United States to benefit from British innovation of using sewer system to lay fiber optic cable

April 6th, 2010 – Fiber optic infrastructure firm, i3 Group is continuing its expansion overseas by setting up a wholly-owned subsidiary in the USA.

Based in New York, i3 America, the new company’s trading name, will utilize the Group’s tried and tested models of fiber optic infrastructure delivery, including the use of ready-made ducts such as the sewer system, to ensure that homes and businesses can benefit from super fast connectivity.

Elfed Thomas, CEO i3 Group and of i3 America said: “Delivering superfast connectivity is a global issue. The United States has exactly the same drivers as the UK and other countries that we are working in. American homes and businesses need access to high-speed broadband that supports bandwidth-heavy applications such as HDTV, so that people can communicate more effectively and access advanced information and entertainment services.

“We have developed a unique offering which allows us to build fiber optic networks at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods and much faster. The way that we build our networks also means that a large part of the workforce is recruited from the local area, providing a boost to the local economy.”

i3 Group is already operating in a number of regions overseas including Australia, the Middle East and South Africa. The firm has been working on establishing a subsidiary in America over the last few months and has appointed Brian Foley as vice president of sales.

Foley said: “The timing couldn’t be better. There is a great hunger for next generation broadband in the USA. The overwhelming reaction to Google’s recent initiative for an experimental fiber community has also shown the demand for infrastructure to support high-bandwidth applications and business services that are becoming integral to our everyday lives.

“The i3 Group’s unique methodologies and technology for the build and utilization of open access fiber networks have already been proven in a number of countries around the world. We are looking forward to partnering with technology companies and communities to bring that experience and the propositions of our H2O Networks and Fibercity brands into the US market. Together we can help to provide America with fiber infrastructure on an efficient and affordable basis.”

For more information or if you are interested in becoming an i3 America partner, please visit www.i3-america.com or email [email protected].

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Pippa Davies
Insight Marketing & Communications
Tel: 01625 500800
[email protected]

About i3 Group Ltd
Formed in 2002, i3 Group is a pioneer of deploying dark fibre in the UK’s waste water network to enable connectivity. Known as its patented FS System, this method is a fast and cost-effective way to lay fibre optic cable and link up any location without the high costs and disruption caused by road digging.

i3 Group is comprised of: Fibrecity Holdings Ltd, H2O Networks Ltd, H2O International Ltd, H2O Support Services Ltd, Innovation and World Wide Distribution Centre and Fibre Associates Ltd (Fibre@).

Fibrecity® networks provide town and city-wide connectivity to every business, organisation and citizen in the vicinity.

H2O Networks provides business networks using Darc® (Derestricted Access Route Connections) fibres. It delivers fibre optic point-to-point connections and Fibrezone networks. A Fibrezone® network is a dark fibre optic cable ring deployed around a business sector, campus, town or city to which organisations such as local authorities, hospitals, schools and local businesses can connect.

H2O International is working with trusted partners around the world to make the reality of super fast communications accessible to countries that have limited or no connectivity as well as those that require next generation access.

H2O Support Services maintains the sewer infrastructure in which the fibre will be laid including CCTV surveys and rehabilitation services.

The Innovation and World Wide Distribution Centre provides training for international partners as well as being an R&D centre, engineering and warehouse facility. The Centre is where fibre component specialists Fibre Associates (Fibre@) recently acquired by the Group is located.

Fibrecity, Fibrezone, Darc, Focus System Fibre Optical Cable Underground Sewer System (FS System) are all registered trademarks of i3 Group Limited
For further information please visit: www.i3-Group.co.uk