TalkTalk And CityFibre Alliance Drive B2B Wholesale Ethernet Business

TalkTalk and CityFibre have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the delivery of B2B Ethernet services to the wholesale community.
TalkTalk's Business Wholesale Services (TTBWS) division has decided to work with independent provider CityFibre in order to offer UK wholesale customers more choice by giving partners access to CityFibre's differentiated business Ethernet infrastructure. This, in turn, the company says, will bring attractive pricing, greater flexibility and greater confidence to customers. TalkTalk does not own a network itself, having previously leased lines primarily from Openreach, but the ISP announced late last year that it was looking to expand its provider network.
The agreement with CityFibre builds on the existing relationship between the two companies. CityFibre's rapid network expansion will ensure that the opportunity for TTBWS continues to grow, with more and more TTBWS customers enjoying greater diversity, future-proof network coverage and market-leading economics.
The partnership forms part of TalkTalk altnet's strategy to grow suppliers across a wide range of products from FTTP to Ethernet. With many other Ethernet providers expected to join the platform over the next year, TalkTalk believes that a third of new Ethernet connections could go to alternative networks, including CityFibre. The announcement follows the latest UK Independent Network Sector Report metrics from INCA, the UK altnet representative body, which shows that by the end of 2022, altnet operators have passed 8.2 million fibre premises, representing around 25% of UK premises.
Tom O'Hagan, managing director of TalkTalk Business Wholesale Services, said:
"The potential of our ongoing relationship is very exciting. CityFibre is already the largest alternative network and this new B2B partnership opportunity will continue to grow as it expands its reach and portfolio. TTBWS sees CityFibre as a key partner as we work together to deliver unparalleled solutions to our customers in the Ethernet space."
George Wareing, Chief Sales Officer at CityFibre, added: "TalkTalk Wholesale Business Services is a truly exciting partner through which to expand our range of innovative Ethernet products. The combination of TTBWS' scale and automation with our growing portfolio of differentiated business connectivity products represents a compelling proposition in the industry. We are excited that TTBWS sees the benefits that using these products will bring to their customers across the country and we look forward to a long and successful partnership."