A leading disruptive tech and networks innovator has urged Newcastle and the North East to invest in a new digital network fit for the 21st century – saying it is as vital to the city’s prosperity as a modern public transport system.
Commsworld says it stands ready to help Newcastle develop a resilient fibre optic network that ensures the city’s digital infrastructure can support not only existing businesses but attract new ones.
It also wants to work with Northumberland County Council and the North Tyne Combined authority on helping spread Gigabit connectivity into rural areas.
The company, headquartered in Edinburgh, has earmarked the North East as a target area and was recently invited by Business Improvement District Company NE1 Ltd to support a business briefing at its Newcastle office on the need for the city to invest in fibre optic networks.
Commsworld is looking to expand its expertise throughout the UK following a doubling of its revenues over the last three years. The firm, run by chief executive Ricky Nicol, has seen its average annual compound growth of 28% take the business in 2018 through the £20 million barrier, while its profitability has “increased exponentially”.
Nicol pointed to his firm’s track record of radically modernising networks in Scotland’s two largest cities Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both are now both recognised globally as centres of tech and business excellence.
In Edinburgh alone, Commsworld was given a seemingly impossible timeframe of just nine months to improve its WAN network and did so on time– when other providers in general took up to three years to do the same type of job. It also sub-contracted to digital infrastructure provider CityFibre on a 150km fibre optic network that put the city on the map as a Gigabit City.
The benefits of the project, which offers unlimited bandwidth and gigabit speed, mean some 17,000 businesses have the opportunity to use the network. Glasgow is also a Gigabit City, with more than 19,000 businesses across the city centre now having access to next-generation digital infrastructure, thanks to an additional 243km extension to the network reach
A direct comparison with what Commsworld can bring to Northumberland can be seen in the Scottish Borders. Commsworld transformed the area’s outdated network infrastructure and also worked in collaboration with tech giant CGI on a landmark ICT deal to transform Borders schools into hi-tech hubs of learning, with all secondary schools having gigabit speed connections.
Nicol said: “Commsworld can offer Newcastle and the North East the very best connectivity and service to any organisation in the region. We are a bona fide disruptor brand, fleet of foot and highly personable. We have years of experience delivering transformative projects in Scotland and want to bring our expertise to the North East.
“Newcastle is a fantastic city with the potential to be a major player in the tech sector. We want to help Newcastle fulfil its potential by transforming its infrastructure.”
Last year a group of MPs from around Northern England urged the Chancellor to deliver massive investment in the regions transport system to deliver jobs, investment and growth.
But Nicol added that equally important was delivery of 100% full-fibre broadband to the area – along with the type of digital infrastructure that Commsworld could offer.
The secret of Commsworld’s success is its next generation network built specifically for businesses and has revolutionised the speed, security and resilience of internet for firms across the UK.
Commsworld’s connectivity products and services are underpinned by its optical core network and fully managed cloud and security solutions.
It uses dark fibre which allows low latency levels, meaning Commsworld manages the process of data transference from end to end. This makes it more resilient, flexible and agile.
Commsworld – which has also established a base in London – also recently successfully joined a new £5 billion UK government telecoms and network procurement framework.
It successfully bid to be listed on two Network Services 2 (NS2) “lots”, representing Wide Area Networks and Local Area Networks, with three lots pending.
It means the firm can benefit from being on a streamlined procurement process for the entire UK public sector, associated bodies and agencies, the voluntary sector and charities.
