Investment sees telecoms firm as the first to connect to all major UK internet exchanges
A telecoms and network firm is targeting business growth in Leeds, having invested over £1m within Yorkshire as part of the rollout of its Optical Core Network.
Having established itself within AQL’s Salem Church datacentre in the city, Commsworld has also joined the IXLeeds Internet Exchange hosted at the facility. In doing so, it has become the only organisation to connect to all of the country’s internet exchanges.
An internet exchange is the physical infrastructure through which internet service providers (ISPs) and content providers exchange internet traffic between their networks.
As a result of its new presence in Leeds, Commsworld says it can offer local businesses speeds of up to 10GBb/s.
Charlie Boisseau, Chief Technology Officer at Commsworld, said: “Commsworld has built a reputation for operating an incredibly high performance and low-latency network.
“Whenever we expand the network to new cities or regions, we always look for better ways to interconnect our network to existing infrastructure.
“When looking to build a presence in Leeds, we naturally set out to join IXLeeds. Most providers still only connect to a couple of exchanges, typically in London.
“It’s like all flights going through Heathrow Airport, or all journeys through the M25. Imagine if to get from Leeds to Manchester, you had to go down the M1, into Docklands, round a roundabout and back up the M6.
“Not many providers have a national network like we do. This brings with it many technical benefits and gives us the opportunity to make ourselves the best locally connected internet service provider in the UK.”
Commsworld’s own national optical core network means the firm has tripled the size of its existing dark fibre estate, connecting to more than 20 major UK cities including Leeds.
To further support its business drive, the firm is due to present at the upcoming Public Sector Networks 2019 event, taking place on 24 September at the Leeds Royal Armouries.
Ricky Nicol, Chief Executive of Commsworld, said: “Providing better connectivity solutions to our customers across the UK is the basis of everything we do.
“So to be able to add this final exchange to our network is a fantastic achievement – not to mention a unique, more local service than many of our rivals can offer.
“We’re firm believers that every corner of the country should benefit from the best connectivity, not just those in London.”
The move comes following confirmation of the company’s most successful year ever, with revenues breaking through the £20m barrier – a 41% increase on the previous year along with a threefold growth in profits.
