Geo Expands Into London

LONDON -- Geo, Hutchison Whampoa’s UK network infrastructure business, announces the purchase from Thames Water and National Grid of Urband, the London-wide fibre network. The network, which will trade under the Geo brand, runs through the capital’s sewers and improves access for Geo’s customers in the heart of London, to secure, dedicated optical fibre.

Geo offers Dedicated Fibre Networks in contrast to “managed” services on its existing 2400km UK network which connects all the major commercial centres including Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. The Urband network allows Geo to extend these Dedicated Fibre Networks to public and private corporations from Docklands and the City to the West End.

Geo is also working on a related deal with Thames Water to extend the current Urband network to new London locations within the M25 using the sewers. This will enable Geo to install customers on the new network quickly and cost-effectively with minimal street-work disturbances.

“London is the dominant metropolitan telecoms market in the UK and the Urband network is a perfect addition to Geo’s high quality national network. This secure, fibre-rich non-legacy network will allow us to provide Dedicated Fibre Networks throughout the London region to meet the needs of the most demanding network user”, says Chris Smedley, Managing Director of Geo.

Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. (Hong Kong: 0013; Pink Sheets: HUWHY)