Neos Networks to deploy a new dark fibre network in Northern Ireland.
The network will support education and research institutions by providing high-capacity fibre optic links at speeds of up to 100Gbps between Jisc resources and data centres in the UK and Northern Ireland and key partner networks in Dublin. The contract was awarded to Neos following a competitive bid and represents a further phase of Jiscs’ ongoing overhaul of its Janet network across 15 regions of UK Jisc in North West England, announced in January 2022.
The two contracts are part of an ongoing review and upgrade of the Janet Network to increase the capacity, speed and efficiency of its regional hubs. The new gigabit-capable dark fibre network benefits from improved resiliency thanks to two separate backup routes to the UK mainland via submarine cables to the company’s unbundled exchanges in Glasgow and Southport. The build-out of the new network is already underway under the original seven-year contract.
Pete Asman, MD, Public Sector & Enterprise at Neos Networks said, We are very proud of our 20 year relationship with Jisc. This latest contract signing is another significant milestone. The new network will bring operational efficiencies to Jisc and allow it to further improve the services it offers to its members in the education and research sectors.
Neil Shewry, Associate Director, Network Delivery at Jisc said, We must continually improve and expand connectivity options for the institutions we serve. This new network will provide us with the bandwidth, performance and reliability we need to achieve this goal. This network will provide Jiscs members with future-proof connectivity and help meet the increasing demand created by the ongoing shift to the hybrid learning environment. Neos Networks was formerly a division of national energy company SSE
