditions, providing robust and long-lasting connectivity. The VARIOline products are compatible with all R&M fibre optic platforms. R&M offers terminations to suit customer requirements with two to 144 fibres, commercially available connector types and custom lengths. The maximum total length is 600 metres. Depending on the use and number of fibres, the integrated fibre distributors with tube fittings have plastic or aluminium housings. R&M supplies the factory-tested VARIOline cables ready for assembly on recyclable cardboard drums. VARIOline cables are manufactured at all R&M sites and are therefore available worldwide at short notice. For more from R&M, click here.

Full-fibre network enhances operations around the UK’s coastline

A £175 million communications network connecting 163 remote radio sites across 11,000 miles of UK coastline is now operational, ensuring His Majesty’s (HM) Coastguard’s effective frontline emergency response continues for thousands of distress calls from the UK’s waters. Stretching from the Shetland Islands to the Isles of Scilly, it is one of the UK’s largest private broadband networks, with technology partner Telent helping to install 758 miles of new infrastructure. The first installations of the new network, combining full-fibre and microwave technology, began in December 2020, as Telent secured a new 10-year contract earlier in the same year with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to design, build and operate the upgraded network for HM Coastguard. This is part of the MCA’s investment in the Radio Network Infrastructure Replacement Programme (RNIR). “The reliable digital connection and the improved resilience provided by the new network will aid HM Coastguard’s life-saving search and rescue operations for years to come, with Telent on hand to provide its critical expertise,” says Telent CEO, Jo Gretton. “Having first begun working together in 2010, maintaining radio equipment at the remote radio sites and delivering additional support services, Telent and MCA’s relationship has moved from strength to strength.” “The new network provides a firm foundation for the MCA’s potential future and new technology services and projects that only the high performance of a full-fibre network can support,” Jo continues. Lee-on-the-Solent, Crystal Palace, Humber, Bridlington and Brighton Marina were among the first sites switched to the new search and rescue radio network. The remote radio sites cover the whole of the UK coastline, spanning Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England. “The national radio network is integral in supporting our mission of preventing the loss of life on the coast and at sea, enhancing our ability to respond to emergencies across the UK,” says HM Coastguard Assistant Chief Coastguard, Matthew Leat. The upgraded full-fibre connectivity is set to deliver improvements, such as greater bandwidth and security, along with enhanced performance and improved reliability. Now that all 163 remote radio sites have been connected, Telent is providing a fully managed service. As part of this, Telent is monitoring and managing the end-to-end performance, undertaking maintenance activities and implementing technical updates.