REIGATE, U.K. -- OFCOM’s bid to make a better fist of local loop unbundling (LLU) second time around is well set with the emergence of Updata as a key player in the new market for competitive broadband services. The company – which is part of a European group with significant experience operating in deregulated markets such as Denmark – is already one of the most prolific LLU operators in the UK, and the only provider of true broadband SDSL-based infrastructure.

Updata’s explosion onto the UK broadband landscape is as a result of its targeted approach to achieving public sector broadband aggregation, principally through local authorities. With sizeable networks already delivered to a number of UK county councils – notably all in mainly rural areas – Updata is helping to achieve central government targets for schools broadband connectivity (2MB for Primaries; 8MB for Secondaries) with unparalleled cost-effectiveness.

Tim Collings is Education ICT National Strategy Manager for HBS, the company contracted by Bedfordshire County Council to manage their ICT needs. Bedfordshire favoured Updata over an alternative wireless solution, and have sought to achieve maximum connectivity speeds to schools, branch offices and other council sites. “We chose Updata because they could match our developing requirements at a desirable price-point,” said Tim Collings. “They can prove that they’ve unbundled local loop broadband elsewhere and give us service and support on an ongoing basis rather than just a product.”

Updata Infrastructure UK Ltd.