11 Aug 2014 07:00
For immediate release | 11 August 2014 |
CityFibre Infrastructure Holdings plc
("CityFibre" or the "Company")
CityFibre to extend UK reach through Easynet agreement in Kirklees
Collaboration creates the most advanced Public Services Network offering to UK towns and cities
CityFibre (AIM: CFHL), a leading designer, builder, owner and operator of fibre optic infrastructure, is pleased to announce it has signed a long term agreement with Easynet, formerly MDNX, to deploy dark fibre connectivity to 176 public sector sites in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire.
Pursuant to the contract, CityFibre will design and build a 72-kilometre fibre network which will enable Easynet, a UK Government approved and accredited Public Service Network (PSN) and G-Cloud supplier, to offer transformational, gigabit-capable fibre network connectivity solutions to the metropolitan borough of Kirklees as part of its overall solution for the council. The total contract value to capex ratio attributable to CityFibre is in line with the Company's previously stated guidelines.
This marks the first contract win for CityFibre with a service provider partner under the PSN national procurement framework. It also marks the first time that a PSN-approved provider has incorporated an extensive dark fibre solution in delivering a PSN project. The combination of CityFibre's proven track record of developing similar projects in cities such as York and Peterborough, and Easynet's extensive experience in delivering multi-million pound government ICT solutions, will enable both parties to deliver next generation services to key UK regional towns and cities.
Greg Mesch, Chief Executive Officer of CityFibre commented: "We are delighted to be announcing this agreement with Easynet, which will broaden our UK footprint and position CityFibre as an approved supplier to Easynet for the Government's PSN framework. Our city-wide pure fibre solutions are now available to local authorities throughout the UK.
"In a digital age, we must ensure that our towns and cities are furnished with a next generation and future-proof digital infrastructure supporting the public and private sectors. Our partnership with Easynet is an exciting opportunity for local authorities up and down the country to make the most of the PSN."
Simon Holmyard, Head of Public Sector, Easynet, commented: "There is a real opportunity for public sector customers to realise the value available under PSN by incorporating all the available infrastructure and technologies, delivering maximum flexibility and commercial value.
"This agreement with CityFibre complements our accredited PSN network service provision and adds to our Government portfolio of Hosting, Unified communications and collaboration services. We see CityFibre playing a significant part in this market transformation as part of our overall solutions. With the Public Sector drive towards Smart Working, having access to data anywhere and anytime is key."
For further information, please contact:
CityFibre Infrastructure Holdings plc | www.cityfibre.com |
Greg Mesch, Chief Executive Officer | Tel: 0845 293 0774 |
Terry Hart, Chief Financial Officer |
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James Enck, Head of Investor Relations |
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finnCap (Nomad and Joint Broker) | www.finncap.com |
Stuart Andrews / Christopher Raggett (Corporate Finance) | Tel: 020 7220 0500 |
Simon Johnson (Corporate Broking) |
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Liberum (Joint Broker) | www.liberum.com |
Steve Pearce / Steven Tredget / Richard Bootle | Tel: 020 3100 2000 |
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Buchanan | www.buchanan.uk.com |
Jeremy Garcia / Fiona Henson / Gabriella Clinkard | Tel: 020 7466 5000 |
Notes to Editors:
About CityFibre:
CityFibre enables gigabit connectivity through designing, building, owning, and operating fibre optic network infrastructure. It is the largest independent provider of fibre infrastructure to mid-sized cities and major towns, providing gigabit capable infrastructure for enterprise and public sector organisations, service providers, mobile network operators and businesses.
The Company owns and operates 430 route kilometres of local access networks serving 800 customer locations in 57 towns and cities in the UK, including York, Coventry, Sheffield, Newcastle, Dundee, Bath, Derby and Doncaster.
CityFibre is based in London, United Kingdom, and its shares trade on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM: CFHL).
To find out more, please visit: www.cityfibre.com
About Easynet:
Easynet is a UK-based Communications and Managed Service provider ("CSP")&("MSP), and a UK government-approved and accredited PSN and G-Cloud supplier, delivering a managed network of networks. It has 20 years' experience providing managed services to public and private sector, national and multinational businesses.
Easynet offers customers a portfolio of network, hosting and unified communications solutions enhanced by a range of 'over the top' solutions including security, voice, videoconferencing and application performance management. Its Public Sector customers include Transport for London, Anglian Water, and JANET.
For more information visit www.easynet.com