Virgin Media Business Wholesale, the fixed wholesale connectivity arm of Virgin Media O2 Business, has launched an enhanced core platform for National High Capacity Services (NHCS).
Virgin Media Business Wholesale's NHCS offering uses the Virgin Media O2 fixed optical network to provide high bandwidth, ultra-low latency connectivity with no distance limitations. Now rolling out across the UK, the new NHCS core network provides an alternative way of provisioning these services, whilst retaining all key attributes of the existing NHCS service. It is based on dedicated switched Ethernet technology, delivered over an optical platform, with steadfast bandwidth, and following a fixed network path end-to-end.
Virgin Media Business Wholesale already operates a national layer 1 optical platform, which has historically served all NHCS services. The new platform is an overlay to this existing network that allows for quicker, easier, and more intelligent delivery of NHCS services. It will support the wider deployment of 10Gbps services for businesses and industry, as part of the company's commitment to evolving its services to meet user needs and deliver an improved customer experience.
The existing NHCS services operate at 300+ sites, providing connectivity to 150+ data centres. This national wavelength connectivity service will continue to be a critical component within the HCS portfolio, meeting the demands of customers with speed requirements exceeding 10Gbps or those needing communication protocols other than Ethernet.
The first 14 sites for the new core network are now live across the UK, including four data centres: Equinix MA1 (Manchester), Equinix LD5 (Slough), Interxion Sovereign House (London) and Telehouse East (London). The launch is the latest phase of Project Spark, a multi-million-pound investment in Virgin Media Business Wholesale's 10Gbps portfolio. As Project Spark gathers pace, the new network build will continue, with hundreds more sites being added in 2023 and into 2024.
This rollout includes expansion to more data centre locations across the breadth of the UK – including brand new diverse fibre routes and network platforms at the new Equinix flagship site, Manchester MA5 (expected to go live early 2023).
The project also marks the first stage of a bigger programme of work between Virgin Media Business Wholesale and networking systems, services and software provider, Ciena. Ciena's WaveLogic coherent optical innovations underpin the enhanced NHCS core network capability, enabling network scalability, flexibility and quick turn-up of new services. Ciena is also working closely with Virgin Media Business Wholesale on its go-to-market strategy from ideation to execution.