Three is to leverage CityFibre’s national full fibre network to support its roll out of 5G services.
The first phase of the agreement will see CityFibre provide backhaul connectivity to Three’s cell sites, with hundreds of sites already planned for connection this year across a number of CityFibre’s Gigabit City projects. The first connections to sites will go live in the summer.
CityFibre’s dark fibre connectivity will provide Three with capacity to meet the growing demand for mobile data.
Three will also have access to CityFibre’s full product portfolio including small cell access points throughout its city-wide networks, providing the local fibre capacity required to support 5G services in busy urban areas.
Greg Mesch (pictured), CEO at CityFibre, said: "Three’s decision to leverage our expanding networks nationwide shows the critical role full fibre infrastructure has to underpin 5G roll outs."
“This deal will not only help accelerate 5G coverage throughout the UK, but also further accelerate our rollout of full fibre coverage nationwide.”
Dave Dyson, CEO at Three UK, added: “A competitive fibre backhaul market is critical for the fast and efficient roll out of 5G.”